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A History of Arab Graphic Design
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 over 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 over 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.
360 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2020
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193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 23, 2025
This book was a wonderful journey in the Arab graphic design world. The research starts with an introduction to islamic art and continues with historical events throughout. The Arab graphic design is full of experimentation, personal-political-social and cultural positions.
The colonization played a very important role in the evolution of graphic design in the Arab world.
Another major role was played by the politicians who pushed or blocked the progress of design in their country.
Arab graphic design has some of its roots in the visual heritage of islamic art and modern western art movements. So, designers were found between east and west trying to achieve originality and combining the past with the future.
Something that was new to me is the fact that Sudan has the longest history of design education in the Arab world.
A very daring fact is that nude illustrations of women were featured in a book for the Sudanese Ministry of Culture. Another interesting fact is that an Egyptian designer portrayed women as superior to men by highlighting their boldness and courage.
Many of the designers in the history of Arab design were activists and used design as a platform to communicate awareness about social and human causes. Design is always linked to its ecosystem and can be very politicized.
To conclude, it would be nice to see more books like this capturing the graphic design world of other countries.
The colonization played a very important role in the evolution of graphic design in the Arab world.
Another major role was played by the politicians who pushed or blocked the progress of design in their country.
Arab graphic design has some of its roots in the visual heritage of islamic art and modern western art movements. So, designers were found between east and west trying to achieve originality and combining the past with the future.
Something that was new to me is the fact that Sudan has the longest history of design education in the Arab world.
A very daring fact is that nude illustrations of women were featured in a book for the Sudanese Ministry of Culture. Another interesting fact is that an Egyptian designer portrayed women as superior to men by highlighting their boldness and courage.
Many of the designers in the history of Arab design were activists and used design as a platform to communicate awareness about social and human causes. Design is always linked to its ecosystem and can be very politicized.
To conclude, it would be nice to see more books like this capturing the graphic design world of other countries.
December 9, 2023
5 sterren!!!!
July 29, 2021
From the conclusion:
"Arab design was used to create awareness about social and human causes and to rally international sympathy for human rights. Through the decades, Arab designers produced work that was at par with the various global movements of design thinking in different parts of the world. In their attempts to solve different visual problems, Arab creators were always stuck between East and West. The West provided the technology, but the East was their identity, thus the reflection of their past and their future. Wile their Western counterparts could simply experiment in their own culture, Arab designers were always juggling worlds, designing on machines that worked from left to right for a language that was read from right to left.
Culture is a construct; some of it is acquired and some of it is part of the personal experience. Foreign influences came and taught designers new things, but their experience and their work was always a reflection of their culture.
We hope that future generations will keep looking for answers, and we hope that with this first step we are shifting the discourse on global design. There are many more stories to be discovered and archives to be dug through. Arab design needs to learn more about itself, and this book should open more doors for further scholarship on Arab visual culture."
I found this an inspiring read, and really loved many of the design examples provided. I also loved the fact that some of the designers mentioned are people I call friends. Such a pleasure to see them lauded here! Bravo!
"Arab design was used to create awareness about social and human causes and to rally international sympathy for human rights. Through the decades, Arab designers produced work that was at par with the various global movements of design thinking in different parts of the world. In their attempts to solve different visual problems, Arab creators were always stuck between East and West. The West provided the technology, but the East was their identity, thus the reflection of their past and their future. Wile their Western counterparts could simply experiment in their own culture, Arab designers were always juggling worlds, designing on machines that worked from left to right for a language that was read from right to left.
Culture is a construct; some of it is acquired and some of it is part of the personal experience. Foreign influences came and taught designers new things, but their experience and their work was always a reflection of their culture.
We hope that future generations will keep looking for answers, and we hope that with this first step we are shifting the discourse on global design. There are many more stories to be discovered and archives to be dug through. Arab design needs to learn more about itself, and this book should open more doors for further scholarship on Arab visual culture."
I found this an inspiring read, and really loved many of the design examples provided. I also loved the fact that some of the designers mentioned are people I call friends. Such a pleasure to see them lauded here! Bravo!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews