Unzip Delhi Branding
Unzip Delhi by Anas Khan, an anthropologist and heritage storyteller who conducts research-driven walks exploring Delhi's layered history, forgotten narratives, and lived culture. The goal was not to create another tourism brand. It was to build an identity that felt scholarly, rooted, and emotionally connected to the city, something that could represent Delhi as a living archive rather than a checklist of monuments.
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Unzip Delhi
Personal/ Influncer Branding
2026
The Challenge
The heritage-tour space is often dominated by predictable visual tropes: monument silhouettes, vintage postcards, and generic travel aesthetics. For Anas, that approach felt disconnected from the depth of his work. The challenge was to create a brand that:
Reflected research and storytelling, not tourism.
Captured Delhi's layered identity without reducing it to iconic landmarks.
Felt timeless and contemporary at the same time.
Could grow across walks, events, talks, publications, and future offerings.
What we explored:
Historical layers of Delhi (like Mughal architecture, Old Delhi street textures, Archival maps and manuscripts, Traditional motifs and patterns found across the architectures, Materiality of sandstone, lime plaster, and weathered surfaces.)
The Key Insight:
Delhi's identity is not defined by a single monument. It is defined by layers of memory, architecture, migration, and storytelling.
Inspiration:
Hasht Bihisht (Pattern), Red Sandstone of the Red Fort (Color & Textures) & Kufic Script (Arabic Calligraphy).
Three Principles Guided Every Design Decision.
(01) Rooted in Research: Every visual element needed to emerge from historical and cultural context rather than aesthetic trends.
(02) Contemporary Interpretation: The brand should feel relevant today while drawing inspiration from centuries of history.
(03) Story First: The identity needed to support storytelling rather than overpower it where visuals act as a framework through which stories can be experienced.
The final identity positions UNZIP Delhi as more than a heritage walk brand. It establishes the brand as a cultural storytelling practice grounded in research, anthropology, lived experience.
Results / Reflection:
At its core, this project was an exercise in designing with context. Instead of asking what Delhi looks like, the process explored what Delhi feels like when experienced through stories, research, and human connection. By translating architectural references, historical narratives, and cultural memory into a contemporary visual system, the identity gives UNZIP Delhi a distinctive voice, one that is as layered, nuanced, and enduring as the city itself.
This project reinforced the importance of looking beyond surface-level symbolism when designing for culture and place. Through research into Delhi's architecture, history, and collective memory, I discovered how deeper cultural narratives can shape more authentic and meaningful design. It was a reminder that strong branding isn't just about recognition it's about creating a lasting connection through context, storytelling, and purpose.