Crafting Arabic typography - an exploration.
Arabic typography and type design is an underrepresented and often overlooked field, with a limited number of designers and artists working in this area. This is unfortunate, given the rich history and cultural significance of the Arabic language and its unique calligraphic tradition. There is a lack of exposure, support, and resources for Arabic-type artists, which can make it difficult to develop the necessary skills and pursue a career in this field. However, with the increasing demand for digital content and global communication, there is a growing need for high-quality and culturally relevant Arabic typography. As such, there is an opportunity for more artists and designers to explore this field, push the boundaries of Arabic-type design, and contribute to a greater representation of Arab culture in the global design landscape.
Here’s me playing around, not a professional typographer by any means but really enjoyed experimenting with various styles and techniques. Through this exploration, I gained a deeper appreciation for the richness and diversity of Arabic & Urdu languages, and have found a new creative outlet for self-expression. In an effort to share more creative work, here we are :)
Type Explorations
Type foundries that specialize in Arabic typography29letters: Founded by Pascal Zoghbi, 29letters is a design studio and type foundry based in Beirut, Lebanon. They offer a range of Arabic and Latin typefaces, including custom designs for specific projects.
TPTQ Arabic: TPTQ Arabic is a type foundry based in The Hague, Netherlands, founded by Tarek Atrissi. They specialize in creating contemporary Arabic typefaces for use in branding, advertising, and editorial design.
Typotheque: Based in the Netherlands, Typotheque offers a wide range of typefaces, including several Arabic typefaces designed by Peter Bilak and Kristyan Sarkis.
Boutros Fonts: Boutros Fonts is a type foundry based in Lebanon, founded by Nadine Chahine and Mourad Boutros. They specialize in creating high-quality Arabic and multilingual typefaces for use in print and digital media.
Arabetics: Arabetics is a type foundry based in the UK, founded by Rana Abou Rjeily. They offer a range of Arabic typefaces, including several custom designs created for specific clients.
Mota Italic: Mota Italic is a type foundry based in Germany, founded by Kristyan Sarkis. They specialize in creating high-quality Arabic typefaces for use in branding, editorial design, and other applications.
Arabictypography.com: Arabictypography.com is a type foundry and design studio based in Dubai, UAE. They offer a wide range of Arabic typefaces, including several custom designs for specific clients.
These are just a few examples of type foundries that specialize in Arabic typography. There are many more out there, each with their own unique styles and offerings. Enjoy!
