Page 144 - Design Thinking C11

This symbolic language allowed people from different regions and backgrounds to understand the story and
message of the artwork, even if they spoke different languages. It also gave Indian design a sense of unity
and continuity across centuries.

21 st #Media Literacy
Century
Skills #Information Literacy
• Study the various symbols in Hinduism and understand their meanings. Visit the
website https://www.outofstress.com/hindu-symbols/
• Next, choose a symbol from Indian culture (like the sun, tree, or elephant) and draw
how you could use it in a logo, a rangoli, or a building design.
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Metaphors and Mappings
To make the abstract concrete, Indian designers used metaphors. These are visual comparisons that make
difficult ideas easier to understand. For instance, the Damru—a two-sided drum—is a metaphor for cyclical
time. One side represents the past, the other the future, and the middle is the present.

Designers also used mapping, linking parts of a temple to parts of the human body, or linking natural elements
like fire, water, air to emotions and ideas:
• Fire → Energy and change

• Water → Nourishment and flow
• Earth → Stability
• Air → Movement and breath
• Space → Possibility and connection
Examples:
• Lotus Temple (Delhi): It is shaped like a blooming lotus flower, symbolizing purity and peace. The lotus is a
common symbol in Indian culture and religions, and here it becomes a sacred space for all.

• Tree of Life motifs in Madhubani art (Bihar): Represents the interconnection between all living things. The
branches spread out like ideas, growth, and family.

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