NAQQASHI
A timeless Craft from Lucknow
Craft Documentation • Field Research • Publication Design • Visual Identity
Project Overview
Naqqashi began as a craft documentation project and evolved into a complete publication design system.
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Along with my batchmates Lavanya and Ashi, we conducted pre-research on the 200-year-old metal engraving craft of Lucknow and spent 10 days living in Yahiyaganj, documenting the lives, processes, and challenges of the craftsmen practicing it.
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What started as observation turned into original content creation, photography, writing, and eventually the design of a fully realized book ready for publication.
Building the Visual Identity of the Book
After returning from field research and completing the writing and image processing, we moved into the visual communication phase of the project.
This included designing:
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The book cover
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Logo and typography system
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Color palette inspired by the craft
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Overall visual language for the publication
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The goal was to ensure the design reflected the essence of Naqqashi while maintaining clarity and elegance as a printed artifact.
Brochure as a Takeaway Artifact
As part of the publication, we designed a gate-fold brochure to be placed inside an envelope attached to the last page of the book.
Multiple copies of this brochure can be taken by readers as a souvenir — extending the experience of the book beyond reading into something tangible they can carry with them.
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The form, fold, and layout were designed to mimic the layered richness of the craft itself.
Postcards from the Documentation
A set of postcards was curated from the original photographs taken during documentation.
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These postcards serve as visual fragments of the larger story — allowing the craft, the people, and the environment to be experienced independently of the book.
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Each postcard preserves the format of correspondence, turning documentation into something personal and shareable.
The Final Publication
From research and writing to photography, editing, identity design, and print artifacts — every part of this project was built from scratch by us.
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Today, Naqqashi exists as a fully designed, print-ready book that documents not just a craft, but the people and stories behind it.
What This Project Represents
Naqqashi reflects my ability to work across research, content creation, and visual design as a single continuous process.
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It taught me how to:
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Observe deeply before designing
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Translate raw documentation into structured communication
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Build cohesive visual systems across multiple print artifacts
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Design with sensitivity to culture, people, and context
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These foundations continue to influence how I approach design today.