We recently connected with Aravind Aanand and have shared our conversation below.

Aravind, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

During my master’s program at ArtCenter, I worked on a project titled “LA Mobility Vision 2050” with three classmates. Our objective was to envision the future of transportation systems in Los Angeles by the year 2050. To achieve this, we embarked on an extensive journey that involved visiting multiple cities within Los Angeles, conducting thorough research, and engaging in in-depth discussions. The complexity of the project required us to explore innovative solutions and anticipate the evolving needs of a rapidly changing urban landscape.

The final designs were not only a product of our creativity but were also meticulously validated by experts in the field. One of the high points was when our project earned us a coveted spot in an exhibition at Caltech. The positive reception and recognition from experts and peers further emphasized the success and impact of our work.

Looking back, this project was very meaningful to me as it required a lot of dedication and perseverance from our team throughout the challenging 9-month period. This experience not only improved my problem-solving and collaboration skills but also instilled a sense of pride in contributing to the future of urban mobility.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi there! I’m a graduate Transportation Systems and Design student at ArtCenter. My childhood interest in creative pursuits such as painting, photography, and sketching cars, naturally led me to the automotive industry. Watching TV shows and videos on the internet of fast cars and automotive designers working was a huge inspiration for me. I studied automotive engineering for my undergraduate degree to build a foundational understanding of how things work before transitioning into the design aspect.

As I was interested in getting into the automotive field, ArtCenter was a natural choice for me due to its reputation as one of the top design schools. I joined ArtCenter in 2021 amid the challenges posed by the pandemic, but I was determined to overcome them.

Recently, I completed an internship as a Human Machine Interface designer for Audi, adding practical experience to my academic journey. Currently, I am working on crafting my master’s thesis, combining my passion for design with a comprehensive understanding of transportation systems.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

In my creative journey, a key goal is to continually learn and experiment across various realms of creativity. While my primary focus is on automotive design, I find immense joy in exploring diverse pockets of creativity, including painting, experience design, photography, etc. This multidisciplinary approach not only broadens my skill set but also fuels my passion for innovation.

One of the driving forces behind this goal is the desire to avoid creative burnout. Engaging in different creative pursuits feels like a refreshing escape when I feel exhausted from the intensity of automotive projects. Each creative avenue provides a unique perspective and allows me to bring fresh ideas and inspiration back into my automotive design work.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

A notable chapter in my journey that reflects my resilience revolves around my pursuit of joining ArtCenter. Initially, I tried to join ArtCenter for my undergraduate studies but faced personal challenges that hindered that opportunity.

Choosing automotive engineering for my undergraduate studies, I set my sights on the master’s program. In 2020, I received acceptance, but the pandemic situation made it impossible to join. In 2021, I made another attempt, and this time, I successfully secured a spot in the master’s course at ArtCenter. The pandemic brought significant stress into the situation, but the goal was to be persistent till I got in, and eventually, it paid off.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.arav.ind.in/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aravind-aanand-a360271a2/