To push its user base towards using the app’s ability, WhatApp has been working hard on its payments feature in India. In a bid to make things more exciting for those who use WhatsApp to make payments, it has introduced a range of stickers to its payments feature. The company has brought Indian-themed Payments stickers. It says that these new illustrations have been built on various cultural expressions in the country that indicate money exchange. To launch this new pack of Payments stickers for its users in India, WhatsApp has collaborated with five Indian illustrators. The stickers, which have been released as part of five packs, depict various Indian experiences related to payments and money.
“We believe that there’s a story behind every payment. Our aim is to onboard the next 500mn to the digital payments ecosystem and drive financial inclusion at scale. Hence, in line with our continuous endeavour to make sending money relatable and relevant for every user, we have collaborated with 5 accomplished women artists, rooted in India’s evolving culture, to bring alive some of the popular phrases and societal nuances that express payments experiences in a fun and compelling way, “Manesh Mahatme, Director of Payments, WhatsApp India said.
He further added, “Throughout the expanse of our country, with varied people, across geographies and languages, our attempt is to build as many personalised and exciting features that give users reasons to celebrate digital payments. Relatable expressive content such as Stickers is a powerful way to democratize payments, beyond any language barriers. As we go forward, we will continue to build more options and features for people to express their payments journey as they like.”
Here are the women artists WhatsApp has collaborated with to launch the sticker packs:
Anjali Mehta: An artist and illustrator, Anjali is known to find her inspiration from travelling, human psychology and photography. ‘Pyaar aur Payments’ is her payment sticker on WhatsApp. She loves to celebrate marks people make on the world and celebrate human psychology. She has a BA in Fashion and Visual communication and an MA in illustration. She recreates the relationships and scenes through drawing, which are foregrounded by her experiences of modern life. She says, “I want my audience to think and connect with my work through their own experiences and to finish the story that I have started.” Her bold works are brought to life using the strong use of patterns and pigments exploring various mediums and materials.
Anuja Pothireddy: An avid sketch artist and GIF curator, her payments sticker pack on WhatsApp is called, ‘Pay OK Please’, which depicts the stories of pleasant experiences around payments. She is a seasoned designer having fabulous professional creatives. She has done bachelor of arts in animation from the art institute. She loves brainstorming interesting and new ways to increase the visibility of a client’s brand. She loves what she does as visible from her work.
Neethi: Neethi loves drawing all things dreamy inspired by nature and life and is an independent illustrator and muralist. ‘Pay Aadha or Zyaada’, is the name of her sticker pack which offers a unique take on how people’s payment experiences can be. She is an experienced illustrator skilled in art direction, textile prints, environment design and graphic design. She is a strong arts and design professional with a Bachelor of Design in Textile Design from the National Institue of Fashion Technology.
Osheen Siva: Artist and illustrator Osheen Silva, si known to look at art through the lens of surrealism and friction. ‘Sabse Bada Rupaiya’ is her WhatsApp paryment sticker pack. The multidisciplinary artist and illustrator from South India focus on themes of gender and its intersection with surrealism, technology and society, speculative fiction, mythologies and culture mythologies. She is a bachelor of design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology.
Mira Felicia Malhotra: Mumbai based Mira, who is a graphic designer, finds her inspiration from DIY culture, gender, indie music and mental health. She has developed payments sticker pack called, “Apna Sapna Money’. With a postgraduate from the National Institute of Design and a B.F.A. in applied arts, Mira’s unique approach to design is rooted in logic but enriched by her distinct pop aesthetic and creative flair. Her work tends more to illustration and image-making. Colourful, witty, humorous and charming, it comes from her fascination with the decorative items at local bazaars and indigenous arts and crafts. Her work is often an amalgamation of what it is like to be Indian with what it is to look upon Indianness as an outsider.
WhatsApp users can find the new stickers under the Payments section of the app while transferring money to contact. After payment, the message of the money transfer will be sent to the recipient along with the chosen sticker.
