Summary
In this episode, we dive into the rare and fascinating world of designing for government bodies with Tarun Deep Girdhar, Activity Chairperson at NID. Tarun has designed more than 30 logos for the Government of India, including the RTI and NOTA symbols. We explore his process, the unique constraints of public projects, the importance of accessibility, and the surprising nuances of creating symbols that work for a billion people.
About Tarun Deep Girdher
Tarun Deep Girdhar is an educator, designer, and Activity Chairperson at the National Institute of Design. He teaches type design, typography, printing technology, illustration, visual narratives, and environmental perception. His work spans socially relevant communication, inclusive design, and gender sensitisation. He has designed over 30 government logos and more than two dozen publications.
Questions asked in this episode
1. What is a logo?
History of logos from medieval crests to modern branding.
Difference between wordmarks and symbols.
How technology has shifted logo design from single-color prints to multi-variant digital identities.
2. Designing for the Government vs. Commercial Work
Why government logos aren’t about brand recall in the same way commercial logos are.
The role of authority, credibility, and trust in public symbols.
3. The RTI Logo – Challenges & Decisions
The brief: approachable, not authoritative.
Conducting field research to avoid misinterpretations.
Public testing through newspapers and surveys.
Color choice driven by rural paint availability.
Typeface selection for clarity across scripts.
4. Visibility as the Key to Success
How consistent use builds subconscious recall.
Examples like the Indian Post Office logo.
5. The NOTA Logo
The inherent contradiction of “None of the Above.”
Designing a universal rejection symbol.
Field testing to confirm recall and avoid confusion.
6. Lessons for Designers
Understanding context before critiquing public design.
Designing for mass use with production realities in mind.
Championing design to non-design audiences.
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