Kathir Arumugam
editKathir Arumugam is an Indian Graphic Designer known for his typography and cover design. He worked as a graphic artist in many publications and magazines. He designed more than 700 book covers. He also designed book covers for well-known authors like Sujatha, S.Ramakrishnan, Jeyamohan, Balakumaran. Kathir was worked as a graphic artist for Tamil Nadu Text Book Corporation to redesign the school text book cover patterns. And he was also designed “Keezhadi BOOKS” in 24 language for Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department under the guidance Of T. Udhayachandran IAS, Commissioner of Archaeology.
Born | Kathirvel Arumugam
1985 (age 36) |
Nationality | Indian |
Occupation | Graphic Designer, Typographer |
Parent(s) | Arumugam and Lakshmi |
Early Childhood
editBorn in Arachalur a small village near Erode district, Kathir grew up being heavily inspired and fascinated about art because his father is a street play artist acted in many plays like harichandra, pavazhakodi. In early, childhood he had more inclination towards creative side and used to indulge in a lot of leisure interest like pottery and making clay figurines. After his father passed away, his mother has to take over of the house hold responsibility to raise her son. And in his schooling he do many artists works voluntarily such as making posters and writing for signboards. To buy the stationery needed for artistic works, he did quite a few menial jobs such as delivering newspapers, painting works and also worked as a construction worker. He was highly influenced by the paintings of Trotsky Marudu from in his schooling period.
Career
editKathir interest on art make him to quit schooling after completion of ninth standard. He started to working with a design company in erode as a tea boy. It was the first exposure to graphic designing. After he wanted to study graphic designing at xplora design skool in erode. He worked every night in a plastic company to earn money for the graphic designing course fee. Around that time SivaRaj gifted a famous painter Vincent Van Gogh book to him and he started reading and surprisingly finished it. After finishing the book, it was the first time he ever cried in his life.
Later, Kathir was working at a school as a guide on art for children. A few artists from Chennai had come to teach painting to the children. One of the artist guna appreciated him for his art works. Unconsciously and unexpectedly, he ended up giving the children guiding on art. He realized that this was a major turning point in his life. He left for Chennai that night without telling anybody along with the artist. Guna sir introduced him to almost every artist he knew in Chennai. After a long wait, Kathir finally got a job at Uyirmmai Publication as a graphic artist. It was from here that his designing career starts. And also he was employed as a graphic designer in SUN Group media and communication, layout artist in Dinakaran daily, Kungumam (magazine).
Project Works
edit- Keezhadi BOOKS PROJECT for Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department (2020)
- TAMIL TEXT BOOK PROJECT DESIGNING for American Tamil Academy (ATA) (2019)
- TEXT BOOK REDESIGNING PROJECT for Tamil Nadu Text Book Corporation (2018)
Cover Design
editYear | Books | Language | Condribution |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Puthiya Neethi Kathaikal- Sujatha | Tamil | Cover Designer |
2017 | Ezhuthukku Ezhupathu- Balakumaran | Tamil | Cover Designer |
References
edit- https://www.vikatan.com/arts/literature/138354-life-story-of-kathir-arumugan-the-designer-of-new-school-books
- https://www.thehindu.com/society/kathir-arumugam-a-school-dropout-designs-textbook-covers-for-tamil-nadu-state-board-schools/article27509059.ece
- https://www.hindutamil.in/news/life-style/148739-.html
- https://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2018/10/07015141/1091242/Eyecatching-designs-to-adorn-school-textbooks.vpf
- https://www.thebetterindia.com/182902/school-dropout-designs-striking-textbook-covers-gets-hired-by-tn-state-board/
- https://www.dtnext.in/News/TopNews/2019/11/01012144/1194978/Keezhadi-excavation-findings-infuse-a-sense-of-Tamil-.vpf
- https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/meet-kathir-tn-artist-who-dropped-out-school-and-now-designing-textbook-covers-87108
- https://thelogicalindian.com/my-story/kathir-arumugam-story/
- https://www.millioncenters.com/blog/meet-kathir-arumugam:-the-school-dropout-who-followed-his-heart-and-dared-to-dream
- https://www.mathrubhumi.com/careers/features/school-dropout-designs-cover-for-school-textbook-1.3812546