Thought Factory Design, a Kochi-based multi-disciplinary design studio, has brought out a quirky poster series titled ‘Mudra Dialogues’ that connects everyday gestures to the Mudra. The firm, which has a 10-member team, works in naming, logo, typography, illustration, art direction and web design, basically everything that revolves around identity design. Since 2003, the studio has been involved in creating offbeat products that capture the essence of Malayalee culture.
This experimental poster series has been illustrated by Namita Devdas, a graphic designer from the Rhode Island School of Design.
“The assignment was ideal for her to observe how dance Mudras are used in everyday gesturing within the ‘local Kerala’ context. We may not all be trained in Bharatanatyam but these signing systems are quite commonly used, almost like a characteristic of a Malayalee, and easily understood by anyone living here,” says Theresa J. George, founder and creative director of Thought Factory Design.
The posters under ‘Mudra Dialogues’ interpret the Hamsasya Hasta as Adipoli, Trilinga Hasta as Ithiri, Bana Hasta as Melinjittu and so on.
“We are always trying to question the Malayalam identity – what makes us different other than the language. This series is a study of the visual culture,” says Theresa.
Take a look at the posters that are quintessentially Kerala:
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All photographs courtesy (and are copyright to) Thought Factory Design.
