Arabic Typography in Product Design – A workshop by Khatt Foundation

 Dubai, UAE: Thanks to Dubai Design Days, I enjoyed the Arabic and Arabesque typography workshop, courtesy the Khatt Foundation. The workshop helped students understand how 2 Dimensional Typography can be modelled into product design which is 3 Dimensional. We were encouraged to sketch in 2D before making our 2D design of choice into a 3D design.

Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFares, Founder of the Khatt Foundation, explained the use of Arabic typography, through a well prepared presentation. The presentation covered the different ways to use typography and the approach. For someone like me, who was very new to this concept, I grasped the essentials and went on to carve the initials of my name (in Arabic) with paper (and perhaps a bit too much of tape). Lara Assouad Khoury, an independent typeface graphic designer, was also present to help the students and discuss their 2D designs.

Huda and Lara, the tutors at the Arabic typeface workshop. Photo © Jan D'Sa

Watch the video that I made with my humble camera (so it is a bit out of focus as it was a spontaneous action to record my experiment with typeface sculpture), if you want to skip the explanation and the photos beyond.

We then went on to sketch different designs. I took the shortest initials of my name JD and designed around this on paper. As I like jewelry forms and sculpture, I tried 3D designs which was challenge for a typeface novice such as myself.  Students had the option to create their 2D designs on their laptop.

My first batch of 2D designs, not bad for a typeface novice! Photos © Jan DSa 2012

The next part came in actually experimenting with the best 2D forms. Huda definitely liked the repetitive pattern shown below (first  photo)- I could see that a lace pattern perfect for a lampshade could be conceptualised. Somehow, I had the sculpture (based on the second photo below) affixed in my mind. Perhaps, I will have a go with the lace pattern for the lampshade when I get home.

Huda liked the repetitive pattern on the left. Photo © Jan D'Sa 2012

I liked this sketch and with a little help from Huda, I could make my 3D design. Photo © Jan D'sa 2012

The whole process of making the 3D design is all about creativity and experimenting without judgement. Visualising, trying out spontaneously, with a lot of guessing, took most part of my time. As I ran out of time, I bundled my creation with lots of tape, so that I could at least have a prototype to take home with me and perhaps have the choice to redo it when I had more time.

This is the 3D prototype of the 2D design that I chose.

Here are what the other participants made.  Amazing work!

Photos © Jan DSa 2012

Photos © Jan DSa 2012

Photos © Jan DSa 2012

Photos © Jan DSa 2012

And here questions of type such if honestly strike me not much as I wrote everything higher. It is visible you simply you don’t want to read all this. As my parrot does.