Cultural Fusion Typeface Design

This project aimed to merge two cultural influences into a unique typeface—one representing my heritage and the other inspired by my professor’s background. My professor, who is Indian, introduced elements such as bindis and saris as sources of inspiration. As someone who feels disconnected from my own heritage, I chose to honor my grandmother, a significant figure in my family, by drawing inspiration from her extensive collection of rings.

To create a cohesive visual language, I focused on jewelry-related elements with geometric shapes. My grandmother’s rings often featured marquise and pear-shaped diamonds, while the bindi traditionally incorporates teardrop and circular forms. These three shapes became the foundation of my typeface design.

To maintain consistency, I structured the typeface using a 4x4 grid (with some letters on a 3x4 grid), ensuring uniformity in size and proportion. Additionally, I incorporated a thinner inner stroke within each shape to enhance the dimensionality, evoking the appearance of fine jewelry.

The final design effectively captures the fusion of these cultural elements while maintaining a refined and visually compelling aesthetic. I am extremely pleased with the outcome, as it successfully balances structure, symbolism, and elegance.