Explore with me: The Arabic letterform in the Arabic Design Archive

During this Letterform Lecture, Moe Elhossieny will explore Arabic letterforms featured in the Arabic Design Archive, showcasing both common and unique styles that have emerged across various mediums, such as Egyptian cinema posters, book design, and other visual ephemera. He will examine how calligraphers adapted to and engaged with new technologies, highlighting styles specifically developed for book design and the prepress process, as well as experimental typographic approaches that pushed the boundaries of Arabic script.

Additionally, Moe will illuminate the plurality and adaptability of Arabic letterforms since the early 20th century, tracing a journey from traditional calligraphic practices to hand lettering with brushes, dry transfer sheets, and modern typographic processes. By mapping these shifts, this lecture will offer a deeper understanding of how Arabic script has evolved over time, reflecting both creative experimentation and responses to changing technological landscapes in the design world.

Letterform Lectures are a public aspect of the Type West postgraduate program. The series is co-presented by the San Francisco Public Library, where events are free and open to all.