India Cultural Center visual branding
Logo. I recently redesigned the India Cultural Center logo, originally created in 2013. ICC’s mission is to bring Indian cultural programming and education to both Indian and non-Indian families in the region. The organization’s previous name was ICC Greenwich, but they dropped the locale in order to appeal to the larger, NYC tri-state area. In ICC’s new logo, I combined a simplified crocus flower with a saffron-colored sun (a nod to their previous logo). Saffron, a spice made from the stamen of the crocus, is a common flavoring in Indian cuisine (it’s what gives curry its gold hue). The colors and symbol reflect Indian warmth, vibrancy and culture, while the font connotes clarity and purpose.
Gala invitation. The annual benefit gala is by far ICC’s largest fundraising avenue, providing money for educational programs, cultural performances, book signings and more. Planning starts 8 months in advance and includes creating a visual theme, logo, save-the-date email, printed invitation, online auction graphics, program, signage, menu design, and Powerpoint presentation. Below is one of my favorites. The theme of the gala was the “Pink Palace” of Jaipur. I designed the materials in festive magenta and green, yet kept the typography airy and delicate to balance the bright colors. An interior designer and I worked together to maintain visual consistency between the graphics and decor at the event.
Website. On the home page, the words, “Celebrate, Enrich, Discover, Connect” alternate over a short slideshow introducing the organization in photos. At the client’s request, upcoming events and announcements appear on the home page so the viewer doesn’t have to hunt for them. Using content blocks in Wix, the client can easily update photos, text and create new content.
“My Story, Our Future” logo. “My Story, Our Future” is a collaborative initiative organized by ICC and the Asia and Asian American Studies Institute at UConn. The audio-only project aims to collect and contribute stories about South Asian American youth identity in Connecticut, in support of the state’s mandated K-12 Asian American/Pacific Islander curriculum. Teenaged student participants spent the fall of 2022 learning to interview family members on their experiences as immigrants to North America from South Asia.
My mandate was to combine as many as possible of the following elements: South Asia, teens, voice communication, and family history. I presented several choices and the most popular (at left) was reminiscent of a brightly painted roadside stand sign or advertisement, with hand-drawn lettering at a dynamic angle. The microphone is similar to icons used on social media and the typography has a graphic novel feel. The logo is used on posters, social media, emails and signage. A selection of participating teens’ stories were on exhibit at the Greenwich Historical Society in CT from February 13-26, 2023.