sanali wickramarachchi

Hi, I’m Sanali, a communication design student who finds joy in telling stories through color, form, and a little bit of visual magic. I work with brands, events, and communities to create designs that aren’t just seen but felt. Whether it’s rebranding a gelato shop, designing a dog soap package, or building an illustrated tattoo festival guide, I’m all about balancing creativity with purpose. I’m especially drawn to illustration; there’s something calming and slightly chaotic about bringing ideas to life with a sketch or stylus. I love layering textures, experimenting with type, and turning complex concepts into something beautifully simple.

Before university, I won several high school art competitions, and I’ve continued to grow as both a visual communicator and creative thinker. I’m currently finishing my Bachelor of Design in Communication Design at Swinburne University of Technology

When I’m not designing, you’ll usually find me watching animations frame by frame, doodling in the margins of my planner, or trying out every dessert spot within walking distance. I believe the best design starts with empathy and ends with a spark of surprise.

Tattoo Festival – Identity & Print Design

A vibrant festival concept bringing together tattoo artists, culture, and bold graphics. I enjoyed designing both the visual identity and a multipage guide, pushing my creativity and layout skills.

Born to Die – Album Redesign

A moody reinterpretation of Lana Del Rey’s “Born to Die.” I focused on themes of melancholy and decay, using a blurred floral photograph and gold detailing to create a timeless, haunting feel.

Beyond the Surface – Publication Design

This editorial design was based on Lili Lin’s article about young women in Shanghai balancing life and work. I explored layered visuals and red-black tones to reflect both restriction and strength.

K-pop Pop Art Poster

Inspired by the energetic world of K-pop, this playful illustration bursts with bright colors and exaggerated expressions. It reflects how I like to mix cute aesthetics with strong design impact.

Glo Gelato – Rebrand

A cheerful and health-conscious rebranding for a gelato shop. I introduced pastel colors, playful drips, and modern typography to appeal to a younger, trend-savvy audience.

Acknowledgement of Country

The School of Design and Architecture respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and knowledge-keepers of the lands, waters and sky that surround us, where we work, learn, create, communicate and make place. We recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded and this always was and will always be Wurundjeri Country. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who continue to make a better world through design.

We extend our acknowledgement to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, alumni, real-life clients, and knowledge keepers, who have contributed to our own education diversity and growth. We will continue to ensure that staff and students respectfully honour ancestral connection to Country and Place in everything that they do.

We are dedicated to the notion of design to make a better world and we acknowledge that making tools, shaping place, sharing stories, making meaning, wayfinding and collaborating have long been and continue to be both central and integral to First Peoples' cultures. We recognize that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ cultural contributions have continued relevance to design practice and commit to: reconciling ancestries of design and contemporary practice as well as pursuing culturally and professionally appropriate ways to engage with a diverse population of colleagues, industries and clients. In a time of treaty-making and voice we understand that there are overlaps between caring for Country and the sustainable production of goods, services, experiences, products and buildings.

Guided by the principles of respect, reconciliation, and reciprocity we undertake to indigenising and decolonising design practice by dismantling colonial structures and challenging biases that have marginalised Indigenous voices and design.

As students of SoDA you will be given opportunities to both engage with and educate yourself in Indigenous creative practices and cultural protocols through a lens of inclusivity, diversity, respect, mutual understanding, inter-cultural dialogue in all aspects of design practice. Indigenous people have been telling stories, making tools, and connecting to Country through visual media, placemaking and place marking for more than 60,000 years and these practices are part of an ongoing, evolving and live tradition.