Team Encounters

Discovering Heritage Through Design

As a graphic designer, my career was all about creating contemporary designs for brands, websites, and marketing campaigns, often drawing inspiration from global trends. Heritage and history were not topics I actively pursued or connected with until I joined the Pleach India Foundation where I got introduced to a world I was previously not part of. I realized that these historical sites were not merely ruins but repositories of art and creativity.

This realization motivated me to begin visiting heritage sites whenever I got time. I began to encourage my family and friends to come along as well. So far I’ve been able to cover Ramappa Temple, Alampur and Phanigiri. Each visit was a revelation, presenting me with intricate patterns, motifs, and designs that transcended time.

My visit to the Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a defining moment. What struck me most were the patterns and motifs that adorned the temple. From floral designs to geometric shapes, every detail was thoughtfully crafted to enhance the visual narrative. 

At Alampur I encountered another layer of artistic ingenuity. The relief sculptures told stories from Hindu mythology, with each panel carefully designed to capture movement, expression, and emotion.  Visit to Phanigiri, an ancient Buddhist site, was yet another eye-opener. The motifs of lotus flowers, wheel symbols reflected the principles of simplicity and harmony. These elements resonated with me deeply as a designer, as they embodied the idea of “less is more” in the most profound way.

Through these visits, I realized that heritage is not confined to the past; it is a living source of inspiration that can shape contemporary creativity. At Pleach India Foundation, I now have the opportunity to blend the ancient with the modern. The motifs and patterns I observed at Ramappa, Alampur, and Phanigiri have found their way into my designs.

Joining Pleach India Foundation has been more than a professional opportunity; it has been a journey of personal growth and creative evolution. It has made me a more conscious designer, one who seeks inspiration from the wisdom of the past to create meaningful designs for the present.

Jitendra Ramisetty
Graphic Designer
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