This Major Research Project explores the decolonization of user interface (UI) icons and symbols within the Indian context. While contemporary digital interfaces are often presented as universal, they largely reflect Western cultural metaphors, resulting in the exclusion of indigenous visual languages, design and culture. This research investigates how Indian cultural symbols, philosophies, and visual systems can inform more inclusive and culturally resonant UI design.
Using a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates literature review, semi-structured interviews, and participatory co-design sessions with five Indian participants across diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. The research draws from Indian iconology, cultural design, values.
Findings reveal a rich, visual vocabulary emerginig from Indian culture - including symbols such as the Om, lotus, diya, rangoli, and everyday objects like the kundi and gullak, which remain largely absent in digital interfaces. Participants also identified the psychological and cultural impacts of colonization, including the dominance of Western metaphors in UI design.
The project culminates in the creation of a co-designed Indian UI icon bank, proposing culturally grounded alternatives to existing interface symbols. Rather than replacing Western icons, the research advocates for expanding digital visual language to include indigenous perspectives, fostering inclusivity, cultural representation, and more meaningful user experiences.