When it was first published in 2005, Mourad Boutros’s classic work Arabic for Designers was the first of its kind, an authoritative guide for English-speaking designers working with the cultural and design complexities of Arabic. Extensively illustrated, it addressed the rise in global awareness of Arab cultures and provided a framework for understanding and respect.
The author’s objective was to show how non-Arabic-speaking designers can work with the language and understand and respect its cultural nuances while avoiding the pitfalls and mistakes to which many others have fallen victim.
More than ten years later, the second edition of Arabic for Designers is being released. Do not for a moment, though, think that this is an updated reprint of the original. Much of the content and the majority of the sumptuous illustrations are completely new.
Beginning with an overview of Arabic as a major world language, the author traces the development of Arabic from an essentially spoken to a written language. He shows how religious imperatives caused written Arabic to be transformed and beautified and places the subsequent development of Arabic scripts within their historical and cultural contexts.
Following an exposition of the main types of Arabic script, he then outlines the growth of Arabic typography and Arabic typesetting from slow beginnings in the era of moveable type to the high-technology digital environment of today. The author places particular emphasis on overcoming the inherent difficulties when designing bilingual Arabic-Latin typefaces to meet current demand.
Based upon over 40 years’ experience of working with an array of corporate clients, agencies, and type foundries, Boutros shows the importance of cultural knowledge to good design.
For a variety of reasons, the worlds of business and communications rely more and more on the cross-hybridization of Latin and Arabic graphic design approaches. As the book reveals, it is a process that can yield incredibly innovative, beautiful, and successful results. Without the proper knowledge, however, creative campaigns and endeavors, not to mention the money invested, can so easily be lost.
Using stunning visual examples and case studies, Mourad Boutros takes the reader through the entire range of graphic design applications—newspaper and television news, magazines, book jacket designs, corporate and brand identity, creative calligraphy, logotype design, logotype conversions, advertising, design for print, bilingual signage, and fine art.
This completely revised edition of a classic work is an illustrated guide to how to work with Arabic and understand and respect its cultural nuances. It remains an up-to-date and invaluable reference for design students, design and marketing professionals, and anyone interested in good design and Arabic culture and language, regardless of background, ability, or level of experience.
