Savio Mascarenhas Inspires Future Designers at Bhawanipur School of Design
Amar Chitra Katha’s Savio Mascarenhas at Bhawanipur School of Design

2 minute read

Gunn

Update on 12 May, 2026, 03:47 PM IST

In the heart of Kolkata’s creative circuit, a legendary figure recently turned a classroom into a living comic strip. Bhawanipur Global Campus (BGC), School of Design, in a high-profile collaboration with Amar Chitra Katha, hosted an exclusive Master Session that bridged the gap between nostalgic childhood sketches and professional industry standards.

The guest of honor? Savio Mascarenhas, the Group Art Director at Amar Chitra Katha, the creative powerhouse behind the iconic Tinkle magazine.

Table of Contents

More Than Just Ink: The Psychology of Character Design
Industry-Ready Education at Bhawanipur Global Campus
Essential Takeaways for Aspiring Character Designers
The Future of Visual Storytelling
Looking to kickstart your career in design?

More Than Just Ink: The Psychology of Character Design

While many view comics as simple entertainment, Savio’s session revealed the rigorous design thinking that goes into every panel. For the students at BGC, the lecture served as a deep dive into how visual language communicates faster than words.

Topic

Key Insight

Learning Outcome

Personality Before Prose

Line quality, posture, and facial expressions define a character’s personality before dialogue begins.

Students learned how visual elements communicate emotion and identity instantly.

The Evolution of a Legend

The evolution of Shikari Shambu into Little Shambu showcased how iconic characters can adapt while preserving their core visual identity.

Students understood the importance of balancing innovation with brand consistency in character design.

Narrative Logic

Comics rely on smooth visual and narrative transitions between panels to maintain storytelling flow.

Students gained insight into sequencing, pacing, and visual continuity in comic storytelling.

Industry-Ready Education at Bhawanipur Global Campus

This collaboration isn't just a one-off event; it’s a peek into the BGC philosophy. By bringing in a veteran with over 30 years of experience, the Bhawanipur School of Design is prioritizing practitioner-led learning.

"Savio has spent over three decades shaping how generations of Indian children see the world," noted Dr. Sharmila Sinha, Principal of the School of Design. "That kind of experience in a classroom is something no textbook can replicate."

Essential Takeaways for Aspiring Character Designers

For those looking to break into the Indian comic book industry or the broader world of visual storytelling, the session offered a clear roadmap:

Skillset

Why It Matters

Creative Discipline

Turning an idea into a consistent series requires more than talent; it requires a professional routine.

Long-term Thinking

Creating characters that can survive decades of changing trends and media formats.

Visual Connectivity

Learning how to guide the reader's eye across a page using composition and flow.

The Future of Visual Storytelling

The energy in the room was a clear indicator that the "momentum makers" of tomorrow are hungry for real-world insights. By partnering with giants like Amar Chitra Katha, Bhawanipur Global Campus is ensuring its students graduate not just with a degree, but with the creative instincts of industry leaders.

Whether you're a first-year student or a seasoned designer, the lesson was clear: behind every "lovable goof" like Shambu is a masterclass in strategy, design, and heart.

Looking to kickstart your career in design?

Stay tuned to the Bhawanipur Global Campus for more industry-leading workshops and professional certifications that bring the masters of the craft directly to you.