Hello, I’m Anand. I’ve been living, studying and working in Bombay (or Mumbai, call me old fashioned) since the winter of 2004 and have been running my own practice as a graphic designer and motion graphics artist (read, animator) after graduating from the Industrial Design Centre at IIT Bombay in 2007.
One of the most valuable advantages of working under my own employ has been the time I get to myself, to hone and pursue interests beyond work. This site would not have been as variegated if it wasn’t for those many hours spent looking up efficient and quick (and at times exotic) things to cook up for breakfast, lunch or dinner, learning new design tools via the assortment of rich material available online and listening to the unlimited supply of new music and video on YouTube and the likes.
Though I am a designer by profession, that is not all I am. Besides, being a designer isn’t a particular skill, but rather an approach that can extend well over the boundaries of the creation of objects, spaces and symbols.
Why “The New Vitruvian Man”
The original diagram of the Vitruvian Man, drawn by Leonardo da Vinci in 1487 (only ten years before Vasco da Gama set sail on his voyage that would bring him to the coast of India near Calicut), was created as a symbol of the perfection of the human form, of how it represented the most perfect amalgamation of science and mathematics. This diagram was based on ideal human proportions defined by Vitruvius (a Roman architect who lived around 70 BC) and da Vinci’s diagram was actually the first accurate graphic representation of these proportions. Its simple genius lies in the fact that he shifted the centre of the circle defining the reach of the arms upwards, to the navel (previous attempts had mostly been with concentric circles and squares, which made the shape of the inscribed body very oddly proportioned). More on this drawing, here.
I chose to base the cornerstone of this portal on this diagram just as much for its creator, as for what it represents. Leonardo da Vinci was the seminal Renaissance Man. He was a scientist, engineer, mathematitian, biologist, sculptor amongst many other such interests and talents.
With the internet now becoming a powerful external memory for any of us with a connection into it, I believe each and every one of us is fully equipped to be Renaissance men and women; contrary to the one-skill-wonders our education and career choices condition ourselves to be.
I hope the pages on this website provide you, citizen of this universe, an assortment of topics and items to pique your varied interests and curiosities, with a hope for much cross pollination and mutual growth.
I would love to hear from you, so do feel free to drop a line in the Contact section of this site.
If you would like to work with me or hire my services, please do feel free to contact me via email at a[at]thenewvitruvianman.com.
