AN IDENTITY FOR A LEGACY.
Being a South African Indian hasn’t been the easiest walk in the park, but through determination and innovation, which are prevalent traits in most Indians in South Africa, I have built my repertoire as a leader in the graphic design industry.
Fate played out its many hands once again, and this time a POST newspaper billboard flashed past me, which barely got my attention, but enough of it to read “1860 Logo Design Competition.
Curious to see what this was all about I did further research and discovered that the POST newspaper, a stalwart for the Indian community for decades, was holding a logo design competition for the 1860 Legacy Foundation. At first I was quite perturbed that such an illustrious and essential society which held our heritage of being South African Indians at the fore front, was only being publicized through this competition and should of been brewing for along time in the minds of the South African public.
Nevertheless I took up the gauntlet and found it the perfect opportunity to try my hand at something so momentous to us Indians, and just being part of this competition gave me some sense of my own identity as an Indian.
After countless proposals and with the deadline looming, I settled on what I felt best described and encompassed the mission statement of the 1860 Legacy Foundation. After submitting my final design, I felt that it would be a tough battle against other worthy entrants but I still remained positive and upbeat.
Out of the blue late September 2009, I got the call that my design had been chosen to represent the 1860 Legacy Foundation and I was the official winner. I was overwhelmed by joy and surprise as I had won, not only the praise from the 1860 committee but personal adulation that my creation has been chosen to be part of something this big.
I am sure that every person strives for the event or action that would have them to be remembered in history, I have done this and feel proud that I have given, if not the most important symbol for Indian heritage the 1860 Legacy Foundation, a visual identity.
I AM
MARLON SUKHNUNAN
