For illustrator Umair Najeeb Khan, food has always existed somewhere in the background of his work. Over the course of a 12-year career, meals, ingredients and shared dining experiences have appeared in his illustrations and stories, but they were never the central focus like they were in his latest project 'Drawn In Spice', that transforms Pakistani cuisine into a richly illustrated visual archive, sitting at the intersection craft and storytelling.

Originally conceived as his major MA project, Drawn In Spice emerged from a desire to challenge both his creative process and artistic identity. Khan had already completed a comic book in his signature style during the first half of his master's programme. For the second project, he wanted to create something that felt entirely unfamiliar. "I wanted to do something that would bring me out of my comfort zone and also would be different from like visually different from how I work and what I work with", he says.

His usual work relies heavily on clean black ink lines and precise illustration. Rather than refining that visual language further, Khan deliberately moved away from it. Working by hand rather than digitally, Khan found himself creating compositions that were imperfect, asymmetrical and textured and instead of correcting those qualities, he embraced them. The resulting visual language became the foundation of Drawn In Spice. Especially when AI-generated visuals often prioritise polish but often feel uniform, Khan found himself drawn towards irregularity and texture. He wanted the illustrations to feel handmade. Small imperfections and uneven forms became essential parts of the book's aesthetic, creating images that feel warm and lived-in rather than mechanically flawless.

While the warm palette of reds, oranges and yellows reflects Khan's established artistic preferences, it also serves a practical purpose. Pakistani cuisine, with its rich gravies, spices and layered dishes, naturally lends itself to warm tones. To balance this visual intensity, Khan incorporated cool blues inspired by Multan's famous blue-and-white pottery traditions, creating striking contrasts across the pages. Drawing inspiration from Ajrak block prints from Sindh, patchwork traditions such as Ralli, hand embroidery and other textile practices, he built a library of visual elements that could coexist alongside the dishes featured in the book.

Plates, fabrics, patterns and food items were designed almost like puzzle pieces before being assembled together. The process allowed him to create richly layered scenes that celebrate not only cuisine but also the cultural traditions surrounding it. Because the book does not feature traditional characters, Khan used hands to introduce movement and human presence. They serve food, pass dishes across tables and interact with ingredients, reminding readers that food is fundamentally communal.

For his final presentation, he created what he describes as a "starter kit" for audiences unfamiliar with Pakistani cuisine. Alongside the book, the project included a custom-designed dastarkhwan, handmade ceramic pieces, pickle jars and even a folding guide for making samosas. 

Presented at New Designers, a major design showcase in London, Drawn In Spice received an award and opened conversations with publishers and creative agencies. Rather than self-publishing a limited run, Khan hopes to find a publishing partner who can help bring the project to a wider audience.

Drawn In Spice is is an exploration of memory and cultural identity, that uses illustration to celebrate the traditions, textures and stories that surround every meal people eat.

Follow Khan on Instagram.

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