Field Report Equations, March 2020

Illustrating Conflict and Heritage: Designing for "Whose Heritage is it Anyway?"

Working on the cover and illustrations for EQUATIONS’ field report, "Whose Heritage is it Anyway?" was an opportunity to visually capture the complexities of heritage, identity, and conflict. This report questions the ownership and governance of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, particularly in Hampi, where the interests of tourism, conservation authorities, and local communities often clash.

The design approach leaned into a hand-drawn, textured aesthetic to bring warmth and immediacy to these issues. Clean, digital lines felt too distant for a report about human lives entangled in policy and bureaucracy. Instead, the illustrations took on an organic, almost raw quality, mirroring the contested nature of heritage itself. The cover design sets the tone with layered imagery, evoking the multiple stakeholders and histories competing for space.

Each visual element was crafted to humanize the conflicts, emphasizing the lived experiences of those affected by decisions made in the name of preservation. By making the artwork feel more personal and tactile, the goal was to create an emotional connection with the reader—one that goes beyond statistics and policies, bringing them into the realities of those fighting to reclaim their place in history.