Rathna Ramanathan

Rathna Ramanathan is a Professor and prominent figure in graphic design and typography at the Royal College of Art (RCA), School of Communication. She previously served as Dean of the School of Communication (2018–2020) and Head of the Visual Communication Programme (2015–2018). Prior to RCA, she was a Senior Lecturer at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

Her PhD from the University of Reading (Department of Typography and Graphic Communication) and MA from Central Saint Martins, alongside her BA in Fine Art from the University of Madras, underpin her academic expertise. Her research focuses on intercultural communication design, Non-Latin typography, and experimental publishing practices. Notable projects include the Murty Classical Library of India and collaborations with Tara Books.

Ramanathan’s work bridges practice and theory, with exhibitions at venues like St Bride Library and UCL Urban Lab. Her publications span academic journals, books, and design press, addressing topics from Indian graphic design history to typography as illustration. She also advises organizations like Adobe on Indic typefaces.

Her professional experience spans over 20 years in design education, practice, and research across South Asia, Europe, and North America. She founded her design studio Minus9Design at age 21, collaborating with global clients such as the BBC, UNICEF, and Harvard University Press.