Design is not just about making things look better but also about bettering lives through creativity !
Arun A B, our next pathbreaker, Senior Engineer (Human Factors & Industrial Design) at Boston Scientific, works on human factors and usability engineering related research activities and exploratory work in the healthcare domain.
Arun talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about always being an artist deep within, and opting for industrial design to find creative solutions to technical problems !
For students, the field of medical design allows you to apply your engineering as well as artistic skills to make a difference in patient lives !
Arun, Your background?
I was an average student studying in kendriya vidyalaya in a small town in Kerala. Throughout my schooling I remained like this. I was very much interested in drawing or any art related activities like craft work, paper making or cardboard models etc. So, whenever there was an opportunity for such activities, teachers used to call me for helping them especially with drawings, or making charts etc. I used to get prizes in painting competitions. My parents were government servants, and they were very busy with their work. But they did appreciate my interests. I was very keen to understand the mechanism of how things work.
In short, I can say that I always had a creative side within me, looking at things around from a different perspective. Art was always within me.
I was never into speeches, extempore, any public speaking forums. I always knew my way was different. But I was not sure what to study further or what I should become in future. I used to think of becoming an artist, or a person who could solve technical problems.
What did you do for graduation/post graduation?
I decided to study Mechanical Engineering for my under-graduation. I remember at that time, IT and Computer based careers were booming and were having a 100 percent placement in big MNCs from my college. My father also wanted me to take IT related courses believing that I will be placed with a good salary in an MNC. But I was sure that I would never be able to understand or study computers. I knew that either mechanical or architecture were my best options. The best person who understands you in this world is yourself. I always knew that I loved mechanical work, looking at mechanics of how things work etc. So I opted for mechanical engineering for my BTech.
Once I completed my BTech , a few of my classmates joined software companies to pursue their future in computers. I never even attempted any such tests because I was sure that I would never do programming in my life.
I didn’t get a job after engineering. I managed to get an apprenticeship with some local companies and workshops. But my mind was never stuck on anything. Though I considered myself a professional mechanical engineer, deep inside I was an artist.
Now my thought was on how to combine both engineering and art.
Then I saw an advertisement in the newspaper. The National Institute of Design (NID) was going to conduct their entrance exam for their post-graduate program in design.
That impacted me…and I decided that this is the course I wanted to do and build my future in this direction. I studied more about the courses offered by the institute and applied for the exam. Though I cleared the exam, I could not clear the interview. I then applied to the IITs also for the same course, but failed in the last round of personal interviews.
I did my post graduation in Product Design and Engineering from NTTF Bangalore.
What were the influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional and unique career?
Key reason for taking this course is the affinity towards art in my mind. “An artistic engineer who can solve problems…”
At that time, this design course was not so common, and it was very difficult to get into a good college as the total number of seats were not more than 10-15 in the whole of India.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path
My design career started with an internship in a small design consultancy based out of Goa. I worked there for 6 months and made a full size working prototype of a device which was used by the teachers in school to teach students without the help of black board and chalk. It was a system which projects whatever they write onto a slide.
My first job was with a design company, Tata Elxsi in Bangalore. I joined as a product designer and worked on a variety of products. I designed many shampoo bottles, oil cans and other similar packaging containers. The design of the bottles had to be very attractive so that the buyers could lock their view on the product and buy that. We used to design many concepts before finalizing the best one out of them. While designing, I consider many aspects such as – aesthetics, how easy it is to use, how easy it is to manufacture, how easy it is to store etc.
The design process starts with observation of similar things around us. Open your eyes and mind to all that is around you. Once you understand the requirements, think and create sketches for product design. For example, for designing a shampoo bottle, I used to make at least 30-40 sketches with different styles, shapes etc. The best one would be selected and taken ahead for manufacturing.
Next, I joined L&T Bangalore, where I worked on medical products. Working in the medical field is really nice because you are making something which can save a life. I designed the world’s highest pressure inflation device which is used to inflate balloons catheters inside the body. This was a challenging project that I took up, which went through numerous cycles of iterations, changes, refinements etc. In the end, that device was introduced in the world market and is now being used by physicians around the globe.
I moved to a company called SFO Technologies in Cochin. Here also, I worked on several medical, electronic, packaging products. One exciting work was the design of a medical cart. This is a cart which can store all the preliminary diagnostic devices and can be used to consult with doctors from any rural village in India. A technician, who would be near a patient, listens to a doctor’s instructions online and takes the patient’s vitals. The medicine is prescribed online by the doctor. We made many prototypes of this which were tested with users in many countries.
I am currently working with Boston Scientific, a medical equipment designing and manufacturing company. I am now completely in the medical product design field. I have been part of many innovative projects here.
Along with Industrial design, I do UX/UI design as well for the products. These days, as the world is moving towards a digital revolution, all the things are becoming online. So, proper design of online platforms is also a need of the hour. I did a certification program in UX UI from HFI (Human Factors International ), which is considered as a golden standard for UX UI designers across the globe. I am a certified usability analyst now and can work on digital designs as well.
As in any other field, I have seen many successes as well as failures in my career. I celebrate all the successes humbly and take failures as a learning opportunity to grow. Without failure, there is no learning.
How did you get your first break?
Hmm..I don’t know..but all throughout my career I was constantly putting sincere efforts from my side to improve and excel. Still continuing.
Well!, I consider the design of the high pressure inflation device as one of my best contributions to the public. I hope to make a positive difference to society with my knowledge and hard work.
I did not get my 1st job through campus selection. I prepared my portfolio and sent it to many companies and thus got selected in Tata Elxsi.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenges will always be there everywhere!! Face them by trying to go through them and thinking how better you can solve them.
Once you are in the corporate world, challenges are everywhere. Sometimes it will be technical and sometimes it will be communication. I failed many times and then took it as learning and kept rowing forward.
Where do you work now? Tell us about your current role
I am currently working with Boston Scientific, a medical equipment designing and manufacturing company.
I have been part of many innovative and wonderful projects here. I solve the problems of physicians in the operation theater by helping them perform the surgery in a better and easier way. If the physician is happy, that will reflect in his/her work and thus the patients will also be happy.
What are the skills needed for an Industrial designer?
Good observation around you, a mentality to solve problems, empathetic to people around, good sketching skills, knowledge of 3D modeling software, knowledge of different manufacturing methods, good communication, team work etc.
My day starts with checking my official emails so that I could answer anyone in case of any doubts or needs regarding the projects I work on. Then I get on to my work, like idea generation, sketching, 3D modeling, making different concepts, meeting with all the stakeholders in the project etc.
As this is a job where I can apply my engineering as well as my artistic skills, I believe this is what I love to do in my career.
What is the benefit of your work to society?
Being in the medical design field is a wonderful thing. You can help people out there with your designs. You can save someone’s life with your creativity, and I believe that saving a life is the ultimate thing.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
I mentioned this above already – Design of high pressure inflation device. I designed the world’s highest pressure inflation device which is used to inflate balloons catheters inside the body.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
Open your eyes and mind to what is around you and also to what is inside you. You will be able to figure out who you want to become.
If you want to be a designer, go ahead, change the world by changing perspectives. Make this world a slightly better place to live in.
Future Plans?
Every designer will have the future plan of starting a company of his own. I also have the same.
Hope this will help somebody to think of design as an option in their career.