The typervention bunch were out at Lodhi Garden yesterday, spelling out happy reminders for park visitors. More pictures and details soon. Watch this space ~

Kalapi and I finally decided to kick off the urban typography installations we’ve been planning for ages, with this quick one on the busy Outer Ring Road in New Delhi. We used dried fallen leaves from the Ashok trees lining the road and coloured wire, tucked within the fence grid, to write ‘Dilli Meri ♥’ (with the heart replacing the usual word, ‘jaan’) meaning, ‘Delhi my love/life.’

Taking off from the energy of the start, we’re starting a group on Facebook and kick-starting more type-a-thons around the city in the coming weeks. Local materials, minimum interference of public property and meaningful, beautiful typography to write words or phrases that aim to remind residents of the simple joys of their lovely city, that they forget to notice in their crazy daily lives.

Join us!

More diaries and drawings here

The email said: “Though the judges panel has selected Erin McLaughlin for the 2011 SOTA Catalyst Award, they requested that special acknowledgement be made of your work, which was held in especially high regard. The SOTA board of directors is therefore creating a special category of Honorable Mention this year, which will be awarded to you and two other candidates…”

Had to read it fifteen times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Then sit on my hands and bite my lip all day (interspersed with jumping around the studio and much silly grinning) to not announce it before the official announcement went up on the SOTA page:

What lovely feedback! I totally don’t think of myself as a type-nerd; just a wistful admirer that makes-do with drawing whimsical lettering, which, till quite recently I would do in my diaries away from public eye. This recognition is so encouraging!

As of now, I mean for this space to be a reflection of daily inspiration, thoughts, ideas, new sparks, worthy news and random rants connected with design and art (conveniently enough, most things do!) and in the life and times of Turmeric Design.

I don’t mean this as a permanent manifesto or statement of purpose. Just like the rest of Turmeric Design, this space is just… open. We’ll see where it chooses to take us.

To start, a few pictures of our sunny happy new studio at Panchsheel Park, New Delhi:

•cough-cough*