Finding a Common Language
Reconciliation and revival through letterforms — published in Communication Arts.
An article published in Communication Arts exploring how letterforms can serve as a medium for cultural reconciliation between Sinhala and Tamil communities in Sri Lanka.
Argument
The article argues that the act of designing across scripts — particularly designing a typeface that inhabits both Sinhala and Tamil simultaneously — is not merely a typographic exercise but a political and cultural one. The shared visual space between Sinhala and Tamil letterforms offers a metaphor (and a practical tool) for finding common ground.
This was written in the context of post-war Sri Lanka, where reconciliation between communities was both urgent and unresolved. The piece examines how designers working with script and language can contribute to that conversation.
Publication
Communication Arts (commarts.com) is one of the leading international design publications.