A History of Arab Graphic Design
Published on 18. November 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
360 pages
978-977-416-891-8 (ISBN)
Description
Arab graphic design emerged in the early twentieth century out of a need to influence, and give expression to, the far-reaching economic, social, and political changes that were taking place in the Arab world at the time. But graphic design as a formally recognized genre of visual art only came into its own in the region in the twenty-first century and, to date, there has been no published study on the subject to speak of.
A History of Arab Graphic Design traces the people and events that were integral to the shaping of a field of graphic design in the Arab world. Examining the work of over eighty key designers from Morocco to Iraq, and covering the period from pre-1900 to the end of the twentieth century, Bahia Shehab and Haytham Nawar chart the development of design in the region, beginning with Islamic art and Arabic calligraphy, and their impact on Arab visual culture, through to the digital revolution and the arrival of the Internet. They look at how cinema, economic prosperity, and political and cultural events gave birth to and shaped the founders of Arab graphic design.
Highlighting the work of key designers and stunningly illustrated with 600 color images, A History of Arab Graphic Design is an invaluable resource tool for graphic designers, one which, it is hoped, will place Arab visual culture and design on the map of a thriving international design discourse.
A History of Arab Graphic Design traces the people and events that were integral to the shaping of a field of graphic design in the Arab world. Examining the work of over eighty key designers from Morocco to Iraq, and covering the period from pre-1900 to the end of the twentieth century, Bahia Shehab and Haytham Nawar chart the development of design in the region, beginning with Islamic art and Arabic calligraphy, and their impact on Arab visual culture, through to the digital revolution and the arrival of the Internet. They look at how cinema, economic prosperity, and political and cultural events gave birth to and shaped the founders of Arab graphic design.
Highlighting the work of key designers and stunningly illustrated with 600 color images, A History of Arab Graphic Design is an invaluable resource tool for graphic designers, one which, it is hoped, will place Arab visual culture and design on the map of a thriving international design discourse.
Reviews / Votes
"[T]his book is a significant contribution to the global discourse on graphic design history, and essential for all graphic design and visual communication programs (especially in the Arab world). It brings together, under one cover, important yet little-known information. It offers a kaleidoscopic view of graphic design from the Arab world and grounds the field within the broader discussion of graphic design from the peripheries of the established design canon."-Art Journal"Important and rich. . . an essential textbook for design educators all over the world. It's the history book I wish I had as a student, and the resource I've been missing as a practicing designer. . . .[A] significant and long overdue publication."-AIGA Eye on Design
"Highlighting the work of key designers and stunningly illustrated with over 600 color images, [the authors] look at how cinema, economic prosperity, and political and cultural events gave birth to and shaped the founders of Arab graphic design."-Holiday Powers, New Books Network
"A groundbreaking publication. . . A History of Arab Graphic Design is filled with exquisite examples and is worth buying for the images alone, but of course a better appreciation for the work and the contexts in which they were created is gained by reading the rich history that accompanies the images."-Technical Communications
"An essential new textbook for students and graphic designers from East and West"-PRINT
"Easily the best introduction to the history of modern Arab visual culture on the market today."-The Brooklyn Rail
"A landmark . . . recommended . . . This book gives a much-needed visual overview of several generations of Arab graphic designers working in Arab countries and in different diasporas and exiles. It builds a history of Arab graphic design from the origins of printing through the 21st century, bringing the work of graphic designers across the region into conversation." -M. Lynx Qualey, Al-Fanar Media
"Closing the gap on the history of Arab graphic design . . . with over 370 pages and 600 color illustrations, A History of Arab Graphic Design is an invaluable resource."-Futuress Magazine
"[O]ffers a thus far missing genealogy of Arab graphic design . . . a major feat"-The National News
"A reference work on many levels . . . [a] rich tour, well documented and supported"-Ahram Hebdo
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cairo
Egypt
Illustrations
659 colour illus
Dimensions
Height: 239 mm
Width: 209 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
1220 gr
ISBN-13
978-977-416-891-8 (9789774168918)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Bahia Shehab is Professor and founder of the graphic design program at the American University in Cairo. An artist, designer, and art historian, her work has received a number of international awards, including a TED Senior Fellowship, a Prince Claus Award, and the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture. Her publications include A Thousand Times NO: The Visual History of Lam-Alif (2010).
Haytham Nawar is chair of the department of the arts at the American University in Cairo and the founder and artistic director of Cairotronica, a festival of electronic and new media arts in Cairo. An artist, designer, and Fulbright scholar, his work has been shown at many local and international exhibitions. His research interests include design history and practices with a focus on the Arab world and Africa.
Haytham Nawar is chair of the department of the arts at the American University in Cairo and the founder and artistic director of Cairotronica, a festival of electronic and new media arts in Cairo. An artist, designer, and Fulbright scholar, his work has been shown at many local and international exhibitions. His research interests include design history and practices with a focus on the Arab world and Africa.
Content
Introduction
Chapter 1. Pre-1900
Decoding Islamic Visual Language
Elements of Representation
Arabic Calligraphy through Time, Space and Material
Islamic Manuscripts
Rise of Islamic Visual Language Systems
Early Arabic Printing
Early Arabic Block Printing
Why was Europe the Birthplace of Arabic Typeset Printing?
Arabic Printing in the Arab Region
Bulaq Press: Revolutionizing Arabic Typesetting
Chapter 2. 1900-1919
Foundation of Art Education in Egypt
Arabic Design Calligraphers
Early Arab Advertising
Arab Philately
Chapter 3. 1920-1939
Formation of Arab Magazines and Newspapers
Arabic Typewriter
Design for Cinema
Chapter 4. 1940-1959
Independence of Arab States
Arab Design and Modernity
Birth of Arab Cultural Events
Arabic for the People
Father of Sudanese Graphic design
Arab Graphic Design Pioneers
AbdelSalam El-Sherif
Hussien Bicar
Chapter 5. 1960-1969
Arabic Translation Project and Mass Production of Knowledge
The Problem of Arabic
Palestinian Resistance and its Artists
Reasons for the Emergence of Resistance Posters
Artists of the Palestinian Political Posters
Poster Genres and Key Symbols
Second Generation Arab Designers
Abd El-Ghani Abo El Enein
Hassan Fouad
Chapter 6. 1970-1979
Lebanese Civil War
The Syrian School
Migrating Designers of Iraq
Design and Post Socialism in Egypt
Third Generation Arab Designers
Abdulkader Arnaout
Burhan Karkoutli
Helmi El-Touni
Muhieldine Ellabad
Dia Azzawi
Chapter 7. 1980-1989
Arabic Typography
Lebanese Pause
Sudanese Designers in the Diaspora
Design and the Search for a New Identity
Design for Culture
Design for the State
Design for Consumerism
Fourth Generation Arab Designers
Kamil Hawwa
Youssif Abdelki
Emile Monem
Mounir Shaarani
Chapter 8. 1990-2000
Post-Lebanese War Influx of Talent
New Graphic Design Programs
Fresh Graphic Design Ateliers
Rebirth of Arab Design
The Artist Designs
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Chapter 1. Pre-1900
Decoding Islamic Visual Language
Elements of Representation
Arabic Calligraphy through Time, Space and Material
Islamic Manuscripts
Rise of Islamic Visual Language Systems
Early Arabic Printing
Early Arabic Block Printing
Why was Europe the Birthplace of Arabic Typeset Printing?
Arabic Printing in the Arab Region
Bulaq Press: Revolutionizing Arabic Typesetting
Chapter 2. 1900-1919
Foundation of Art Education in Egypt
Arabic Design Calligraphers
Early Arab Advertising
Arab Philately
Chapter 3. 1920-1939
Formation of Arab Magazines and Newspapers
Arabic Typewriter
Design for Cinema
Chapter 4. 1940-1959
Independence of Arab States
Arab Design and Modernity
Birth of Arab Cultural Events
Arabic for the People
Father of Sudanese Graphic design
Arab Graphic Design Pioneers
AbdelSalam El-Sherif
Hussien Bicar
Chapter 5. 1960-1969
Arabic Translation Project and Mass Production of Knowledge
The Problem of Arabic
Palestinian Resistance and its Artists
Reasons for the Emergence of Resistance Posters
Artists of the Palestinian Political Posters
Poster Genres and Key Symbols
Second Generation Arab Designers
Abd El-Ghani Abo El Enein
Hassan Fouad
Chapter 6. 1970-1979
Lebanese Civil War
The Syrian School
Migrating Designers of Iraq
Design and Post Socialism in Egypt
Third Generation Arab Designers
Abdulkader Arnaout
Burhan Karkoutli
Helmi El-Touni
Muhieldine Ellabad
Dia Azzawi
Chapter 7. 1980-1989
Arabic Typography
Lebanese Pause
Sudanese Designers in the Diaspora
Design and the Search for a New Identity
Design for Culture
Design for the State
Design for Consumerism
Fourth Generation Arab Designers
Kamil Hawwa
Youssif Abdelki
Emile Monem
Mounir Shaarani
Chapter 8. 1990-2000
Post-Lebanese War Influx of Talent
New Graphic Design Programs
Fresh Graphic Design Ateliers
Rebirth of Arab Design
The Artist Designs
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index