Ishara Kodithuwakku - Creative Director, Concept Artist & Visual Artist

From curiosity to a creative calling

Ishara Kodithuwakku is a Sri Lankan creative director, concept artist, commercial director, visual artist and entrepreneur. His work brings together branding, film production, digital and canvas painting, and fashion. He is the founder of KOD Universe and Rouka Clothing.

His interest in making things began during Grade 10, when creative experimentation was still a personal hobby. In 2014, he began his professional career as a Graphic Designer. What followed was a career shaped by the disciplines behind the visuals: composition, narrative, production, collaboration and understanding what an audience needs to feel.

Creative training and experience

His earlier creative CV lists a Diploma in 3D Animation from Teleview, Colombo (2014–2015), and a Diploma in Film & Television Studies from the University of Kelaniya (2017–2018). His practical experience in filmmaking, art direction, visual concepts and commercial production has been central to his creative development.

A career across creative disciplines

He began working professionally as a Graphic Designer in 2014, later expanding his experience across graphic design, branding, visual communication and freelance art direction. Today, his work encompasses concept art, commercial directing, costume design, script development, visual storytelling and creative leadership.

Since 2023, Ishara has also been working in creative consultation, contributing his multidisciplinary experience to brand development, creative concepts, visual direction and creative decision-making.

Over his professional career, he has contributed to projects involving more than 70 local and international brands through different agencies, teams, freelance projects and collaborations. The website features a selected collection of 24 brand logos-16 international and eight national/local-not the complete list, and not all direct KOD Universe clients.

Film, costume design and visual storytelling

Ishara's journey in film and commercial production extends beyond directing and visual concepts. His experience as a Costume Designer includes music videos, documentaries, short films, television commercials and feature-length cinema. In 2018, he worked as a Costume Designer on a feature-length film, bringing his understanding of character, visual identity and storytelling into cinematic production.

Alongside costume design, he has worked in assistant direction for music videos and commercials, and has directed commercial productions. His experience also includes scriptwriting, script editing and script finalisation, connecting the earliest stages of an idea with its final visual expression.

Working across different production disciplines has shaped his approach to creative direction, allowing him to see a project not simply as a visual outcome, but as a complete experience built through concept, narrative, design and execution.

Art beyond the commercial brief

Beyond commissioned work, Ishara creates digital paintings and traditional canvas artworks. His artistic practice offers room to explore visual worlds that do not begin with a marketing brief. That relationship between independent art and commercial creativity is also part of the vision for KOD Gallery, an upcoming space for artists, creative merchandise and collaborative Drops.

Through Rouka Clothing, he explores another medium for identity, art and self-expression: fashion. Together, KOD Universe and Rouka Clothing reflect a belief that an idea can move across design, image, clothing, film and experience without losing its meaning.