The Interview Series: Anand Dixit, in INDIA
My Interview series continues with Anand Dixit who works in INDIA. Owner & Founder, and part owner of the company Corel Elements.
I interview people I have come to know through Corel forums, and who are fellow beta testers of and fellow CorelDRAW users. And some of us have met in real life.
Your Name:
Anand Dixit
Website:
Style & type of work you produce?
Most of my work is in Print Media. I should say ’Our work’ rather than ’My work’ as me and my wife work together and she is a qualified Commercial Artist. We together run a small design studio. So we are into designing of Brochures, catalogs, Packaging designs, Point of Purchase materials etc.
You like myself is a user of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. What was it that made you discover, and drew you to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite?
I started my career in an advertising agency. Not as an artist but as a Media Manager. I used to see the artists working on CorelDRAW creating some good stuff. I was always interested and fascinated with what they created with the suite. So after I left my job to start my own business, I started using the application.
What year was it?
I left my job in 1991. However I started using CorelDRAW with its version 3 only when my wife joined my business in 1992/1993.
I left my job in 1991. However I started using CorelDRAW with its version 3 only when my wife joined my business in 1992/1993.
Which Programs do you use, Corel and non-Corel programs?
Well. For designing requirements…. its just and just CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. Absolutely no other software is yet needed. Rest some are my language software, Office suite to support certain requirements in DRAW like a spreadsheet for creating a database for variable data printing in DRAW and so on.
Do you use any analog tools in conjuntion with your work?
You mean pencil, point pens, blades, brushes etc. Right? Not me. But my wife needs some times (But very rarely now-a-days).
Which year was it you started your business, your work?
As mentioned earlier I left my job as a Media Manager in 1991. Started my own business. Not being an artist, I had never thought I would settle with a design studio. I started offering services like data base marketing, conducting marketing surveys, product education campaigns for clients’ products etc. My wife joined me in my business somewhere in 1992 and our business started changing. We together now run a design studio since then.
Would you recomend CorelDRAW Graphics Suite?
Yes. Surely. It’s a full fledged solution to run a design studio for Print Media.
What, more importantly, made you begin working with the work you do today? After all you could have made a career as a hairdresser or something in that line instead, like any other human being.
Well this question has made me think : What industry would I have been into if I was not here. I did my Bachelors in Commerce. So probably I would have joined a bank to count currency notes for others. LOL. I got my first job at an Advertising Agency and got my interest developed in the industry. Then came in my own business in the same industry. Finally after my wife joined me to make it ’our’ business from ’my’ we started flourishing. Frankly I never had to think of doing any thing else than what we are doing.
What is that you like with your work?
I am more into technical areas than being a creator of a design. So obviously I started finding ways to make the designs technically perfect for reproduction. Explored and applied the tools from the application that made the tasks easier. Learned VB programming by reading books and websites to program small plugins that reduced the worktime and made the digital artworks perfect for reproduction. That’s what I like in my work. Now after successfully running my business for over 20 years, I am almost a full time CorelDRAW trainer and a Strategic Training Partner for CorelDRAW in India. And I am enjoying that too.
In an interview in the Digital Artist Magazine, who interviewed me a few years back, I was asked what I would like to see in future versions of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. Is there anything you would like to see?
Hmmm. Development is the key to success. So keep adding new and good tools, good features to make the user feel easy using the application. This wish has no end and the discussion on this subject on www.coreldraw.com here is the proof.
Do you drink coffee or tea in the morning?
Coffee in the Morning?
Why? I love to have it any time. Stefan, if you remember, we had a long discussion on Coffee on our forum. I love the aroma and flavour of ’South Indian Coffee’. A strong filter coffee with less sugar.
What do you think is important to think about running your own business or in your line of work, to think about. Is it discipline or and something else?
You said Discipline. Let me confess. I am disciplined only at my professional work. My personal things are always messed up. My room, my wardrobe and even my wallet. My wallet always is full everything except of money. Small pieces of paper with cell numbers, ATM slips, Cash vouchers and what not. I carry my money in other pockets. Answering to what you asked. Dedication, faith in what you do, self confidence (I mean real confidence and not over confidence) and logical thinking.
For someone just starting out, what do you think they should think about?
Being a trainer, I come across lots of young students at institutes. I always recommend them to work under some experts till they gain some experience on real life work. Most of them are not interested in working under someone. They start their own business with whatever knowledge they have. I think they always compromise with what they do. It always benefits to know from an expert about mistakes you do and probably you get a better solution to what you did.
Is there any big change in how and what you worked with when you first started out. Have the business changed in any way?
Technologies have surely changed. And so the expectations of your clients from you. Now they need quick designs with options. The Way of working has changed. Handwork is now rarely found as it consumes more time.
Thank you Anand!
Stefan Lindblad, January 2012
Copyright Anand Dixit & Stefan Lindblad
