One such design is of actor and comedian Mohamed Henedy’s famous lyrics in one of his now-classic films, Fool El Seeni el ‘Azeem, ‘Dakhal el Haramy Wana Nayma’.
Lyrics from Henedy's song, 'The thief came in.'
Egyptian typeface typography art software#
That font, originally designed by Yemeni type designer Abdualla Faris in 1993 for Diwan software company in the UK, the font named as Muna, it has two weights back then, and it was widely used in books and magazines across the Arab world as a body text font, then, Layout of Lebanon has stolen it and named: AXT Manal, after that, many hacks were happen on the font, until the final surgery which made the font that bold and bulky, I think it was done for ASHARQ AL-AWSAT newspaper from London.The only thing I know about the art of Arabic lettering and calligraphy is what I was taught in school - that when writing in cursive, for example, each letter adapts to the letters around it, and that, in a sense, every word, down to its different uses and constellations, can be unique from every other word in the Arabic dictionary in the way that it’s written, like a snowflake.Įgyptian designer Mahmoud El Hossieny, a master in both design and its digitsed forms, recently contributed to the flourishing world of digitised Arabic lettering and calligraphy with a series of uniquely crafted designs of Arabic words, phrases and idioms rooted in Egyptian culture - each creation a snowflake in its own right. It’s similar to Arial at some level, if we count the popularity and presence, but Arial is way and way better in legibility and decentness! Can you imagine that!
Now talking about the sad part: Typography, yes! I feel so ashamed for the quality of design and type in this place, and all over the Arab world cities to be more realistic! Choosing this ‘ugly’ typeface has become a virus that infected every printed material in any Arabic letters! From Afghanistan to the USA, everything is polluted with this disease! I was stumbled upon this photo from Egypt, showing a tiny street having this enormous amount of doctor and clinics signs over two facing buildings, unbelievable shot! A street like this must enter Guinness world records! It’s a proof that there are many things to unite us. Nevertheless, I’m so glad that I’ve spotted those two gems in two different Arab cities, but with one soul for sure. I asked the shop owners in Al-Khobar and they have no idea who’s done the sign for them, while in the one in Jordan was closed when I photographed it. I’m not sure if they were made by the same signmaker, I doubt. While walking in the city of Madaba last month (South of Jordan), I’ve stumbled upon the signage of this tailor shop, it says: أزياء بندلي Bandali’s Fashion, the usage of the Diwani script in this charming way that shows freedom and appreciation to smoothness and details, it definitely made me loves the signage and sees the clear connection with the tailoring craftsmanship.Īnd, last night, I was walking in the city of Al-Khobar (Eastern province of Saudi Arabia), 1,642 KM away from Madaba, I’ve found this beautiful sign, which says: رند Rand, and it happens to be the exact same style as the Bandali’s Fashion, and the stunning thing was: Another tailor shop! Wow.
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