If you’re curious about what is GFX Mentor’s full name is, it’s Imran Ali Dina. He is a Karachi native graphic designer, YouTuber and Founder of GFX Mentor. His life experienced a winding journey shaped by a fascination for colors and yearning for exploration. Since childhood, his fondness for hues paved a path to artistic adventures despite conforming to educational norms in Pakistan.
Imran’s story weaves through various professional chapters, each a stepping stone toward his passion for art and technology.
GFX Mentor Complete Biography
Imran Ali Dina (GFX Mentor) was born and raised in Karachi, a port city in Pakistan. Imran describes that ever since his childhood, he had a particular eye for colors, which fascinated him. He would love to experiment even though he could not make much of the colors. Imran mentions his art teacher during his time in school, and he greatly respects him, stating that his teacher had a big hand in making him what he is today.
Due to the lack of career counseling, Imran followed the general trend of studies in Pakistan. He completed his intermediate education in pre-engineering, and even though he wished to pursue that degree, he changed to BCOM since that was the trend in the early 1990s.
1. GFX Mentor (Imran Ali Dina) Formal Education
After the completion of his intermediate degree, Imran earned a diploma in computer programming, which taught him the content of C language and FoxPro. Imran describes how he had used the early set of computers and was interested in the monitor’s graphics user interface.
Recent innovations have come into the world of computers, and Imran describes them as a fascinating, new experience every time. What he deems the revolutionary invention of the computer world was the mouse.
2. Got Typing Skills
There is a gap of a few months when a student graduates from matriculation and transfers to intermediate. Imran’s elder brother had his brother learn the skill of typing on the typewriters, a trendy required skill at the time. Imran explained how he wanted to pursue the studies of computers, as he thought typewriters were getting old and computers were the upcoming trend.
3. 1st Job as a Computer Operator
Imran had applied for multiple jobs after completing BCOM and had yet to decide what he wanted to do. He got his first job as a computer operator in an advertising agency, which consisted of letter typing on Wordstart, which had no graphics user interface. Imran left his first job within months of starting. Imran then joined a trading company, where he would work with data on Excel sheets.
4. Partnership-Based Restaurant Business
Soon after he left his second job, Imran wanted to become a businessman. His family had none, and he wished to become the first. He sold his computer, and with the help of his family, he inaugurated a restaurant in Karachi with a friend of his elder brother’s, which sold desi cuisine. The restaurant business was dropped after his partner cut off the partnership, and Imran wanted to run the company with others.
5. Self-Started Tire Business
Even though the restaurant business was a loss, Imran invested what he had earned into another company, refurbishing old tires and repairing punctured ones. Imran used to work in the shop himself as well, and he would always have his sketchbook with him, drawing when he was not working. The business was booming, as Imran describes.
Graphics Designing Learning Opportunities by Arena Multimedia
While working in the tire shop, a friend suggested he study a graphics designing course from Arena Multimedia, stating that Imran would ace it since he was good at art overall. Imran declined due to financial reasons. Even though the tiered business was a success, it had to be closed.
Read on and see the learning suggestion he had to turn down for not meeting educational expenses, how it unfolds later in the story
From Receptionist to Foxpro Teacher
Imran was shifting homes and came across an institute near his new residence; he visited it, stating that he wanted to learn about the Internet, emails, and Microsoft Office. The institute’s owner soon hired him as the receptionist since Imran was looking for a job. He was quickly promoted to being the teacher of the students at the institute upon the previous teacher’s resignation.
Imran was teaching Foxpro to the students and continued teaching until the owner had to close the institute since he was moving abroad. Imran had already been teaching tuition, and his family had a rich background of capable teachers, making him fit for the job.
From Accounting to Advertising Department
Imran soon landed an accounting job in a catering company through a friend’s referral. Imran designed a flyer during his time there, which had a great impression on his employer, who soon gave him more posters to design and shifted him to the advertising department.
Coordinator at Arena Multimedia
When the accounting job ended, Imran landed a coordinator job at Arena Multimedia after quite a while by contacting the same friend. Rememeber, who had suggested he do a graphics user interface course from the same institute earlier.
He conducted exams, and when accessible, he would learn from the computers available at the institute. Since the internet was less resourceful than today, he would learn from Yahoo groups and Photoshop magazines available in the market, learning tips and tricks from the magazines.
Teaching at Arena Multimedia
As Imran taught Arena Multimedia’s students at his friend’s request since the teacher was not punctual. The students were impressed by Imran, and he soon became their regular teacher. He also made a painting with a mouse, which his boss, Mr Khalil, was very impressed with. Imran holds high respect for his employer, as he has immensely helped develop his graphic design skills.
Asian Management Institute (AMI)
A friend suggested Imran complete a master’s program from the Asian Management Institute (presently known as Iqra University), which Imran declined again, stating that the course fee was too much. Imran later started teaching at the Asian Management Institute.
Irtiqa
Imran saw how Pakistan had no art community, and he took it upon himself to gather a community of artists on an online platform, Deviantart, and started the first Pakistan art community with the name “Irtiqa”. Imran described that the community quickly gained publicity, and so did Imran.
GFX Mentor YouTube Channel
Imran disapproved of how institutes held scheduled classes of 3 hours long, saying that it could have been more efficient considering the time slot. To aid his students’ learning and anyone who was not enrolled in an institute, Imran started uploading his videos onto YouTube, where he would teach students valuable skills.
Conclusion
His relentless pursuit of knowledge and knack for innovation pushed Imran through diverse roles, igniting an artistic spark in an evolving career landscape. Imran stands as an individual and a catalyst, reshaping Pakistan’s art community and empowering aspiring artists through education, online platforms, and technological outreach. GFX Mentor’s journey underscores the intersection of passion, perseverance, and a commitment to foster creativity in a world brimming with boundless possibilities.
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