Conversations with Meeta Panesar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meeta Panesar.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Early in my childhood, my parents knew I was going to be an artist. Being born to Indian immigrant parents, it’s rare to be able to pursue the arts, but I am so lucky to have such supportive parents. As a kid, I loved to draw, read, and watch animated movies and tv shows. These stories and animations made a huge impact on me as a kid, and it began a lifelong love for anthropomorphic characters. This love led me on a journey to create one of my own, Bobbety.

After high school, I went to San Francisco for art school and studied graphic design. This new life fueled a passion I didn’t even know existed! I also met the most incredible people, many of whom have helped me on this journey of creating Bobbety.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked at design agencies and in-house teams, but none felt like home or a place I could thrive.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I began my graphic design career at Apple. It was exciting but also a very challenging place to work! After Apple, I continued to work at other design agencies and in-house teams, thinking maybe these jobs would provide a passion for me. During the course of my career, I discovered two extremely important things. 1. Corporate office life is not for me. 2. Illustration would become my lifelong passion.

I spent hours improving my illustration skills and developing my style (Mary Blair being a huge inspiration!). I wanted to do more illustration in my graphic design work. More importantly, I wanted to illustrate a children’s book. I wanted to do so much more with this new skill set. But managers wouldn’t assign me those projects and no agent would take me on.

Then, during Covid, I was laid off and became a full time freelancer. I was enjoying my work as a freelancer, but my dad suddenly passed away during Covid. That day forever changed me. This is still extremely difficult, but I knew this was the push I needed to create something of my own.
So, I decided to give myself my own opportunity and do all the things I want to do with design and illustration. I even found a way to bring all the things that I loved from my childhood together. Thus, Bobbety was born.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I am a professional graphic designer and illustrator. Over the years, I developed a signature style of using bright colors, bold geometric shapes, and cute characters.

At Panesar Studio, I work with various types of clients, from big tech companies to small businesses and non profits. I love helping design teams create fun and vibrant branding and illustrations that delight their audience.

I am most proud of the work I have created for Bobbety, my kids magazine! Bobbety is a fully-illustrated, quarterly kid’s magazine designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and encourage a lifelong love of learning. I design and illustrate everything in the magazine from scratch. The magazine is bright and colorful and kids can learn fun facts from silly characters.

What makes you happy?
Working on Bobbety has brought me immense joy in the last few years. It has been A LOT of work but I am loving every minute of it. Laughing hysterically with my mom and sisters, going to Disneyland with my nieces, and eating the wonderful food in LA makes me happy!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bobbety.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbetydotcom
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetapanesar/
• Other: https://www.panesar.studio

Image Credits
Glenn Ramit