Deepak Singh Ola
26-07-2024
Raghunath Krishna Joshi, commonly known as R. K. Joshi, was a multifaceted figure in the fields of design, typography, poetry, and calligraphy. Born in 1936 in Sangli, India, Joshi's life was marked by a deep commitment to the beauty and practicality of letters. His contributions to Indian letters were significant, and he remains an underappreciated yet highly influential figure in the world of design and typography.
Joshi's educational journey began at the Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art in Mumbai, where he studied from 1952 to 1956. This foundation laid the groundwork for his future endeavors in art and design. After completing his education, Joshi worked as an artist with D.J. Keymer & Co. (now OBM) from 1956 to 1960.
In 1961, Joshi joined Ulka Advertising as an Art Director, a position he held until 1983. During this period, he played a crucial role in the Indian advertising industry, contributing to the development of multi-lingual communication strategies. His work at Ulka Advertising not only showcased his artistic skills but also provided a platform for him to explore and innovate in the field of typography and type design.
From 1983 to 1996, Joshi taught at the Industrial Design Centre (IDC) at IIT Bombay. His courses focused on calligraphy, typography, and type design, influencing a generation of students who went on to design typefaces for various Indian languages. One of his most notable academic events was the 'Akshrayaoga' conference in 1986, which he coordinated. He also organized an international exposition on calligraphy, 'Akara', in New Delhi in 1988. He also designed corporate identities for various companies and government agencies, such as India Post, the Steel Authority of India limited, Punjab National Bank, CEAT Tyres, and ITC Hotels, among others. He designed the core Indian fonts used in Microsoft Windows which was a major achievement that made typing in Indian languages more accessible on Windows.
In 1997, Joshi became a Type Design Specialist at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), formerly known as the National Centre for Software Technology (NCST). Here, he continued his work on language technology and type design and developed a series of multilingual fonts for 12 Indian languages.
Throughout his career, Joshi conducted numerous workshops, seminars, demonstrations, installations, and exhibitions centered around type and typography. He was a highly motivating force in the field of typography and Indian type design, inspiring many students and colleagues. His contributions were recognized with a Grandmaster Commendation at the Icograda Design Week in India Conference in 2007, where he received a standing ovation.
R. K. Joshi passed away in 2008. His legacy continues to shape the future of design and typography for generations to come.