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Faculty of Design

Illustration

Meet the Artist

Prarthana

Dayal

Designer

“BEYOUTIFUL is a visual exploration of my journey as a young adult navigating a new environment, balancing internal thoughts and emotions with external social pressures. My thesis project focuses on the transition from adolescence to adulthood, what it means to enter the “real world”, and the internal conflicts that arise during this phase. Through a combination of four two-page sequential comics and four full-page illustrations, resulting in an eight-page comic zine, my goal was to create a relatable and introspective experience for young adults. By illustrating these moments of uncertainty, growth, and self-discovery, my goal is to normalise the internal struggles that come with change and help others feel less alone in their journeys. Through expressive storytelling and visual metaphors, BEYOUTIFUL captures the emotional complexities of transitioning into adulthood, making space for honest reflection and connection by normalising internal conflicts within a young adult’s subconscious mind in an ever-evolving world.”

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PrarthanaDayal
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Prarthana Dayal is an international illustrator based in Toronto, born and raised in New Delhi, India. She is a graduate of Ontario College of Art & Design University with a Bachelor of Design degree in Illustration. Known for her emotionally charged red-and-blue compositions, her work captures the duality of life through a deeply personal lens. With a passion for storytelling, her illustrations explore themes of beauty, pain, vulnerability, insecurity, emotion, and connection, brought to life through vibrant color, textured forms, and ambiguous characters that invite personal interpretation and reflection. Through her work, she offers raw, introspective glimpses into the human experience, drawing viewers in to see the world through her eyes.
OCAD U - Faculty of Design
Illustration
Major Completed, 2025

Picture Book Digital Illustrations Mix Media Installation Pastels (Oil, Soft, Hard, Charcoals, Conte) Oil and Acrylic painting

2025, GRADEX 110
OCADU
2025, MAJOR WORKS
YoungPlace
2024, TCAF
Toronto Reference Library
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