Aksharaya : : Calendar2011

Remember I mentioned about the type-workshop I have attended in Alibaug? On Thursday, the client Sona Commercial Pvt Ltd finally launched the calender here in Delhi which has all designers' artworks they made during workshop. Works included by the faculty, students, recently graduates, professional designers from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangaluru etc.
There were many participants so they selected best 12 to fit in this 2011's calendar. Here are some pictures of what we have done and the madness, fun behind these 12 leaves.
The Venue:

We worked in our rooms too...day & night!

Intricacy in progress, by Sulekha a designer from Bangaluru.

More madness but definitely fun...

Here is display of final leaves of the calendar, where they presented each page as an artwork and was looking really awesome.

L to R: Puppet in Gujrati-kathputni (Snehal), Water in Kannada (Hiren), Love in Hindi (Rocky)

The above photos are by Pooja Saxena, a Delhi based communication designer and avid typo lover. Find the word gurumukhi 'Ghumangheri' in her labyrinth artwork, can't find it then check her awesome blog.

Unfortunately my work is not included in this calendar, but never mind this calendar justifies the great skills, talent and creativity. But I am sharing what I have done. The letters have been composed or rather built in a way to represent a concrete grid like cityscape; not with ink and brush but with only papers of different thickness and colours where each Devanagri Vowel helps create the desired feel.

Seriously, It was a nice trip and great collaborative effort. Lots to learn, lots to know! This motivates me do go deeper and acquire more friendship with letters. The journey actually began with the end of workshop. Standing on the deck, cold breeze, admiring Trajan of Gate of India, like minded people around who drink, eat and sleep types...memorable experience!

Cheers and many thanks to Sarang, Noopur, Santosh Kshirsagar, Pooja, Hanif, Rocky, Sulekha, OJ (Ojaswi), Locopoco (lokesh) and entire Whitecrow, Aksharaya team and of course Sona Commercial.

The Festivals of India : : Calendar

Remember 'The festivals of India' post? This is the detailed post of the same. Its a calender I have designed for a client 'Tricolite' who manufactures and supplies big electric machines for big scale companies. The theme which they decided this year was 'festivals of India'–different festivals celebrated in different parts of India in different months.
We decided to use calligraphy. Not only for lettering but explored the forms and graphics with calligraphy techniques. Basically all the graphics were made with strokes. It was a challenging experience in terms of creating 'imagery' with such constrains. With lots of experiments with nib thicknesses and dirtying hands and papers, finally we were ready with sets of graphics related to 12 festivals. Later it digitally scanned, composed and colour corrected.

Here is the cover:

We were actually running behind the time. The calenders should have reached the customers by mid of January. Because of some production hiccups we managed to deliver it by end of February. Hence the calender starts with April 2010 and ends with March 2011. Here are some glimpses of months/festivals.

This project was an experience! I was going through a severe pain, had a major dental surgery which became very complicated and was absolutely bed ridden for 5 days, couldn't open my mouth and move anywhere. This calligraphy came as savior. I have to be forcefully at home. D told me about this calender and was desperately in mood to do what I really like.
Actually this calligraphy worked as the best remedy for me to recover fast :)
This is how it looks as a spread:

Close up of forms and inks and texture:

Client as well as their customers were really happy to receive this 'piece'. Thanks Meera, Ayush and Dahiya and Mohor. Photocredits: Maithili Doshi.