Vibrant, Imaginative, Elegant, and Representative: The IYSC’s Exciting New Logo and Our Winning Designer
After three rounds of judging and over 100 compelling entries, Terralingua announces the winning design for the IYSC logo!
Shushanthika K.’s winning design for the IYSC logo, in colour with side lettering.
Before we introduce the designer and what drove her outstanding design, a quick introduction to the IYSC.
What Is the IYSC and How Did it Start?
In 2019, the United Nations declared the International Year of Indigenous Languages. For the occasion and in collaboration with the UN, Terralingua launched the Indigenous Youth Storytellers Circle (IYSC). This unique platform propels young Indigenous storytellers onto the world stage by inviting them to tell their stories. Some talk about connecting with their ancestral languages, others about their cultural traditions or land-based knowledge and practices.
For many youths, having their voices heard has increased their communities’ visibility and supported their self-determination efforts.
Our goal is to stress the crucial importance of intergenerational transmission of languages and cultural traditions and, therefore, the vital role of Indigenous youths. To amplify their voices, the IYSC offers them a nurturing venue to tell their stories. Importantly, this happens both in a dedicated space on our website and in the pages of Terralingua’s Langscape Magazine.
Indeed, most of the participating youths have told us that submitting their story to the IYSC was an extremely positive and empowering experience. Moreover, they felt pride in their biocultural heritage and motivation to work for the maintenance and revitalization of that heritage.
For many of them, having their voices heard has also opened up educational and professional opportunities. Further, it has even increased their communities’ visibility and supported their self-determination efforts.
Five Years of Youth Telling Powerful Stories, and Counting
As a result of its growing success, the IYSC remains an ongoing project as part of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.
Stories are powerful and powerful stories are to be told.
One of our key collaborators, Kanna Siripurapu, is Coordinator of the IYSC Ambassador program and a frequent contributor to Langscape Magazine. As a storyteller himself, Kanna eloquently expresses the need for the IYSC thus:
“Stories are powerful and powerful stories are to be told. Often the protagonists of powerful stories are common people and common things in life. When observed through a different lens, they can transform our lives and societies. However, stories of common people and common things about our lives are lost in the routine and left unheard due to a lack of opportunities and a platform to share.”
Shushanthika K.’s winning design for the IYSC logo, in black and white with side lettering.
A High-Quality Logo Of Their Own
In light of the growing impact of the IYSC, Terralingua decided that the project needed an impactful logo. Accordingly, we put out a call for designs.
In April 2024 Kanna Siripurapu proposed a design competition because he sensed an amazing opportunity for the Visual Story Telling Centre (VSTC) and the School of Arts and Design (SOAD) at Woxsen University. Specifically, he visualized a collaboration between Terralingua, the VSTC and the SOAD. Fortunately, Professor Srutinwita Roy, who leads the VSTC, agreed to lend her expertise.
A fantastic opportunity to work on a real-world project commissioned by an international organization.
As Kanna recalls:
“The VSTC aims to help non-profit organizations communicate their work to the world more effectively through storytelling and design. We thought, why not make the IYSC logo design an open competition for undergraduate students at the SOAD? For them, it was a fantastic opportunity to work on a real-world project commissioned by an international organization like Terralingua.”
Soon after, the VSTC invited design students pursuing foundation level courses at the SOAD to enter the competition. Thanks to close support from Prof. Srutinwita Roy, Kanna was able to coordinate and organize a competition that drew spectacular entries. As Kanna recently enthused on social media, “About 100 students submitted their logo designs, and six logos [were] shortlisted by Terralingua.”
Reactions to the Winning Design
Clearly, the winning logo, by Sushanthika K., impressed multiple people on multiple levels. Here is just some of the praise it garnered.
Shushanthika K.’s winning design, in colour with circular lettering.
Terralingua’s Director, Luisa Maffi, recognized that “the student put A LOT of thought into it.” She felt strongly about this design “because of the vitality it inspires, at least in me! I find it vibrant, colorful, imaginative, essential, elegant, and representative.”
In an anonymous vote, the majority of the IYSC Ambassadors also selected Sushanthika K.’s design. For Ambassador Manju Maharjan, “this design reflects the philosophy of the IYSC in the sense that it includes two people representing youth, and the book between them represents a form of storytelling. And the two hands symbolize the togetherness of Indigenous youth, and the different colors used reflect the worldwide Indigenous community.”
What Inspired the Winning Design?
“Above all, what inspired me is the power of stories and the sense of community among Indigenous youth,” recalls Sushanthika K. “Specifically, I wanted to capture the spirit of connection, tradition, and creativity that keeps these stories alive and meaningful.” As for future projects, our winning designer is happy to go with the flow, “exploring where my creativity takes me. I’m open to whatever comes next.”
A Deep Commitment to Indigenous Narratives
Although not Indigenous herself, Sushanthika K. has “a deep respect for the rich traditions, stories, and languages of Indigenous cultures.” If her winning design — at once sophisticated and relatable — is anything to go by, it is obvious that she finds great inspiration in Indigenous biocultural heritage. “I’m committed to honoring and highlighting Indigenous narratives through my work,” says Sushanthika K. of her designs.
Terralingua is thrilled to have played a part in promoting such a strong design ethic, and we cannot wait to see what directions Sushanthika K. takes next!
A Winning Spirit from All Competitors
It takes a winning spirit to put your best work out there in the world. Therefore, Kanna and Terralingua wish to congratulate the five other finalists, who all answered the call with strong and compelling designs. Their striking logos are featured below.
Congratulations, Vaishvik Sunil Kalva, Aleta Jibi Pullan, Inayat Ali Khan, Caralene Sebastian, and Bandreddy Tejesh Kumar Reddy!
Finally, to all 106 students who submitted their beautiful designs, we are grateful for your daring and creativity. All participants received certificates from Terralingua for their contribution. Our very best wishes on your future projects – great accomplishments await you!
Thank you to all 106 students who submitted logos for the competition. Image: Srutinwita Roy / Woxen University
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For a Deeper Read:
Explore our growing repository of engaging stories by Indigenous youths from all over the world. Discover the essential work being done by our IYSC Ambassadors to foster storytelling by Indigenous youths. And if you are an Indigenous youth, submit your stories to the IYSC by clicking below!
