Arabic Typography

This course provides the necessary tools for designing correct and proper typographic layout in the Arabic language. The learning process includes translation of prior typographic knowhow to the Arabic language environment on its unique characteristics. We will learn the typographic basis of the language - letter structure, layout, laws and rules, we will get to know fonts and styles, and learn how to use them to create a typographic design that conveys a message correctly in different content contexts. We will touch upon historical surveys, have discussions on the transition and uses of hand-crafted fonts into the digital realm and seek contemporary typographic inspiration from the Arab world, from countries such as Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan, Syria and Iraq, to name a few. 

The course consists of research-based enrichment and learning lectures, exercises of various scopes and a summative exercise. We will begin with building typographic units consisting of words, and continue to the pagination of complex texts and bilingual practices. We will focus on readability, on creating hierarchies and on the relationships created between the two languages. We will learn how, as designers, we have the power and ability to harness all these values as a tool to communicate with readers who are versed with the language.