Samia is a Toronto based illustrator born in Great Britain. Growing up in Hong Kong and Pakistan, artistic pursuit led her to Singapore where she studied graphic design. In 2004 she moved permanently to Toronto achieving a Bachelor of Design in Illustration from OCAD University.
On influence: The inspiration for my work is largely sub-continental. I would like to direct attention towards cultural aspects left obscured amongst the guns, violence, poverty and crime that paint the stereotypical image of Pakistan.
On Design: An artist or designer is not someone who makes pretty pictures but a visual communicator purporting ideas that ignite awareness and social change. One of my biggest admirations is Tibor Kalman who says,
“After 20 years I discovered that design is just language and the real issue is what you use that language to do”.