Kaf-Boom: Arabic Graffiti in Lebanon and the Arab World

I will be giving a lecture about Arabic graffiti in Lebanon and the Arab World (like Palestine, Jordan, Egypt…) on the 18th of November at 14:25 at Notre Dame University part of the City Street Conference.

Typograpic Matchmaking at ICOGRADA Beijing 09

Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFares will be presenting the Typographic Matchmaking in the City 2.0 project at the XIN ICOGRADA Bejing 09 World Design Congress. The presentation will use the project case studies to explore what it means to push the notion of typography and space beyond the confines of reading (from paper) to other aspects of experiencing communication and placemaking, using architectural space and materials as integral components

Experimental Arabic/Latin Font Adaptation workshop

A two days workshop at Zico House for design instructors from Dar Al- Hekma College. July 2009.
Display Arabic type created by Ghinwa.

Arabic Type-Bomb / lecture & workshop at AUS

I give a lecture on Arabic type at AUS (American University of Sharjah) on the 28th of April 2009. Design professionals and students from the UAE attended the lecture and participate in the Arabic type discussions that followed. A kufi workshop followed on the 29th and 30th of May for the seniors of AUS.

Mrs. and Mr. Kufi Monsters. ;)
Najla did the left pattern and Dina the right one.

Arabic Logotype Adaptation for existing Latin Logotype

Creating Arabic adaptations for existing Latin logotype is not a matter a copy pasting (chopped-up & collage) letter parts from the Latin to create the Arabic, but a real understand of both Latin and Arabic script and the ability to work professionally with both of them. The Arabic adaptation should be drawn from scratch keeping in mind the proportions and characteristics of the Latin logotype.

Mike, LAU Byblos — Sketches for Chaos Arabic logotype adaptation.

“What are these Arabic letters?” lecture at The Royal Library in Stockholm organized by A4.

I will be giving a lecture about the present state of Arabic Type and Typography at The Royal Library in Stockholm organized by A4.

Bombing Beirut – Arabic Graffiti Workshop

On the 4th, 5th and 6th of November I took part of an Arabic graffiti workshop which was given by the German graffiti artist Mr. Don Karl. It was great to finally meet up with Lebanese graffiti artist and get to know the people behind the graffiti and tags in Beirut.

Square Kufi Vinyl Cut Design on my Mini Cooper “witty” ;)

Being an Arabic Kufi Script freak, i have lately designed a modern Square Kufi pattern for my car. :)

Arabic Calligraphy & Typographic Layouts

Makram Daou (jawmas)

How to integrate Arabic Calligraphy into modern design layouts?
In the past few years the Arabic calligraphy was a comeback into modern logotypes and contemporary design layouts.

3D Square Kufi

3D square Kufi workshop at LAU [ Lebanese American University]

Hybrid Arabic/Latin workshop

A small workshop in the “Type Design” course at NDU involving the creation of hybrid Latin words using basic letter components from Arabic letter-forms. English and French words created from Arabic letters.

Khatt Fonts Event (Art Lounge) & 29letters Lecture (AUB)

Through out November and December in Beirut, I had giving : 1. a lecture entitled “29letters” about my Arabic type project and type design process at AUB, 2. a presentation about EL HEMA project alongside the Arabic team (Wael, Kj, Maria & Raya) at NDU Zouk and NDU North, and 3. took part of the event, lecture and exhibition of the “Khatt Fonts: Matchmaking Amsterdam – Beirut” with Huda Abifares and the Arabic team.

Kufi Workshop for non-Arab participants in Amsterdam

On the 28th and 29th of August I gave a workshop for non-Arab participants during the El Hema Exhibition at the Mediamatic Workshop area.

You can read more about the workshop in the following links:
Kufi Workshop in Amsterdam at Mediamatic, Amsterdam.
Brief intro of the Kufi Workshop

Giving some comments on the primarily kufi patterns.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy.

Arabic Glyphs Proportions and Guidlines

The following article is a brief description of systems and guidelines used in Arabic calligraphy and Arabic type design field to achieve proportional and harmonious Arabic letters. This article is intended for typography students and beginners in Arabic type design.

Social-Design Student Projects.

Some work of my students from the “Fundamentals of Design I” course at NDU. Brief 01 is to represent the Lebanese roads and highways while Brief 02 is to document traditional Lebanese fast food merchants and shops.

Vernacular Kufi Workshop

‘Vernacular Kufi’ is a new approach that I thought of in order to introduce the kufi workshop to the AUB Typography II students and make them interested in it.

Arabic Monograms

Students of the ‘Applied Typography’ course at NDU were asked to do an Arabic or Arabic/Latin monogram for a fake textile company. Here are some pics of the sketching process.

Arabic Type Today

I will be giving a lecture at Notre Dame University on the 20th of November about the recent history of Arabic type and the type design process.

Kufi Workshop

This workshop is part of the Fundamentals of Typography course at NDU. The students are asked to create a kufi pattern or logotype from their first names.