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Book

Arabic Typography

A comprehensive sourcebook

This is a comprehensive study, and practical reference, of Arabic letterforms and styles beginning with a concise historical overview of the development of Arabic typography through to modern designs and technological advancements.

  • Arabic Typography Book.jpg

    Arabic Typography Book.jpg

In the twenty-first century, the widespread integration of computer technologies has brought text-based information into many facets of everyday life. This has caused en ever-growing interest in typography across many fields of visual communication, where text and letterforms play a central role in disseminating social trends and reflecting the spirit of the times.

Arabic Typography takes the reader through a comprehensive study of Arabic letterforms, starting with a concise historical overview of their development and styles, and proceeding to the latest design and technological advances. It attempts to establish the foundations for Arabic type design by drawing lessons from past practices and aesthetic conventions, in order to retain the enduring traits that are of relevance for improvement and innovation in future type design creations.

Going beyond the historical facts, Arabic Typography discusses modern design issues pertaining to the creation and production of letterforms, it presents Arabic typographic design as an essential communication tool that should marry functionality and legibility to aesthetic delight.

This book serves as a valuable reference on Arabic typography, and as an educational guide for design students, professionals and anyone who uses Arabic type and enjoys the visual appearance of this language and its letterforms.

copyright © Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès, 2001
Published by Saqi Books, London
ISBN 0-86356-347-3

    • Book: 

      1Typographic Matchmaking

      This book is now available for ordering online from Nijhof & Lee and BIS Publishers.

      Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFares - As the world moves forward towards a more international (design) society, the need for fonts that can support multi-scripts becomes ...
    • event: Dubai, American University in Dubai

      The Kitabat conference

      The first major Arabic calligraphy and typography conference in the Middle East.

      5 Apr 06 > 8 Apr 06 Hosted by the Visual Communication Department at the American University in Dubai, in partnership with the Khatt Foundation (Center for...
    • conference program: 

      Khatt Kufi Kaffiya, the printable symposium program

      Lectures are described in detail with timings and links to the speakers' biographies.

      The symposium program has been evolving and includes topics of every aspect of contemporary Arabic visual culture and identity, going ...
    • event: khatt kufi & kaffiya

      The Typographic Matchmaking Project: Developing Dual-Script Fonts

      24 Aug 07 16:10 Willem Velthoven - Willem Velthoven interviewing the Typographic Matchmaking Type Designers: Nadine Chahine, Gerard Unger, Tarek Atrissi, Peter Bilak,...
    • Khatt projects

      We live to work!

      Here is an overview of our projects past, present and future.
    • event: Introduction to Islamic Art

      DAY3: Calligraphy, From Traditional to Modern

      16 May 08 09:30 > 16 May 08 17:00
    • Introduction to Islamic Art (program)

      Abu Dhabi (Public), Saturday 14, Sunday 15, Monday 16 June

    • Project: 

      A turning point for Arabic typography and design

      Report on the Khatt Kufi & Kaffiya symposium and the Typographic Matchmaking project presentations.

      Edo Smitshuijzen, Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFares - The Typographic Matchmaking project ( Arabic fonts and book ), the Khatt online community (www.khtt.net), the Khatt Kufi and Kaffiya ...
    • event: Emirates Palace Auditoriu, Abu Dhabi

      Arts of Islam Symposium Program

      23 Jan 08 Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFares - The Symposium held in association with the exhibition The Arts of Islam: Treasures from the Nasser D. Khalili Collection . Master of...