TECH. ARTS. COMMUNITY.
Shreeya Kalel
Innovator, Creator and Empath
Shreeya Kalel is a Bachelor of Design student at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, graduating in 2026. Her work is rooted in observing everyday life and designing thoughtful, human-centered solutions.
Challenges
10
Veins of the Wasteland
For this challenge, we had invited the fellows to bring their final projects to life through the powerful mediums of either a short film or a graphic novel. Shreeya’s graphic novel Veins of the Wasteland is a visual journey through a post-apocalyptic Earth where remnants of the past pulse quietly beneath layers of decay. Set in a world overwhelmed by waste and lost connection, the story explores the delicate relationship between nature, humanity, and forgotten beauty. Through evocative visuals and emotional depth, this graphic novel reflects on environmental crisis, resilience, and the subtle power of rediscovery.
9
For challenge 9, the fellows presented a pitch deck of their visual narratives. These narratives, set in 2050, address a conflict in an ideal future and its resolution. The pitch will serve as a storyboard for the final project, presented as either a short film or graphic novel. Shreeya’s project Veins of the Wasteland talks of a world ruined by endless waste. Earth has become unlivable with toxic air permeating the environment.
8
Challenge 8 was a fun exercise in which the fellows generated interactive AI personas using the Gooey.AI copilot tool. Shreeya’s bot Aara is a biologist from the year 2050 who specializes in waste management and environmental solutions. Aara is passionate about saving Earth from the overwhelming waste crisis, using science, creativity, and hope.
6
For this challenge, we wanted the fellows to create supporting characters that would inhabit their envisioned future world. Shreeya created two supporting characters named Veer and Rihan. Veer is a scrappy yet intelligent Indian pariah dog who roams the Waste Heritage of the India Art Fair 2050. Rihan preserves the lost histories of waste through holographic scans and a secret hand-drawn notebook. He is a bridge between the digital future and forgotten past.
5
Fellows developed characters who would live in their imagined future worlds. Shreeya’s bot is named Aaara. She is a scavenger-historian who uncovers lost stories in the Waste Heritage of India Art Fair 2050. A passionate and resilient biologist in her late 20s, she is driven by a deep sense of responsibility for Earth.
4
For this challenge, we wanted fellows to continue building on their explored futures, focusing on world building. We wanted them to visualise it as the opening scene of a sci-fi film, where the focus is on the setting rather than the characters. 5 to 6 frames were created using Gooey's Animation Generator in draft mode (2 FPS). Shreeya has presented a dump yard where a small pile of plastic waste of 2-3 meters starts to accumulate in the year 2050.
3
For this challenge, we had asked the fellows to illustrate their peers’ predictions for the future. Shreeya illustrated the prediction that at India Art Fair 2050, three landfills have been reimagined as Heritage Plastic Mountains. Delegates bid on waste as both cultural memory and economic gold, blurring the lines between art, history, and the circular economy.
2
We asked the fellows to explore what the future would look like. We also asked them to forecast a series of predictions for the next few years, with a timeline of no more than 25 years ahead. Shreeya made the following predictions about the future. Forests will be shaped by technological advancements, conservation efforts, and community-driven initiatives, ensuring their survival and expansion despite climate challenges. With strategic interventions, forests will not only withstand environmental stress but also thrive, contributing to a greener, more sustainable planet for future generations while mitigating climate change effects. AI-powered training will revolutionize artisan upskilling by offering virtual reality (VR) craft training, AI-assisted design customization, and automated market insights. AI-driven platforms will teach new techniques, predict trends, and connect artisans with global markets, ensuring sustainable production while preserving traditional skills in an evolving digital and eco-conscious economy.
