Rediscovering Typographic Beauty: An Interview with Type Designer Pooja Saxena
In a world increasingly dominated by digital screens, the tactile beauty and cultural significance of traditional signage often gets overlooked. Type designer Pooja Saxena, through her inspiring project "India Street Lettering," is working to shed light on this rich and diverse world of non-digital letterforms.
Pooja’s Passion for Found Typography
Saxena, known for her insightful work in typographic design, believes in the immense value of documenting non-digital letterforms. She observes how these traditional forms often embody fascinating visual paradigms that have been lost in translation to the digital realm. Gently challenging the notion of complexity often associated with Indic scripts, Saxena highlights the inherent design brilliance they possess.
Capturing the Essence of Street Lettering
The "India Street Lettering" project acts as a visual archive, capturing the essence of local street signage. Saxena meticulously documents each sign, meticulously noting its location, script, function, material, and technique.
Through her project, Saxena aims to move beyond nostalgia or sentimentality, showcasing these signs as well-crafted and relevant design solutions. Her work celebrates the creativity and ingenuity embedded in these everyday forms, highlighting their cultural significance and context.
Zines: Expanding Our Typographic Understanding
In addition to her extensive digital archive, Saxena recently began publishing zines to further explore and illuminate the world of street lettering. These zines delve into specific themes, such as tiles used in signage, and cinema signs across various Indian cities. Through her zines, Saxena encourages us to look beyond traditional typographic conventions and appreciate the diverse approaches to letterforms that exist around us.
Beyond Documentation: Empowering Local Sign Makers
Saxena’s dedication extends beyond documentation. Her future plans involve engaging directly with local sign makers, unearthing their stories, understanding their processes, and learning their unique typographic vocabularies.
By amplifying the voices of these often-overlooked artisans, Saxena seeks to acknowledge their expertise and contribute to a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of typography in India.
Want to discover the captivating world of Indian street lettering?
Visit Pooja Saxena’s archives and follow her journey:
https://indiastreetlettering.com/
