Shweta Malhotra is a very, very good friend of Nicobar. Little known fact: she actually designed our logo way back when we started on this crazy ride. Her work is distinctive; clean, in vivid blocks of pop art-inspired colour, thoroughly contemporary, and even if you don’t know it, it’s very likely that you’ve seen her illustrations somewhere.

A graphic designer from Bombay, Shweta now lives in Delhi with her husband Rizwan (a creative director with boutique ad agency Wieden+Kennedy), and with her avowed love of polka dots, a Nicobar favourite, we couldn’t wait to have her on the Journal.

We caught up with her at her studio in New Delhi, to talk design and dots.Tell us about your personal style; what’s your daily uniform?
Mostly easy, comfortable, oversized and minimal; my wardrobe has a lot of black and white, blues, greys and the odd pop of colour.

Your top design influences:
There are so many, so I’m going to split this into blocks.
Artists and designers: Ellsworth Kelly, Ikko Tanaka, Craig and Karl, Yayoi Kusama
Periods: Modernism, Post Modernism, Pop art
Culture: 90’s Indian pop culture

What are your favourite online design resources?
Its Nice that, Trendland, Designspiration.

One item in your wardrobe you can’t live without:
Currently a super comfy grey tshirt dress that takes me through the day and night.

Your favourite bar, here in Delhi, or anywhere in the world:
La Cova d’en Xoroi in Menorca, Spain. As the name suggests, this is a club/bar carved out into a cave on a height on the coast of Menorca, with the most amazing sea view. Who has your favourite Instagram feed?
Theres definitely more than one!
@Poketo
@commedesgarcons
@hatecopy
@wrapmagazine
@itsnicethat
@camillewalala
@iaiaioio_studio
@massju
@trendland
@bombayelectric
@colette
@crispinfinn
@jean_jullien
@studiodiy
@aigadesign
@craigandkarl

What's the last holiday you took?
Last weekend getaway was Pondicherry. Last holiday was Sri Lanka.

A place you're dying to visit:
Tokyo!Shweta also gave us some pointers about dressing for work when you work for yourself (that story here), and, a real treat, made us one of her signature illustrations, an homage to Nicobar’s sold-out polka dot dress. For more, click here.