I’m heading off on my annual pilgrimage to the motherland next week, so was delighted to receive an Indo-centric gift ahead of my departure – in the form of a deck of cards featuring designs inspired by Indian truck art. The pack was designed by my local buddy Anton Hart who started typo-ventilating over Indian signage a few years back while working in Mumbai.
Award winning designer & creative director, Anton Hart and Simon Hayward, have joined forces to launch Blow Horn Design. They’re planning a series of witty and whimsical products inspired by Indian street art and playing up local humor. The cards are one of their first products to reach limited shelves – mainly at Simon’s boutique Goan resort Vivenda Dos Palhacos and also at Tuk Tuk in Margao, Sacha’s Shop in Panjim and Rangeela in Calangute.
Like me, Anton, has been drawn to Indian vehicular graphics which celebrate uniqueness and honour the local. He has skillfully devised a palette of typographic elements which will feature in their upcoming range. Meanwhile I’ve been the lucky recipient of some of his prototypes – and will depart for India shortly with his Takes Notes OK notebook & I Love Bombay t-shirt. While you’re waiting for these and more to hit the shelves – check out some images of Indian signage which keep us inspired.
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Is the similarity to the Hand Painted Type project’s ‘Painter Kafeel’ font just a coincidence?
http://www.handpaintedtype.com/
Yep, conincidence indeed– Anton designed his some years back based on truck signage he spotted in Mumbai– before Painter Kafeel’s great work was online. Of course, it’s quite common to see similar lettering styles amongst painters across India. Kudos to Hanif for his great work with the Hand Painted Type project. Actually he and Anton have been in touch recently over their shared passion for Indian street signage.
Love the graphics – brings back memories of huddling under a copy of the Hindustani Times for warmth during a freezing night-time bus ride from Delhi to Jaipur in 1991. Yes I am that old. And that stupid.