Design Project 3 Documentation

Design Project 3 Content, Context & Interactions

Redesigning the

Malayalam Calendar Vivek Menon Muralidhar Graphic Design Semester 6 vivek_m@nid.edu Project Guide Rupesh Vyas

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Typeset in Avenir Next, Designed by Frutiger, together with Linotype in-house type designer Akira Kobayashi, 2004.

Document Dimensions: 60p0 x 60p0

2 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

Design Project 3 Content, Context & Interactions

Redesigning the

Malayalam Calendar Vivek Menon Muralidhar Graphic Design Semester 6 vivek_m@nid.edu Project Guide Rupesh Vyas

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This project deals with analyzing and redesigning the Malayalam Calendar, attempting to make it available on a more easily accessible platform.

4 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

Project Proposal Content, Context & Interactions

Project Introduction

Need/Relevance

The Malayalam Calendar is an article that one can find in almost every single Keralite’s house no matter whether they reside in Kerala, or abroad.

Growing up constantly seeing this mysterious commodity, but never being able to read it, was always a cause for frustration, because it is only ever available in the Malayalam Script.

The kind of information the Calendar provides is a rich source of cultural insight and must not be lost with future generations.

It is a dynamic source of information regarding festivals in Kerala and uses Astrological Calculations to determine Nakshatrams and important timings; making it an indispensable part of Kerala’s Heritage.

Scope of Project Currently the Calendar is produced only by a few leading Malayalam Newspapers for a very exclusive sect of people. While there have been attempts to digitize this calendar by essentially replicating the same overload of information into an app, there have never been proper attempts to make this information easily understood and accessible.

The option can be made available to view the Calendar in other languages and provide relevant notifications to relevant users once they save the information about themselves and their family members. This would eliminate the tedious task of calculating certain special dates every month and every year. It would also make it easier to update the information every year for the people who organize and decipher this information from an almanac.

With the current Calendar, there are usability issues of not being able to receive only the information that the user needs at a given moment.

My project is also a way to make this information more accessible to those unable to read Malayalam, as well as possibly eliminating the tedious task of having to calculate every festival/ anniversary every year.

Target Groups · All Malayalees · Malayalees who are not able to read Malayalam but still conform to the observances mentioned · Malayalees who are astrologically inclined as well as digitally aware · NRIs living abroad

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Proposed Project Timeline Design Process

Project Timeline | Design Process Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

14-20 March

21-27 March

28-3 April

4-10 April

11-17 April

18-24 April

25-1 May

2-8 May

Data Collection /

Research of Printed Medium Market Research of similar apps User Needs from Actual Calendar Analysis of Research & Ideation / User Personas Task Flows & Card Sorting Quick Prototyping

Visualization & Conception /

Responsive Wireframing Prototyping & Iterations Visual Language Development Execution /

Final mockups and Deliverables Final Documentation / Publication/Blog

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Phase 1 Data Collection

The Objective of this stage was essentially to understand the chosen Subject matter, having had no prior knowledge regarding Indian Calendar systems and their Users.

What became clear to me very early on in the process was that not many people were aware of just how much information the Calendar carried or what all the information meant, and yet almost every Malayalee had this Calendar hanging somewhere in their house. As I delved further into trying to understand the information myself, I constantly sought help from relatives and family friends, who each contributed valuable inputs into the subject.

01

Understanding the Information at hand and breaking it down to make it easier to understand for myself

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Analyzing the Printed Medium and figuring out what users are used to seeing on the current Calendar

03

Researching Similar Products and Brands available in the market, whether print or digital, and understanding each of their positives and negatives

04

Studying the basic target groups and understanding their needs, by carrying out an extensive survey which proved highly conducive to the research

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Indian and Western Calendar Systems Chronology and astronomy were subjects of interest in ancient civilizations like Egypt and Mesopotamia as seen from findings and artifacts. But the oldest, largest, and by far the most sophisticated of the great ancient cultures, the Indus Valley Civilization (of India), proved to be far ahead in terms of chronological and astronomical acumen. It is noted that a special class of professional astronomers, called nakshatradarshaks or ‘star-gazers’, meticulously observed and recorded the phases of the moon in reference to fixed stars - called nakshatras, or asterisms. This method of calculation, and its precision, sharply distinguishes Indian astronomy from the astronomy of all other countries.

Almost every state in India follows it’s own Calendar, each with it’s own subtle differences, and yet largely similar. Although we do, and should, use the Western calendar in our day-to-day social affairs, we cannot afford to forget that the Indian calendar is a central part of our Indian culture and heritage. All our Hindu festivals, ceremonies and rituals are still based on the traditional calendar. This surely warrants a basic working knowledge of the Indian Calendar, and if nothing else, at least a sense of pride in its precision, accuracy and scientific computation. In this particular project I have chosen to investigate specifically the Malayalam Calendar (also called the Kollam Era or Kolla Varsham) which remains extremely relevant and widely used even today, in the State of Kerala where my roots lie, in Southern India and among it’s people.

The History of Kollam Era The widely accepted Malayalam Calendar today follows the Kollam Era alongside the Gregorian Calendar. Initially Keralites followed the Kali abda based on the Chathuryuga system. According to this there are 4 yugas -Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and the Kali Yuga. Kaliyuga started on February 18, 3102 BC. In brief, many theories revolve around how it came about, many of which include other significant events which happened around 825 AD when the Era began: 1. The “Kolla Varsham” started with the erection of a ‘Siva’ temple at Quilon or Kollam in 824/825 AD. As its origination was strictly local and religious, “Kolla Varsham” was not accepted by the people living in other countries. But, when Kollam became a major trade center, the traders and the people of other countries began to follow “Kolla Varsham”.

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2. The conversion of King Cheraman Perumal of Kodungalloor to Islam and his consequent pilgrimage to Mecca or Mount Kailasam.

3. The launch of Kollavarsham was to commemorate the complete transition of Kerala from the Dravidian-Buddhist tradition to the Aryan-Vedic system in 825, from the reign of Perumals to a caste based rule.

4. The educated king Raja Udaya Mathanda Varma, the Lord of Venad, summoned a special council under his authority at Kollam, to make extensive astronomical calculations and the new era was established with effect from 15 August 825.

5. The Kollam Era may be connected to the legend of Parasurama, an incarnation of Vishnu, and is also called the Era of Parusurama.

Elements of Kolla Varsham Breaking it down

1. Months The Kerala calendar, unlike a Western Calendar, is dynamic as day and date combinations change based on the position of the heavenly bodies (stars).

There are a total of 12 months in the Malayalam Calendar each of which start and end approximately in the middle of a Gregorian Month with varying lengths of 29 to 32 days.

They correspond to the Zodiac signs in Western Astrology.

Malayalam Month

in Malayalam

Chingam Kanni

Since the Malayalam Calendar is a Solar Sidereal Calendar, the entire year is the time taken for the Earth to complete a single orbit around the Sun. The Sun ecliptic is divided into 12 Raashis, and the day in which the Sun transits into each Raashi before Sunset, is taken to be the first day of the month. In case it transits after Sunset, the next day is considered the first day of the month.

Gregorian Calendar

Sanskrit- Solar

Zodiac Sign

ചിŋം

August–September

Simham

Leo

കnി

September–October

Kanyā

Virgo

Thulam

തുലാം

October–November

Tulām

Libra

Vrishchikam

വൃ-ികം

November–December

Vrścikam

Scorpio

Dhanu

ധനു

December–January

Dhanu

Sagittarius

Makaram

മകരം

January–February

Makaram

Capricorn

Kumbham

കുംഭം

February–March

Kumbham

Aquarius

Meenam

മീനം

March–April

Meenam

Pisces

Medam

േമടം

April–May

Mesham

Aries

Edavam

ഇടവം

May–June

Vrishabham

Taurus

Midhunam

മിഥുനം

June–July

Mithunam

Gemini

Karkidakam

ക8kടകം

July–August

Karkkadam

Cancer

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2. Days

Malayalam Day in Malayalam Gregorian Calendar

The days of the week in Malayalam are suffixed with Aazhcha (-week).

Hindi

Corresponding Planet

Njayar

ഞായ$

Sunday

Ravivar

Sun

Thinkal

തിŋ(

Monday

Somvar

Moon

Chowva

െചാവ,

Tuesday

Mangalvar

Mars

Budhan

ബുധ0

Wednesday

Budhvar

Mercury

Vyazham

വ1ാഴം

Thursday

Guruvar

Jupiter

Velli

െവllി

Friday

Sukravar

Venus

Shani

ശനി

Saturday

Shanivar

Saturn

3. Stars In Indian Astrology, there are 27 Nakshatras or Stars in the Zodiac Belt. Each Nakshatra has a value of 13 degrees and 20 minutes, thus completing 360 degrees of the zodiac for 27 stars.

Each day corresponds to a particular star, and when a baby is born, the prevalent star at the time becomes his star sign.

It is important to note that the star does not last an entire day, but the time for which a star lasts is measured in Naazhikas and Vinazhikas which is the astrological measure of time. One Naazhika is 24 minutes while one Vinazhika is 24 Seconds.

Therefore the prevalence of each star on a particular day is accurate to the second unlike Western Astrology.

Malayalam Star

in Malayalam

Meaning of the name

Sanskrit

Ashwathi

അശ#തി

Horseman

Ashwini

Bharani

ഭരണി

The Bearer

Bharani

Karthika

കാർtിക

Perspiring

Krittika

Rohini

േരാഹിണി

The Red One

Rohini

Makayiram

മകയിരം

Deer’s Head

Mrigashira

Thiruvathira

തിരുവാതിര

Moist

Ardra

Punartham

പുണർതം

Good Again

Punarvasu

Pooyam

പൂയം

Nourishing

Pushya

Aayilyam

ആയില8ം

The entwiner

Ashlesha

Makam

മകം

The Mighty One

Magha

Pooram

പൂരം

The Fig Tree

Poorvaphalguni

Uthram

ഉ:തം

The Latter Red One

Uttaraphalguni

Atham

അtം

Hand

Hastha

Chithira

ചിtിര(ചി:ത)

Brilliant

Chithra

Chothi

േചാതി

The lead Goat in a herd

Swathi

Vishakham

വിശാഖം

Forked Branch

Vishakha

Anizham

അനിഴം

Success

Anuradha

Thrikketta

േക? (തൃേk?)

Eldest

Jyeshtha

Moolam

മൂലം

The Root

Moola

Pooradam

പൂരാടം

The Former Unsubdued

Poorva Ashadha Uttarashadha

Uthradam

ഉ:താടം

The Latter Unsubdued

Thiruvonam

ഓണം (തിരുേവാണം)

Ear of Hearing

Shravana

Avittam

അവി?ം

Wealth

Dhanistha

Chathayam

ചതയം

100 Physicians

Shatabhishaj

Poororuttathy

പൂരുരു?ാതി

Former Beautiful Foot

Poorva Bhadrapada

Uthruttathy

ഉ:ത?ാതി

Latter Beautiful Foot

Utter Bhadrapada

Revathi

േരവതി

Wealthy

Revathy

12 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

4. Tithi The (anticlockwise) angular distance between the sun and moon as measured from the earth along the ecliptic (circle on the sky in which the sun, moon and planets seem to move) can vary between 0 and 360 degrees. This is divided into 30 parts. The time spent by the moon in each of these parts is called one tithi.

The month has two pakshas or fortnights. The first 15 tithis constitute the bright fortnight or shukla paksha - the waxing phase and the next

Malayalam Tithi

Paksham

Prathipadam(Pradhama)

Shukla

Dwitheeya

Shukla

Trutheeya

Shukla

Chathurthi

Shukla

Panchami

Shukla

Shashti

Shukla

Saptami

Shukla

Ashtami

Shukla

Navami

Shukla

Dasami

Shukla

Ekadasi

Shukla

Dwadasi

Shukla

Tryodasi

Shukla

Chaturdasi

Shukla

Pournami(Full Moon)

Shukla

Prathipadam(Pradhama)

Krishna

Dwitheeya

Krishna

Trutheeya

Krishna

Chathurthi

Krishna

Panchami

Krishna

Shashti

Krishna

Saptami

Krishna

Ashtami

Krishna

Navami

Krishna

Dasami

Krishna

Ekadasi

Krishna

Dwadasi

Krishna

Tryodasi

Krishna

Chaturdasi

Krishna

Amavasi

Krishna

15 tithis constitute the dark fortnight or krishna paksha - the waning phase. In a given lunar month, there are essentially 30 tithis. The 15th tithi of the bright fortnight (full moon) is called Paurnami or Poornima and the 15th tithi of the dark fortnight (new moon) is called Amavasi.

The tithi in which the moon is at the time of sunrise of a day is taken to be the tithi for the day. Each Tithi has its respective deity and observances.

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5. Njattuvela The Kerala Calendar plays a much larger role is defining out the agricultural cycle for the year.

One of the calendars simultaneously running alongside the Malayalam Calendar, is the Njattuvela cycle, which is a calendar to guide Farmers. It used to be the basis of traditional agricultural practice as outlined in the book “Krishi Gita”. The word Njattu-vela literally translates into Sun-Interval.

One Njattuvela season is divided into blocks of 13.5 days, each named after a Nakshatram.

Therefore for 27 Nakshatras, there are 27 Njattuvela seasons of 13.5 days each which adds up to 364.5 thus covering the whole year. The first Njattuvela is Aswathy Njattuvela & it begins on Medam 1 or Vishu day (April 14).

Essentially this entire cycle of Paddy cultivation laid the basis of the calendar and this fact is evident from the word “Varsham” which means “year”, derived from the same word also meaning “rain”.

The whole year therefore revolved around this cycle of agriculture.

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The Moon affects the Hydro-levels in the atmosphere, while the Sun affects the growth of plants as well as the shape of the moon.

A full moon cycle takes 29.5 days. The separation of plant cells will increase drastically during a Full moon, as there will be an increase in moisture levels 48 hours before the event. Therefore this is a suitable time to plant seeds as well as take precautionary measures against insects.

Planting seeds during a New moon is not advisable because the Moon is closest to the Sun and there is a lack of moisture in the atmosphere.

Agricultural Cycle (Chingam) (Aug-Sept)

(Kanni) (Sept-Oct)

(Thulam) (Oct-Nov)

(Makaram) (Jan-Feb)

(Medam) (April-May)

(Edavam) (May-June)

KOLLAM ANDU (Commencement of Agricultural Year)

KANNIKOYTHU (First Harvest of Paddy in the Season)

THULAVARSHAM (Rain in the month of Thulam)

MAKARAKKOYTHU (Second Harvest of Paddy in the Season)

VISHU (Start of Njattuvela Calendar)

EDAVAPPATHI (Middle of the month of Edavam)

Agricultural Activities start anew. Rains seldom failed Farmers. Sounds of Vishuppakshi & Vithum kaikkottum herald the start of Sowing operations in the fields. Farmers observe Vishuchaal ritual in the morning & Chaalupooja to mark the auspicious commencement of rice farming.

Outbreak of SouthWest Monsoon

Paddy as well as other agricultural produce becomes ripe for harvest in the month of Chingam for Onam. Surplus produce enables the celebration of Onam with great splendour & Joy.

Outbreak of NorthEast Monsoon

(Midhunam/ Karkidakkam) (May-Sept) HEAVY RAINS Rain is at its peak during July to September (Shravan and Bhadrapada). The monsoon rain is ideal for paddy cultivation, and farmers plan nurseries, transplant seedlings and use waters from pre-monsoon showers in anticipation for the monsoons, the failing of which topples the whole cycle.

Karkidakkam Month is usually associated with bad luck, because the heavy rain was often accompanied by destruction & diseases.

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Analyzing the Printed Medium Breaking it down

Information Overload After having analyzed a whole bunch of these Calendars by now, I’ve realized that most people are unaware of just how many things are going on simultaneously, as I’ve had numerous Malayalee friends and relatives ask me what else can you do from it besides find your piranaal (birthday). Let’s get into it: There are essentially a total of seven simultaneous Calendar cycles happening in each box.

1. The first is the KollaVarsham which is the Malayalam Calendar beginning and ending approximately in the middle of each month, with 12 months and each month having approximately 29-32 days, each day corresponding to one of the 27 Nakshatras.

2. This goes along with the Gregorian Calendar we’re all familiar with.

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3. Each box also shows the date according to the Shaka Varsham, or the Hindu Calendar which is the official civil calendar in use by the Government of India.

4. Below the Shaka Varsham is the date according to the Hijri Calendar , or the Islamic Lunar Calendar.

5. Some Calendars also have the date according to the Tamil Calendar, which differs only slightly from the Malayalam one, but differs nonetheless.

6. Besides these five cycles, each day has a Tithi, which is essentially the phase of the moon that particular day, covering the entire Lunar Cycle.

7. Lastly, every cluster of 13.5 days is called a Njattuvela and 27 of these clusters, each named after a Nakshatra, forms another cycle used by Farmers in traditional agricultural practices of Paddy cultivation.

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Market Research Print & Digital

Today, the two most popular versions of the Calendars that people buy every year are made by two Newspaper publishing houses- Malayala Manorama and Mathrabhumi, but many other brands are also available which all provide similar information in a similar format. I did a basic comparison between the many brands.

At first glance, there is so much information everywhere that one may never know where to start, however every Malayalee who knows how to read it, can tell you exactly where to find anything from Train timings to when the Sun will rise on the First Saturday of next month. Irrespective of what people do with this information, I think as a Graphic Designer my job remains to restructure the information in a more functional and relevant method for the 21st century user.

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8 2016

2016

വിേശഷദിവസങ്ങൾ ജനുവരി

ജനുവരി

1191 ​ധനറു​– മകരം

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1937​പൗഷം​​– മാഘം 1437​​റബീ​​ഉൽ​​അവ്വൽ​– റബീ​ഉൽ​ആഖി​ർ

JANUARY

1.​​ ​അ​ചഞ്ച​​രി​​കോ​​വ​് ശ്ീ​​ഭ​ഗ​വ​തി​​ചഷേ​​ത്രം​​പാ​​ന​പ്പ​ തി ങ്ക ൾ ചൊവ്വ ബുധൻ റ​​പു​റ​പ്പാ​​ട,് ​മു​ട്ടം​​ഴെ​​ചറാ​​ന​പ​ള്ളി​​തി​​രു​നാൾ,​​ത​ ഞായർ മ്പ​​ല​കോ​​ട​് മ​ഹാ​​ചദ​​വ​ചഷേ​​ത്ര​ത്ി​​ൽ​ആ​റാ​​ട്ട്​ വി​വവകാനന്ദ​ജയന്ി​ ആഴ്ച രാഹുകാലം ഗുളി​കകാലം യമകണ്ടകാലം ശി​ 2.​​ ​ത​ത്​മം​​ഗ​ല​ത്​് ചത​​ര് ഞായർ​ 4.30-6.00​ 3.00-4.30​ 12.00-1.30 4.​​ ​ചി​​റ​ങ്ക​ര​മ​ഹാ​​വി​​ഷ്ണു​ചഷേ​​ത്ര​ം​ഴകാ​​ടി​​ചേ​​റ്​് ര​14-46​1/2​മകരം തി​ങ്കൾ​ 7.30-9.00​ 1.30-3.00​ 10.30-12.00 5.​​ ​രാ​​ത്രി​​12​​​മ​ണി​​28​​​മി​​നി​​ട്ടു​മു​തൽ​​​ഹ​രി​​വാ​​സ​രാ​​ 11 20 ബു​4-20​ധനു ചൊവ്വ​ 3.00-4.30​ 12.00-1.30​ 9.00-10.30 രം​​ഭം.​ ശു​18-58​1/4​ധനു ബുധൻ​ 12.00-1.30​ 10.30-12.00​ 7.30-9.00 6.​​ ​ഗു​രു​വാ​​യൂ​ർ​ഇ​ട​ത്​രി​​ക​ത്തു​കാ​​വിൽ​​താ​​ല​ഴപ്പാ​​ ബു സ​29-48​​ചി​ങ്ങം ഗു വ്ാഴം​ 1.30-3.00​ 9.00-10.30​ 6.00-7.30 ലി.​​പ​കൽ​​1​മ​ണി​​10​​മി​​നി​​ട്ടു​വ​ഴര​​ഹ​രി​​വാ​​സ​രം,​​ ശി​​29-48​​കുംഭം ദ​​ന​ഹാ​​ഴപ​​രു​ന്നാൾ​​(​ചേ​​ശു​വി​​ഴറെ​​മാ​​ചമാ​​ദീ​​സ​ ചവള്ി​ 10.30-12.00​ 7.30-9.00​ 3.00-4.30 10-02​ ​ ശനി​ ​ 9.00-10.30​ ​6.00-7.30​ 1.30-3.00 ​ ​ ര ശുമ ​ കു )​​പി​​ണ്ി​​ഴപ​​രു​ന്നാൾ,​​ഗു​രു​വാ​​യൂർ​​ഇ​ട​ത്​രി​​ക​ ​ ചി​ത്ി​ര​ ചസ 32-13​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ത്​്​കാ​​വിൽ​​പാ​​ട്ട/് ​താ​​ല​ഴപ്പാ​​ലി,​​ഴകാ​​ല്ല​ചങ്കാ​​ട്​ ​ സപ്തമി​​ ആ​​റാ​​ട്ട് 8.​​ ​ചമാർ​​ചതേ​​ൊ​​ചനാ​​സ്​സ​ഹ​ദ​(​പ്ര​ഥ​മ​ക്രി​​തേീ​​േ​ ര​​ക്ത​സാ​​ഷേി) 13 21 14 22 15 23 16 24 7.​​ ​പ്ര​ചദാ​​ഷ​വ്ര​തം.​ 9.​​ മാർഗഴി​​കളഭം​ആരംഭം.​​​പാ​​ട്ടു​രാ​​യ്ക്കൽ​​​അ​യ്യ​ പ്പൻ​​കാ​​വിൽ​​​ഴകാ​​ടി​​ചേ​​റ് ം.​​​അ​മാ​​വാ​​സി​​​ഒ​ രി​​കേൽ,​​​കു​മ​ര​കം​​​ശ്ീ​​കു​മാ​​ര​മം​​ഗ​ലം​​​ചഷേ​​ത്ര​ ത്ിൽ​​​ചദ​​വീ​​പ്ര​തി​​ഷ്ാ​​​വാർ​​ഷി​​കം​​,​​​ക​ചണ്ാ​ 49-35​ ചചാതി​​ 56-18​ വി​ശാഖം​ 60-00​ വി​ശാഖം​ 01-44​ ത്​്​​ശ്ീ​കു​റം​ബ​​ഭ​ഗ​വ​തി​​​ചഷേ​ത്ര​ത്ി​​ൽ​​ക​ളി​​ ചി​ത്ി​ര​ നവമി​​ 50-34​ ദശമി​​ 56-11​​ ഏകാദശി​​ 60-00​ ഏകാദശി​​ 00-27​ ോ​ട്ട​മ​ചഹാ​ത്സ​വം 10.​​ ​അ​മാ​​വാ​​സി​​ദാ​​നം.​​പൗ​​ഷ​മാ​​സാ​​രം​​ഭം,​​എ​രു​ചമ​​ വലാക​ചി​രി​ദി​നം യുവജന​ദി​നം ലി​​ച​ന്ദ​ന​ക്കു​ടം,​​ചകാ​​ഴി​​ചകോ​​ട​് ചച​​വാ​​യൂർ​​ഴകാ​​ ടി​​ചേ​​റ്​്,​​അർ​​ത്തു​ങ്കൽ​​​പ​ള്ളി​​​ഴകാ​​ടി​​ചേ​​റ്​്,​​തി​ 20 28 21 29 22 01 23 02 രുവമ്പാടി​​ചവല 11.​​ ​കാ​​ല​ടി​​ശ്ീ​​കൃ​ഷ്ണ​ചഷേ​​ത്ര​ത്ിൽ​​ഴകാ​​ടി​​ചേ​​റ്ം,​​ എ​​രു​ചമ​​ലി​​അ​മ്പ​ല​പ്പു​ഴ​​ചപ​​ട്ട​​തു​ള്ളൽ,​​​ചി​​റ​ങ്ക​ര​ ചഷേ​​ത്ര​ത്ിൽ​​ആ​റാ​​ട്ട് 07-16 തി​രുചവാണം​ 02-45 12.​​ ​വാ​​ചഴ​​ങ്ക​ട​​ന​ര​സിം​​ഹ​മൂർ​​ത്ി​​​ചഷേ​​ത്ര​ത്ിൽ​​ പൂരാടം​ ​ ​l 00-39​ ഉത്രാടം​ 05-23​ അവി​ട്ടം​ 59-39​ ചതേം​ 56-16​ ഴകാ​​ടി​​ചേ​​റ്ം,​​മീ​​ന​ച്ിൽ​​​ഹി​​ന്ദു​മ​ഹാ​​സം​​ഗ​മം​ പ്രഥമ​ 57-14​ ദ്ി​തീേ​ 53-01​​ തൃതീേ​ 48-16​ ചതുർത്ി​​ 43-14​ 13.​​ ​ഗൗ​രീ​ശ​പട്ട​ ം​​​ശ്ീ​മ​ഹാ​ചദ​വർ​​​ചഷേ​ത്ര​ത്ി​​ൽ​ ഴകാ​ടി​​ചേ​റ്ം,​​​​മം​​ഗ​ലം​​​അ​ഞ്ചു​മൂർ​​ത്ി​​​ചഷേ​​ത്ര​ മകരച്ചൊവ്വ മകരഭരണി​ ത്ിൽ​​ഴകാ​​ടി​​ചേ​​റ്ം.​ 14.​​ ​ശ​ബ​രി​​മ​ല​മ​ക​ര​വി​​ള​കേ,് ​പു​ല്ലാ​ട്ടു​ക​രി​​ശ്ീ​​ഭ​ഗ​വ​ 27 06 28 07 29 08 30 09 തി​​ചഷേ​ത്ര​ത്ി​​ൽ​തൃ​ഴകോ​ടി​​ചേ​റ്​് 15.​​ ശ്ീപദമനാഭ​സ്ാമി​​ചഷേത്രത്ി​ൽ​മകരശ്ീ​

5

19

6

20

21

വ്ാഴം

ചവള്ി

ഞാറ്റുവവലകൾ

1

11

​

​

സപ്തമി​​

അനി​ഴം​ ദ്ാദശി​​

37-19​

8

25 18

05-28​ 02-57​

22

തൃചകേട്ട​ 07-30​ ത്രചോദശി​​ 03-41​

16

മകരമാസം ആർമി​ദി​നം

അത്ം​​ അഷ്ടമി​​

2

42-03 44-04

17

ധർമ്മസംഘം​സ്ാപകദി​നം പപവാസി​​ദി​നം

9

26 19

23

20

മന്ം​ജയന്ി​

27

രണാം​ശനി​ BANK HOLIDAY

മൂലം​ ചതുർദ്ദശി​​

08-04 02-52

മുഹൂർത്തങ്ങൾ

വി​വ ാ​ഹ ം​​​:​ജനു.​15​​( 09.09​- 10.28),​16​(08.42​ -10.24),​21​(08.23-10.07) നാ​മ ​ക ​ര ​ണ ം​​​: ​ ജനു.01​(09.42​- 11.26​) ,​04​ (09.30-11.14),​06​(09.22-11.06),​11​(09.0210.46),​15​(09.09-10.28),​21​(08.23-10.08),​24​ (08.11-09.55),​31​(10.53-11.10) വ്യ​വ​സാ​യം,​​വ്യാ​പാ​രം​​:​​ജനു.​​1​(09.42-10.30),​ 4​(09.30-11.14),​6​(09.22-11.06),​7​(06.4807.22),​11​(09.02-10.46),​15​(08.46-10.28),​ 20​(01.43-03.46),​21​(08.23-10.07),​24​(08.1109.55),​28​(01.11-01.30),​29​(07.52-09.36),​31​ (09.28-10.10)

26

27

28

24

03 25

പൂരുരുട്ടാതി​​ 52-44​ പഞ്ചമി​​ 38-02​

29

04 26

ശി​വഗി​രി​​ൈീർത്ാടന അനുമൈി​​ദി​നം

മകരവി​ളക്​്

ഉത്രട്ടാതി​​ ഷഷ്ി​​

49-17​ 32-51​

01

ചരവതി​​ സപ്തമി​​

45-58 27-48

42-49​ 22-53​

03

തൈപ്പൂയം

04

പൂേം​ ​ ​

ഭരണി​​ നവമി​​

39-55​ 18-11​​

04

വോ.​പല്ു​ചരമദി​നം

കാർത്ി​ക​ 37-18​ ദശമി​​ 13-46​

05

ചരാഹി​ണി​​ 35-08​ ഏകാദശി​​ 09-43​

06

10 02

മകേി​രം​ ദ്ാദശി​​

33-37​ 06-13​

07

11 03

തി​രുവാതി​ര​ 32-54​ ത്രചോദശി​​ 03-28​

08

പുണർതം​ ചതുർദ്ദശി​​

33-13 01-38

34-46​ 01-00​

10

14 06

15 07

16 08

റി​പ്പബ്ി​ക്​ദി​നം

ആേി​ല്ം​ 37-41​ പ്രഥമ​ 01-44​​

11

മകം​ ദ്ി​തീേ​

42-03​ 03-58​

12

പൂരം​ തൃ​തീേ​​

47-47​ 07-44​

13

1-3 4-6 7-9 10-12 13-15 16-18 19-21 22-24 25-27 28-31

5.16 5.17 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.24 5.25

ഉദയം സു്ർ അസ്ഹ്ർ മഗഹ്​രി​ബഹ് 6.36 6.38 6.39 6.40 6.41 6.41 6.42 6.42 6.43 6.43

12.29 12.30 12.31 12.33 12.34 12.35 12.36 12.37 12.37 12.38

3.49 3.50 3.52 3.53 3.54 3.56 3.57 3.58 3.59 3.59

6.18 6.19 6.21 6.22 6.24 6.25 6.27 6.28 6.29 6.30

ഇശാ 7.33 7.34 7.35 7.37 7.38 7.39 7.40 7.41 7.42 7.43

ശബരിമല

january 2013 നട​​അടയ്കറുന്നത്​​:​20-1-2016​

ഉദയാസ്തമയങ്ങൾ

17 09

ഉത്രം​ ചതുർത്ി​​

54-39​ 12-51​

14

അത്ം​ പഞ്ചമി​​

18 10

12

09

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 13 05

തീയതി​ സുബ്ഹ്

BANK HOLIDAY

01

ശി​വഗി​രി​​പ്രഹ്മവി​ദ്ാലയ ആരംഭ​ദി​നം

BANK HOLIDAY

05

02

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

അശ്തി​​ അഷ്ടമി​​

(ശേഷം ഡിസംബർ ശേജിൽ) NB: ചുവന്ന​അകേങ്ങൾ​ഗവ.​ഒഴി​വു കളം​ഖണ്ഡങ്ങളി​ ൽ​താഴഴയുള്ള​അകേങ്ങൾ​ഴകാല്ലവർഷവും​മുകളി​ൽ​ ഇടതുവശ​ത്തുള്ളത്​​ശകവർഷവും​വലതു​വശത്തുള്ളത്​ ഹി​ജറാവർഷ​തീേതി​കളമാകുന്നു

മുസ്ി​ംThiruvananthapuram ​നമസകാര​സമയം Standard

24

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 25

ജനുവരി

ചവലി​.​ഷ​​ഷ്ി​​വ്ര​തം.​​​തൃ​ക്കൂ​ർ​​മ​ഹാ​​ചദ​​വ​ചഷേ​​ ത്ര​​ത്ിൽ​​​ഴകാ​​ടി​​ചേ​​റ് ം.​​​മൂ​ഴ​ക്കു​ന്ന്​​മൃ​ദം​​ഗ​ ശശ​​ചല​​ശ്​​രി​​ചഷേ​​ത്ര​ത്ിൽ​​ഉ​ത്സ​വം.​​ഇ​ന്നു​ മു​​തൽ​​നാ​​ലു​ദി​​വ​സം​​ഴകാ​​ടു​ങ്ങ​ല്ലൂർ​​താ​​ല​ഴപ്പാ​​ ലി.​​​എ​റ​ണാ​​കു​ള​ത്​്​​ഴകാ​​ടി​​ചേ​​റ്ം.​​​ഇ​ന്നു​മു​ തൽ​​​നാ​​ലു​ദി​​വ​സം​​​നി​​റം​​​ശക​​ത​ചകോ​​ട്ട്​​ഉ​ ത്സ​​വം,​​നാ​​ഗ​മ്പ​ടം​​മ​ഹാ​​ചദ​​വ​ചഷേ​​ത്ര​ത്ിൽ​​ ഴകാ​​ടി​​ചേ​​റ്​്,​​കു​നി​​േിൽ​​​ഭ​ഗ​വ​തി​​​ചഷേ​​ത്ര​​മ​ ചഹാ​​ത്സ​വം,​​ഴകാ​​ള്ള​ചങ്ങാ​​ട്ട​് അ​യ്യ​പ്പ​ചഷേ​​ത്ര​ ഉ​​ത്സ​വം,​​വി​​ത്തു​കൾ​​ക്കു​ചവ​​ണ്ി​​ശദ​​വ​മാ​​താ​​ വി​​ഴറെ​​​ഓർ​​മ്മ,​​​ഴകാ​​ടു​ങ്ങ​ല്ലൂർ​​​ശ്ീ​​കു​രും​​ബ​​ഭ​

സ്ാമി​​ആനന്ദൈീർത് ജന്മദി​നം

19 12

ശി​വലി​ംഗ​സ്ാമി​​സമാധി​ദി​നം

7

17

വിേശഷദിവസങ്ങൾ

ശനി

ശി​വഗി​രി​​ൈീർത്ാടന സമാപനം

രവി​സംക്റമം

14-ന്​രാത്രി​​01​മണി​​ 27​മി​നി​ട്ടി​ന്​മകരസംക്രമം

നവവത്സരദി​നം 11-ന്​രാത്രി​​6​മണി​​56​മി​നി​ട്ടി​ന്​ ഉത്രാടം​ഞാറ്റുചവലാരംഭം 24-ന്​രാത്രി​​09​മണി​​14​മി​നി​ട്ടി​ന്​ ​ തി​രുചവാണം​ഞ ​ ാറ്റുചവലാരംഭം ഉത്രം​ 34-17​

19

ഗാന്ി​സ്മരണ

60-00​ 18-59​

15

അത്ം​ ഷഷ്ി​​

02-16 25-38

16

EASY MORTGAGE LOANS To Business Class/Professionals/Individuals

മണിതടപോൻസ്ക്�ർ (MTSS)

സ്വർണ്ണപ്പണയം 100 രൂപയ്ക്ക് ഇപ്പോൾ

ജനറൽ ഇൻഷുറൻസ്ക്

12% വപോർഷിക പലിശ

(സ്കീം: KFL-A)* എല്ലാ മലാസവുീം പലിശ കൃത്യമലായി അടയ്കുക

1 രൂപ മപോസ പലിശ 3.33 പപസ മപോത്രം ദിവസ പലിശ

ഡി-മപോറ്​്ക് അക്കൗണ്​്ക്

പ�പോറിൻ എക്ക്സപചഞ്​്ക്

വിമപോന/തടയിൻ/ൈസ്ക് ടിക്കറ്​്ക് ൈുക്കിരംഗ്ക്

പപോൻ കപോർഡ്ക് സൗകര്രം

ŝ മമപോപൈൽ, ഡി.റ്ി.എച്​്ക് റീചപോർജ്ക് ŝ മമപോപൈൽ, പതൈപോഡ്ക് ൈപോൻഡ്ക് ൈില്​്ക് അടയ്കപോനുള്ള സൗകര്രം ŝ വിവിധ്രരം എൽ.ഐ.സി പപപോളിസികൾ കൂടുതൽ വിവരങ്ങൾക്ക് നിങ്ങളുടട ഏറ്റവുീം അടുത്ുള്ള ശലാഖയുമലായി ഉടൻ ബന്ധടപെടുക

H.O. Kosamattam M.K.C Building Market Junction M.L.Road, Kottayam. Ph: 0481-2586400 www.kosamattam.com

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2016 FEBRUARY S

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19

To analyze the existing digital platforms of the Malayalam or Hindu Calendar, I installed many of the available apps on my phone and tested them out for a week.

Most websites that exist are informative but lack interactivity and minimalism. Others are just literal translations from print to digital without restructuring the information or doing justice to the digital platform.

20 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

21

Target Groups Demographics

There were three main Target groups I looked at, under this very specific User Group of Keralites.

22 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

Target Groups | Demographics

Keralites living in Kerala

NRI Keralites

Other ethnic groups living in Kerala/married into a Malayalee Family

34.04 million 95.68% State Population

2.28 million 10% State Population

2.25 million 7.5% State Population

The main Religions of Keralites:

Population of Expat Keralites by Location

Ethnic Groups in Kerala include:

UAE (883,313) USA (Mostly U.S. Citizens) (680,076) KSA (574,739) Oman (195,300) Qatar (148,427) Kuwait (127,782) Bahrain (101,556) UK (44,640)

Tuluvas Tamils Kannadigas Konkanis

Hinduism (54.73%) (17.5% outside Kerala) Islam (26.56%) (45% outside Kerala) Christianity (18.38%) (37.5% outside Kerala) Jainism (0.01%) Buddhism (0.01%) Sikhism (0.01%)

Migrant Workers in Kerala include people from: Bihar, Chattisgarh Jharkhand, Orissa Assam, North East West Bengal

23

Online Survey Collective Responses

I had to now research about two factors, 1. Some background information about the Users, 2. How they interact with the Product (The Calendar).

Therefore I created a 10 question short- survey which was answered by 131 Malayalees from around the World. The Results were as follows which led to some interesting insights.

1. Where in the world do you live currently?

2. What is your religion?

The Survey was answered by Keralites from different parts of Kerala, various other states in India like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andra Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal. Other locations included various Gulf Countries, Singapore, Malaysia, China UK, USA, Germany, Australia and Canada.

3. Which one of the following groups do you belong to?

24 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

4. How proficient are you in Malayalam?

5. Have you seen this Calendar before?

6. Do you find it easy to understand all the information on the Calendar?

7. Please select all the following things you or your family members generally check for on the Calendar.

8. How do you normally find out when the next festival/pirannal falls etc?

9. What brand of Calendar do you normally buy? And where do you/family members generally get this Calendar from?

10. How do you think this Calendar can be made better? How would you like to receive only the information you use?

Around 46% said they buy Mathrabhumi while around 31% said they buy Malayala Manorama.

In general, both brands are equally consumed and most people do not prefer either over the other. A few other answers included Rani Muthu, KSFE, Kerala State Govt Calendar, or a phone app.

The printed Calendars seemed easily available everywhere in India and in Gulf Countries.

Answers ranged from statements such as The Calendar does not need to redesigned; A Visual simplification is required; Printed Versions also need to made in English with more space to write, and Digital databases can be created with the same information.

25

26 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

Phase 2 Analysis of Research & Ideation

Having studied the subject and understanding the needs of its users, it became necessary to now analyze the data and go through an process to generate possibilities for deliverables.

While the first phase allowed me to diverge as I tried to discern all the information at hand, this phase allowed me to open up to the breadth of creative possibilities and then zero in on the outcome I felt was most functional, profitable and appropriate for the target group in mind. Following a very humancentered approach, the process remained structured and seemingly linear however allowing me enough creative freedom to steer in the right direction.

01

Interpreting the Data from the Survey and Identifying key points from each set of responses

02

Identifying a set of Problems that could lead to further brainstorming

03

Generating Ideas and Mapping opportunities for possible Graphic Design Intervention

27

Interpretation of Data Following a Human- Centered Approach

Identification of Problem(s) From the responses received in the Survey, I was able to generate three basic problems: 1. Currently the most important one being that Information is not coming to you, but rather the user must go to the information, which makes the task tedious and difficult to share.

2. Secondly, there seems to be a very elitist assumption that the information provided on the Calendar is understood by everyone and if not, they do not require to be aware of it.

While only a fraction of users know exactly where to find what, most people would require a User Manual to figure it out.

3. The information is only available in Malayalam.

In my fourth semester at NID, I had taken an Online course on Human-Centered Design, organized by +Acumen, NovoEd and IDEO. I tried to incorporate the ideation process I learnt in this Project as well, as it allows unique outcomes to be produced with each project. It roughly went as follows: Identifying the design problem(s) Generating HMW(How might We) Questions, which must neither be too broad nor too specific; which essentially lead to the possibilities of generating Ideas for the deliverables Ideating around the prospects with respect to each HMW Finally mapping opportunities for Design Intervention

How Might We...

1. Make the Calendar more personalized to the User?

2. Make the information more easily understood and accessible?

3. Make the information easier to Share?

Only 42% of Users said they know where to find what they are looking for. There is also a huge variation in each users needs in terms of what all they look for in the Calendar. Muslims do not look for Hindu dates and Hindus do not generally look at Islamic Prayer timings and dates. Since a lot of information is very contextual, most people ignore it because they do not understand it.

Only 50% of Users can read and write Malayalam with ease, while the other 50% struggle with the script.

Therefore language is a primary barrier in terms of accessing this information, as most people suggested under ways to improve the Calendar.

Only 44% of Users said they check the Calendar themselves while 38% said they check with a Family member, the primary reason being they are unable to read Malayalam or they are unable to understand the Calendar. Therefore there is a primary need to share the Information among family members.

28 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

Ideation Opportunity mapping

29

Final Deliverables Varsham

30 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

Essentially the Entire cycle of year- round Paddy cultivation and its dependence on the monsoons laid the basis of the Calendar.

The word Varsham which meant rain, also came to mean year because of this fact. To highlight this, I decided to name my app Varsham and allow my entire Visual Language to be derived from Agricultural activities.

My two final deliverables for this Project were to make: - A Web Application for android Mobile Devices - App Widgets to simulate a somewhat multisensory experience

A digital deliverable proved to emerge as the obvious solution primarily because it has never been done before following a structured design process, and secondly because it has the potential of being more intuitive, selectively informative to the user and easier to share for today’s Technologically adept Malayalees.

On speaking to numerous relatives about the Project and this discovery I had established between the Calendar and its agricultural basis, many described to me their own childhood experiences going back to ancestral homes in Kerala villages and hearing the sounds of certain birds, or the smell of rice during harvest season. My own Greatgrandfather who used to be an Agriculturalist in Kerala, had many stories to tell.

What I started to realize was how agricultural activities were mostly remembered in terms of smells or sounds, and the final deliverable needed to somehow bring out this element of nostalgia.

31

32 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

Phase 3 Visualization & Conception

As I now began working towards the chosen deliverable, methods such as quick prototyping and sketching helped materialize the concept in a more visual manner.

Since my deliverable was a web application, a natural UX process was followed in this phase. Ideas needed to be visualized keeping the users in mind.

01 02

Creating User Personas which could then be used to understand various taskflows

Card Sorting and Affinity Diagramming to map out the touchpoints of each User Persona, and then use it generate the basic Information Architecture of the Application

03

Making Sketches and Quick Prototypes to visualize how the application and its widgets will appear

04

Developing a Visual Language including identifying colour schemes and determining Typography

05

Creating Wireframes for generating the Application, in accordance with the workflows of the conceived User Personas

33

User Personas Task Flows

I came up with five user personas, out of which four of them are part of the same family and one is a family friend. I then drew out taskflows for each of them after which I went through a process of Card Sorting and Affinity mapping to generate a basic Information Architecture for the widget and App.

USER 1 / Lalita Prakash

USER 2 / Athul Yousaf

USER 3 / Manoj Prakash

Female, Grandmother, Widow Age: 60, Living in Kerala

Male, Friend, Muslim Age: 25, Living in Kuwait

Male, Uncle, Businessman Age: 40, Living in USA

Wants to check when Daughter’s piranaal falls 2 years from now, share the date with niece and nephew, and then take a print out of the month

Wants to view the Hijri Calendar and then check Islamic Prayer timings

Wants to check Rahu Kalam, before starting business proposal and then check Muhurtam timings for next month for a pooja

USER 4 / Ashwaty Prakash

USER 5 / Devika Prakash

Female, Mother, Married Age: 47 , Living in Bangalore

Female, Daughter, Student Age: 20, Living in Delhi

Wants to check when Shashti falls next week and then make a note to fast

Wants to check today’s month/day/ date and curious to learn about Njattuvela information

34 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

01

Lalita Prakash

02

Athul Yousaf

03

Manoj Prakash

04

Ashwaty Prakash

05

Devika Prakash

> Open App > Select Calendar Type > Kollam > Fill in Details > Add Family member > Fill in details > Change Date > Share > Take Print

> Open App > Select Calendar Type > Hijri > Change Date > Islamic Prayer timings

> On widget, see today’s Rahu > Open App > Select Calendar Type > Change Date > Timings > Rahu > Muhurtam

Open App > Change date > Timings > Tithi > Add Reminder

> On widget, see today’s details > Change Date > Listen to audio > Open App

35

Sketches Visually Ideating

36 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

37

Visual Language Colour Palette

I tried to derive a basic colour palette from various Kerala elements such as 1. The Kasavu cloth material which is traditionally a shade of white with a gold line across it 2. Lush green Paddy/Banana leaves texture/ Onam Pookalam 3. Kerala Temple Murals 4. Zodiac signs, Space related elements

പഞ് പഞ്ച ചാംഗം ാംഗം പഞ്ചാംഗം

പഞ് പഞ്ച ചാംഗം ാംഗം പഞ്ചാംഗം

I rejected the idea of using space related or Zodiac elements because it was too obvious and clichéd, and people tend to cast such stuff aside as Astrology.

I decided to go ahead with combining the ideas of highlighting the Agricultural cycle of Paddy cultivation with a colour palette derived from Temple Murals, because agriculture being a more rational and objective practice, would make for a better visual Language in such an inclusive, secular application.

പഞ്ച ചാംഗം ാംഗം പഞ് പഞ്ചാംഗം

I created a Pinterest board to collect various Visual Material to use as Inspiration for a Visual Language. https://in.pinterest.com/vivekm2/kerala-visualculture/

38 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

This was the final colour palette I selected derived from Kerala Temple Murals, the wider colour range was to be used for the Widgets and the smaller colour range for the app interface.

39

Visual Language Typography

The two typefaces selected after much difficulty were as follows, because they work well together for a digital interface. › Latin Typeface: Roboto (2011, Neo-grotesque sans-serif typeface family developed by Google as the system font for its mobile operating system Android.) › Malayalam Typeface: Meera (2007, a Malayalam font done with Hussain K H, Suresh P, and Swathanthra Malayalam Computing)

40 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

Wireframing Workflow

41

42 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

Phase 4 Execution

Iterations and refinement were significant throughout this stage. The previous weeks worth of work had to now amount to something substantial and tangible.

Real graphic design decisions needed to now be taken as the deliverables started to come to life. During the prototyping stages, features were quickly tested with possible users and immediate refinements were made based on feedback.

This app interface is still a work in progress and I aim to get my application out in the market after its completion.

01 02 03

Creating Illustrations to be used for the widgets and incorporated into the Application as well.

Dealing with typographic hierarchy and details for the Widgets

Making Final Prototypes of both the Widget and Application.

04

Final Executions and basic Functions and USPs of the deliverables

05

Understanding the potential of the designed output and looking at future possibilities

43

Sketches App Pages

Developing the app interface began on paper first. Decisions were made during this stage about whether to create a navigational bar at the bottom or as a swipe option from the top or to use a Floating Action button to navigate between pages.

I also had to now decide what details the user has to provide, and the screens that would appear on installing the app for the first time.

44 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

45

App Layout Iterations

In accordance with my colour scheme, I tried to enforce each page with colours only to realize that there was not enough contrast on each page and information was getting lost.

I explored two options where each page was a different colour and then again where all the colours were used on every page. It was at this stage that my guide told me to use colour in a more purposeful and judicious manner and not just aesthetically.

46 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

These were some of the iterations I looked at for the Calendar on the Homepage, since this was the most important part of the User Experience.

47

48 / Redesigning the Malayalam Calendar

Illustration Series Design Decisions

Meanwhile it was finally decided that my widgets would convey the agricultural season and Njattuvela at the current time, in the form of Illustrations and audio clips that the user could play if he wanted to, since this was less important information that not everybody is aware of.

Therefore researching on the subject, I understood that there are essentially six activities in an ordinary annual cycle of Paddy Cultivation which are Ploughing, Sowing, Weed Removal, Irrigation, Fertilizing and Harvest. These same six activities repeat in subsequent Njattuvelas. Therefore I took certain elements from each activity to use in each Illustration. I was able to only complete four of the six Illustrations. The Illustrations would also change according to any other significant agricultural event or festival during each month.

I chose to create digital Illustrations since they could be made up of modular elements like blades of grass and hills, so that Illustrations could be generated more frequently. The digital Illustrations were then given an overlayed texture and painted effect.

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Typographic Hierarchy Design Decisions

In most traditional Malayalam Calendars, the English month covers the whole page and Malayalam months start and end halfway through the Gregorian Month.

In spite of being called the Malayalam Calendar, Gregorian dates also seem to have greater hierarchy and users have to look for the Malayalam dates within the boxes.

One major design decision I had to make was to break or reverse this hierarchy because people only use this Calendar today to find the Malayalam date and not the English date.

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Below on the left is a typical Malayalam Calendar made

by Mathrabhumi while on the right is a rare Calendar

by Moozhikulam Sala with the numbers written in ‘Vattezhuthu’ or older Malayalam script. This is the only Calendar I found in which the Malayalam month covers the whole page while the English Month starts and ends halfway through each Malayalam month, with Malayalam dates having greater hierarchy in each box. However these numbers are currently out of use and may seem like foreign symbols to most Malayalees.

I used a UI Grid to create all the widgets and app pages, to help with alignment of page components. This was done in accordance to some of Android’s design guidelines and after studying the BBC Gel case study.

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Widget Layout Iterations

I started out grouping the Nakshatram and Tithi together, and also trying to give the English and Malayalam date equal hierarchy, so the user would know immediately what the date is according to both Calendars.

I also experimented with using different methods of representing the Sun and Moon timings, using icons.

Once I realized icons can be used to easily segregate the information, the issue of different coloured text on different illustrations was solved by using a background gradient over the Illustration so all widget text could be white.

Information was finally clearly organized and I also explored different ways to suggest a playing audio. It was finally decided to group Tithi along with Sun and Moon hours since it was a subdivision under Moon hours, and less important than the Nakshatram.

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Two Size variants of the application widgets, the smaller one only containing the Primary Information.

Primary Information Malayalam Date/Nakshatram

Secondary Information Sun Hours/Moon Hours/Tithi

Tertiary Information Njattuvela/Agricultural Info The Malayalam date is changed using the arrow keys on either side of the English date. These buttons are placed on the bottom of the widget so they can be navigated using the thumbs.

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Final Widget

Users can choose to view the widget in English or Malayalam before installing it, just like the application.

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The widget plays on audio on clicking on the animated audio visualizer at the bottom right hand corner of the widget.

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Final Web Application

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The final prototype for the application can be viewed at : https://invis.io/2Q75WIXJA

The bottom navigation bar on the app interface allows easy separation of the content into five basic divisions namely, Important Timings, Festivals, Home or Calendar, Family and Reminders.

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Final Application Functions

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Reworked Application

Based on feedback from my semester jury, and rounds of user testing, I was able to relook at all the Illustrations & Colour palette and rework the application pages to create an overall cleaner and easier look. One major addition was creating an auto-generated Family tree on the family page.

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Phase 5 Documentation

Having gained a whole lot of knowledge over the course of 8 weeks, it became necessary to document this process in a format available to those interested in the subject.

01

Compiling all my Research on a blog for other Malayalees to understand.

02

Making this very Project document that you’re reading right now!

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Blog kollavarsham.tumblr.com

All my initial research and data collection has been recorded on a public blog, where interested individuals can go to understand more about this subject.

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Bibliography References from the Web

Personal References: http://kollavarsham.tumblr.com/ https://in.pinterest.com/vivekm2/kerala-visual-culture/ https://in.pinterest.com/vivekm2/dp-imagery/

1. http://www.drikpanchang.com/malayalam/malayalam-month-calendar. html?date=13/03/2016 2. http://www.vaikhari.org/kollavarsham.html 3. http://www.boloji.com/index.

4. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/malayalam-calendar-with-newfeatures/article2321553.ece 5. http://www.alaivani.com/Default.aspx?tabid=56&EntryID=352 6. http://alaivani.com/Blog/tabid/56/EntryId/192/Default.aspx 7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayalam_calendar 8. http://www.mypanchang.com/indianpanchang.php 9. http://www.vaikhari.org/demography.html 10. http://www.baps.org/Article/2011/Indian-Calendar-System-2273.aspx 11. http://web.archive.org/web/20071121073245/http://www.kerala.gov.in/ statistical/panchayat_statistics2001/klm_shis.htm 12. http://hindupanchangam.org/malayalam/monthly_panchang. php?year=2016&month=3 13. http://historicalleys.blogspot.ae/2013/06/the-kollam-calendar-mysterydiscussion.html 14. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/ article133359.ece 15. http://njattuvela.com/en/content/impact-sun-and-moon-farming 16. http://njattuvela.com/en/content/know-about-njattuvela 17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahukaalam 18. http://www.malayalammitra.com/showpage?pageid=ml.pk 19. https://in.pinterest.com/kiranrajgopalan/malayalam_typography/ 20. https://mytakeonmalayalam.wordpress.com/ 21. http://www.indiaonlinepages.com/population/kerala-population.html 22. https://sreenivasaraos.com/tag/indian-paintings/ 23. http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/cultivation/paddy-cultivation-differentsteps-involved-in-paddy-cultivation-5-steps/25486/ 24. http://luc.devroye.org/malayalam.html 25. https://www.webresourcesfree.com/latest-android-and-windows-mockuppsd-templates/ 26. http://www.bbc.co.uk/gel

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This project would not have been possible without the following people: All my family members Nidhi Singh Rathore Arvind Ratheesh Anagha Anand Kiran Rajagopalan Vishnu M Nair Naina Bhan Parag Chitale Simoul Alva Abhilash Radhakrishnan Arunatpal Chanda Oishee Sen Project Anchor Faculty Tarundeep Girdher and my Guide Rupesh Vyas.

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