Designer Interview

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Interview with Anjan Cariappa M M at Monday 16th of April 2012

FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
ACMM: I am an artist, cartoonist, animator and inventor. My decision to take up a career in art and creativity was probably in the 2nd or 3rd grade. I have been drawing as long as I remember. My text books would all be flip books and note books filled with cartoons. In fact my friends in class would await the release of my regular hand drawn comic books and “flicks”. Add to this, a passion for technology, be it electronics or automobiles and I had a winning combination. I started my career in animation while still in college. I graduated in Visual Communication Design. My career growth was very quick and soon I was heading a team of more than 2000 artists and animators and went on to direct many animated films, two of which qualified for Oscar nominations. I also bagged many other prestigious awards during my career span. Wishing to contribute creativity to various fields, I started my company Muckati in 2009. Being an early adapter, I have made good use of technology to create innovative concepts and products.

FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
ACMM: Muckati was started with a vision to use creativity without boundaries. Currently our work spans across Interactive, Design and Screen. Muckati is an amalgamation of art and technology. We develop pioneering concepts and ideas that include intellectual property such as media content, design and inventions. True to our vision, our contributions so far have been to media (original animation, game and other interactive content), automobiles (life-saving active safety systems and proprietary web enabled GPS systems), computers and packaging industries. In the three years of its existence, Muckati has seven patent pending products to its credit. As a business model, Muckati focuses on leveraging these IP through licensing.

FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
ACMM: Any concept that excites me and challenges my abilities as a creative person. I have taken up design of concepts and products in various industries outside my mainstream such as automobiles, GPS enabled concepts, railway safety and medicine.

FS: When do you feel the most creative?
ACMM: I am in a creative frame of mind all the time. I read a lot about artists and designers having their "block", but this has never happened to me. I can start off on a creative task anytime and anywhere.

FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
ACMM: I give most importance to usability and then aesthetics and visual appeal. This first includes form and then color and texture. Like every designer finding the balance between form and function is the toughest call.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
ACMM: I guess its the same for all designers. A 'rush' and a complete zone out while you are at it!

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
ACMM: An immense sense of satisfaction when I see my designs in their final form.

FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
ACMM: I immediately look at usability and then the aesthetics.

FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
ACMM: Design inspiration for me can come from any source. Its the typical 'aha' moment. A flash of genius if you may call it. For my A'Design award winner PACA for example, the 'flash'(literally) came in when driving on the highway. I wondered how anyone could have missed it all these years. Inspiration for designers is everywhere. This need not necessarily be in the present and now. I would like to quote an example. I was approached by an European rail company to design a unique safety system to help prevent accidents. The criteria was that the driver be able to see far ahead of the train's path especially for vehicles crossing the tracks at non-designated spots. They were looking at fitting cameras on the train but this was not practical since the distance that can be sensed is limited. Add to this, curves in the tracks, bad weather and tunnels and the system would be very inefficient. Inspiration to my solution to the problem came from history when a man with a flag would run in front of early automobiles to warn pedestrians of its approach. This inspired my design of "3rd eye", a small pilot device that attaches and runs on the electric cable of trains and can go as far ahead as a kilometer or more and send wireless video signals to the driver. It also has obstacle sensing capabilities and is fitted with a beacon and siren to warn stray vehicles.

FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
ACMM: After the initial spark in my head, its straight to the sketch pad. After a few rough drawings, I let the idea "marinate" as I go around with design and usability add-ons. Later I clean it up on the computer and depending on the concept and product the end design is realized.

FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
ACMM: My most versatile tool is my note pad and my 2B mechanical pencil. I carry this everywhere and jot down every idea that passes my head. Later I sort these ideas out and choose one that I can take forward. I read a lot of non-fiction and art and science related stuff.

FS: How can people contact you?
ACMM: People are free to contact me at anjan@muckati.com

FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.

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