Home / ATypI 2026 Sharjah
Date Thursday, October 29th 2026
Venue University of the Arts Sharjah / AVA 1

Scripts of Belonging: Reframing Identity Through Transcultural Typography

Archana Shekara Archana Shekara

This paper presents my ongoing Deepavali Project, an exploration of transcultural practices in typography that interrogates the dominance of Western cultural frameworks in design. By moving beyond the Latin typographic periphery, the project embraces bicultural environments and hybrid forms of expression. Grounded in the belief that design is not merely a tool of communication but a philosophy of life, this work emphasizes empathy and respect for the diverse communities that design serves.

Since 2018, I have created and mailed annual Deepavali greeting cards to peers, colleagues, friends, and family across the globe. The cards serve as a medium for cultural exchange and a celebration of my bicultural identity. Through this practice, I engage with Kannglish—a linguistic blend of Kannada (my native language) and English—alongside Sanskrit mantras from the Upanishads, ancient texts whose spiritual aphorisms promote peace and harmony. The design process involves visually synthesizing Kannada letterforms, derived from the ancient Brahmi script, with Latin letterforms to create typographic compositions that embody hybridity, fluidity, and layered meaning.This creative methodology demonstrates how typography can become a transcultural bridge, carrying both linguistic and philosophical significance.

By situating Kannada and Sanskrit alongside English, the project disrupts hierarchies of language and script, affirming indigenous knowledge systems while opening new pathways for interpretation and dialogue.The reception of the Deepavali cards has sparked curiosity and reflection among peers, prompting conversations around cultural hybridity, belonging, and the role of design in sustaining tradition within global contexts. Ultimately, the project positions typography as a practice of decoloniality—where hybrid letterforms not only communicate words but also embody identity, memory, and cultural resilience. Through this lens, design becomes a generative act of belonging, fostering awareness and dialogue across borders.

Archana Shekara
Speaker

Archana Shekara

Archana Shekara is Professor of Graphic Design, Harold Gregor Endowed Professor of Art, and Creative Director of Design Streak Studio, a social innovation lab at Illinois State University. Her research explores cultural identity, design for belonging, social justice, and community engagement. As a socio-cultural design researcher, she investigates transnational identity and decoloniality through a brown cultural lens, using ethnographic narratives to foster critical awareness. Her creative practice spans type design, participatory experiences, and interactive installations that employ emerging media to evoke multi-sensory engagement. Shekara’s work has been featured in international exhibitions, publications, and conferences, including AIGA’s One Designer, One Work. She has delivered invited lectures across India, China, and the United States, and was keynote speaker at Typography Day 2025 at IIT Mumbai. Shekara is also founder and chair of the South Asian Design Educators Alliance (SADEA), a global platform advancing South Asian design histories, pedagogies, and perspectives.