Client: Liberty University, Professor Rachel Dugan
Location: Virginia, USA
Project: Final Project, Advanced Typography
Title: Arabian Spirit, Quotes from the Middle East: Typeface and Initials design
Year: 2020
Work: A–Z Concept to Completion — Research, Typography, Type Design, Font Design, Hand Sketching, Hand Lettering, Calligraphy, Calligraffiti, Iconography, Initials/Drop-Caps, Graphic System, Posters, Motion Design, Storytelling, Process Book, Social Media Graphics
Arabian Spirit
Typeface & Cultural Visual System
Overview
Developed over eight weeks, this project combines research and execution across multiple phases. It reflects a blend of cultural experiences shaped by living in the West while growing up in the Middle East, integrating diverse visual references into a unified typographic and graphic system.
Concept
The project challenges common stereotypes associated with Arabian themes—such as Aladdin, desert imagery, and simplified cultural symbols. It aims to present a broader and more authentic perspective, highlighting the depth, diversity, and visual richness of Middle Eastern culture beyond familiar clichés.
Typography & Design
The work explores typography through custom type design, calligraphy, and calligraffiti. It includes the development of letterforms, initials, and a cohesive graphic style system, supported by iconography, posters, and motion design, all aligned with the project’s cultural and visual direction.
Research & Narrative
The project is supported by historical and cultural research, including references to the Middle Eastern origins influencing Latin and Roman alphabets. The storytelling component connects visual design with context, providing insight into the evolution of letterforms and their cultural significance.
Outcome
Arabian Spirit presents a complete typographic and visual system that combines design, research, and cultural narrative. It offers a more informed and contemporary representation of Middle Eastern identity through type, form, and visual storytelling.
