Full 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.
Contents
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
