"Technology and knowledge are key factors of production in the present"- Mohan Asanga Perera Chief Designer, Thinkfaqtory

Mohan Asanga Perera  Chief Designer at Thinkfaqtory

In the previous story I touched on how IT is used as an enabler in other professions, within that time liberty I met with “Moasa” renowned in the digital designing industry by the alias to understand the impact IT has made in his life. A vibrant entrepreneur excelling as a Digital Artist, Web developer and Designer at Thinkfaqtory, Mohan can be described as a country lad residing in Gampaha with an eye and talent for creative designing. “I would go for basics at the first place. Making IT education a must would be the first step to increase IT literature” says Mohan.

Discussing his connection with IT Mohan said, “I am a digital artist; IT holds a key to each door which opens in my path. It is because of IT that I have the means of using my own talent in an innovative and revolutionary way which let me explore a whole new world on my own”. Explaining further “IT is an arena where anyone around the world can earn the real value of your time and sweat” he added.

He explained the impact IT made on him “Earlier, IT was a narrow space where Software Engineers were the limelight; in the present the status quo has changed in the sense that, creative designers use IT as a medium to enhance and excel their career expressing the artistic DNA. IT geared me to develop my own virtual concept - ‘thinkfaqtory’ (www.thikfaqtory.com), a garage studio for web solutions. I personally believe that it as a turning point of the Sri Lankan digital art spectrum since it has the ability to cater as a platform for a globalized career”.

A product of Ananda College Colombo Mohan recalls his toddler days, decorating walls in his home with crayon art and when he was about nine years old, Tin Tin – the famous cartoon inspired him of becoming a motion cartoon designer. “Cartoon making was actually a dream, I was really obsessed with” he shared.

The Digital Art industry is highly competitive and is rapidly evolving, I asked him what he would do to keep pace with the changing marketing environment, and he replied “My stance in IT is developing eye candy, I believe in keeping myself posted with the evolution of the industry. Constant reference and keeping an eye on competitive strategy makes us sustainable in this industry. He added, “Digital Art is about novel IT solutions to the consumers. Our secret is that we cater on a platform that if our final output is profound, we are safe in the long run. Our focus is more than the user interface and signature creative patterns to which we attach our products or solutions. That’s the uniqueness in this industry according to young Mohan.

When inquired about the knowledge economy he gave the following feedback “neo-classical economics has recognized only two factors of production: labour and capital. Yet with the evolution of IT sector, it is changed. Information and knowledge are replacing capital and energy as the primary wealth-creating assets. Technological developments in the 20th century have transformed the majority of wealth-creating work from physically-based to "knowledge-based.” Technology and knowledge are the key factors of production. I believe that knowledge economy is a basic need for a country like ours which is on the verge for the next level of development.

The youth play a major role in the knowledge market. The entire success of the nation depends on the youth who is the future. In general countries where the youth are more agile and contributes towards their nation, in the form of getting complete and proper knowledge in information technology, are more equipped towards the development in the modern era.  With all the modern means in the Computer age, where everything seems to be possible, the youth can think way forward. “We always consider the heroes of the past to be the evergreen characters. But today the youth with the proper use of the modern facilities should be ever green characters for the times to come” he explained.

I asked him the challenges he faced when setting up his own business he replied “Mine is a small scale BPO venture in comparison firms such as Virtusa, etc. However, the challenges remain the same notwithstanding the size of the organization.

“I accept it is not a normal job with regular working hours, sometimes I have to scrape my mind hours on hours in defying something I saw to a marketable, attractive piece of art which has to be a head turner.   Yet in a paradoxical think stream I believe that heavy work and long working hours are the key to success”, he exclaimed.

He explained about the growth of IT in Sri Lanka “Last ten to fifteen years have seen unprecedented growth in IT. In fact year 2009 was the year of ICT in Sri Lanka. Basically IT is a takeoff that profits our economy by a large number of jobs being created and as a forex earner.

Mohan believes there are immense possibilities in IT. Like the development of tools etc.  “As an example IT development may make people so linked that differences in ethnicity, language, religion, homeland, culture, sex etc. may not seem so vast”.