Tag: service award runner up

Mashq Conference 2022 on Arabic Type and Typography 

Seasoned pioneers in Arabic typography to emerging younger practitioners and academicians.

Yara Khoury Nammour
Assistant Professor
American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Khajag Apelian
Lecturer
American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Mashq 2022 conference was held on October 20–21, 2022 at the American University of Beirut [AUB]. It was the first event dedicated entirely to Arabic type and typography. Organized by AUB’s Arabic Type Unit, a research body committed to advancing Arabic type and typography, the conference marked a groundbreaking milestone in the Arab region.

AUB has long been at the forefront of design education. More than thirty years ago, it pioneered the first graphic design program in the Arab world and was the first to integrate the graphic use of Arabic script into its core curriculum. Building on this legacy, the Arabic Type Unit was established in 2018. Naturally, Mashq 2022 served as an extension of these efforts that provides a platform to explore the historical evolution, current practices, and future directions of Arabic typography in the region.

The organizers made sure that the event spotlighted regional expertise that has long been overlooked, with more than 80% of the speakers being of Arab origin while talks by non-Arab speakers were curated to focus exclusively on Arabic type and typography. The team also made sure to design and develop a dedicated conference bilingual website [www.mashqconference.org], with a strong emphasis on Arabic, further reflected the conference’s dedication to its cultural and linguistic roots. All conference talks were made freely available on the Arabic Type Unit’s dedicated YouTube channel [www.youtube.com/@ATU_org], to extend the event’s reach to a global audience. A summarized video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcNUw5HOgH4&t=17s

Attendees and Participating Institutions

Mashq 2022 succeeded in attracting over 400 attendees, including students (62%), professionals (38%), and professors (13%). Participants mostly came from Lebanese universities such as the Lebanese American University, Notre Dame University, Middle East University, Lebanese University, and Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts. International attendees included those from Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates.

Speakers and Sessions

The conference featured presentations from 15 distinguished speakers, with a diverse spectrum, from seasoned pioneers in Arabic typography to emerging younger practitioners and academicians. This mix fostered a rich exchange of perspectives, blending deep-rooted expertise with fresh, innovative approaches to Arabic type design and visual communication.

Among the speakers, Kameel Hawa’s presentation, “The Spring of Arabic Type,” showcased his innovative efforts to rejuvenate Arabic script through type design and calligraphy, reflecting on its potential for both tradition and modernity. Lara Assouad discussed the graphic visual expression of language and its alphabet, offering insights into how typographic design can shape visual communication. Hatem Imam analyzed the relationship between cultural production and graphic arts, proposing methods to bridge the gap between these two domains. While Onür Yazıcıgil explored the history of Ottoman naskh and its spread beyond the borders of Istanbul in order to contextualize the influence of these typefaces on Turkish and Arabic printing and publishing in Beirut and Cairo. Naïma Ben Ayed also presented collaborative new research that aims to expand Arabic type design pedagogy, emphasizing the importance of ‘self-organized knowledge’ under the School of Commons.

Exhibitions and Workshops

The conference hosted two exhibitions: 100 Best Arabic Posters which celebrated contemporary Arabic poster design of 2021-2022, while the Granshan Type Design Competition Winners exhibition highlighted award-winning Arabic typefaces from 2019 and 2021/2022.

Complementing the exhibitions, workshops were also planned to provide participants with hands-on learning opportunities. Azza Alameddine guided attendees through the complexities of harmonizing Arabic and Latin scripts in logo design during her workshop, “Arabic/Latin Logo Matchmaking.” Georg Seifert introduced participants to the creation of Arabic fonts using Glyphs software in his workshop, “Introduction to Glyphs.”

Diversity and Inclusion

The organizers made it a priority to amplify diverse voices within the Arabic typography community. They took special care to give a platform to the older generation of Arabic typographers and designers, many of whom had not previously been afforded the opportunity to share their work on such a prominent stage. This effort ensured their invaluable contributions and experiences were recognized, preserving their legacy while inspiring a new generation of practitioners.

Additionally, the speaker lineup reflected a wide range of experiences and expertise, spanning seasoned pioneers to emerging practitioners and academicians. This intentional curation fostered an inclusive dialogue that bridged generations and enriched the discussions with diverse perspectives.

Sponsors and Support

Sponsors contributed a total of $12,000 from different entities in the profession and the educational sector. Their contributions were essential to the success of the event. Key sponsors included:

  • Gold Sponsor: Commercial Type
  • Silver Sponsors: Glyphs and TypeTogether
  • Brass Sponsors: Rosetta Type, ISType, Koein, and Morcos Key

Impact and Reflection

Mashq 2022 challenged the dominance of Eurocentric design paradigms by fostering a space where Arabic typography and regional practices took center stage. It offered a compelling alternative to the often homogenized global design landscape. The conference highlighted the possibilities of moving beyond standardized, Westernized approaches in design education and practice, encouraging attendees to rethink the role of cultural identity as an intrinsic element in the creative process rather than a background influence.
Through it all, Mashq demonstrated how design can transcend corporate functionality to serve as a medium for personal narratives, cultural preservation, and regional storytelling. It explored the potential for a design philosophy rooted in local visual culture.

Mashq2022-241211Download

This project was the 2024 Design Incubation Educators Awards runner up recipient in the category of Service.

Biography

Yara Khoury Nammour — Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Arabic Type Unit, AUB

Yara is a graphic and type designer, author and educator. She is an assistant professor of graphic design at the American University of Beirut and an independent designer since 2017 after a long-standing career of 20 years as design director at Al Mohtaraf design house. Her work is published in several international books and has authored a book titled ‘Nasri Khattar: A Modernist Typotect’ from Khatt Books. She heads the Arabic Type Research Unit and co-organizes the biennial Mashq conference on Arabic typography at AUB.

Khajag Apelian — Part-time Lecturer of Graphic Design, AUB

Khajag is a lettering artist, type and graphic designer. Khajag has developed typefaces in various scripts, including Arabic, Armenian, and Latin. He designed Arek, a typeface that was awarded the Grand Prize at Granshan 2010 Type Design Competition, and was among the winners of Letter.2, the 2nd international type design competition organized by the Association
Typographique Internationale. He currently operates under the name “debakir” Armenian for “printed type”. He …. and co-organizes the biennial Mashq conference on Arabic typography at AUB.

Mitigating Youth Violence: The Futuring Project: Audacious Narratives & Enduring Voices 

An arts enrichment program aimed at addressing youth violence in South Bend, IN.

Neeta Verma
Independent Scholar
Associate Professor (retired)
University of Notre Dame

“The Futuring Project: Audacious Narratives & Enduring Voices” is the design, and implementation of an arts enrichment program aimed at addressing youth violence in South Bend, IN. The program was implemented at a detention facility serving at-risk youth aged 14-22 who had been exposed to violence. It combined art and design instruction with the goal of empowering these youth to take ownership of their stories, inspiring them to be catalysts for change in their communities.

The arts enrichment program provided much-needed engagement, equipping participants with valuable, translatable skills in art, design, and technology. Youth worked with software like Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and GarageBand. The curriculum covered various disciplines, including drawing, painting, music composition, digital design, choreography, collage, and mask-making. This creative process served not only as a skill-building exercise but also as a form of healing and therapy, fostering self-expression, self-reflection, and personal growth.

In collaboration with law enforcement, city agencies, grassroots organizations, and community leaders, the program created structured workshops that sustained creative engagement while promoting articulation, self-expression, and technical skill development. This gave the youth unique tools to help them succeed as they re-enter society with fresh perspectives for a brighter future.

The project on youth violence started in June, 2020 and concluded in June, 2024 of which the arts enrichment program ran for a period of 18 months from January, 2022 through July, 2023.

PROJECT RESEARCH

The design of the arts enrichment program was informed by a combination of data, literature reviews, and field research:

1. Data: A comparative analysis was conducted using statistical data from South Bend, three similar cities, and two larger cities to understand the problem of youth violence.

2. Literature Reviews: Research focused on positive youth development, especially in youth psychology. The potential of creative expression as therapeutic intervention was explored within cognitive and behavioral psychology.

3. Field Research: Interviews and focus groups were conducted to understand perceived causes of youth violence. We also collected data on socio-economic indicators, law enforcement, and geographic/environmental factors.

4. Analysis & Synthesis: Key findings included a lack of structure, predictability, and enrichment among at-risk youth. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between single-parent households and increased exposure to violence. These insights led to the development of the arts enrichment programming titled, “The Futuring Project: Audacious Narratives and Enduring Voices.”

FUNDING

The project was funded by four grants awarded by the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, City of South Bend, and the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame.

The project would not have been possible without the support of the following institutions. Collaborators for the project include The Jessie Ball duPont Foundation; the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County; the City of South Bend, and the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame (UND), Office of Research (UND), Office of Procurement (UND), Arts and Letters Computing Office (UND), the Center for Social Science Research (UND), Department of Development (UND), Robinson Community Learning Center (UND), Notre Dame Psychological Services Center, ND Studios and Teaching & Learning Technologies, DePaul Academy; Venues, Parks, & Arts, City of South Bend; Charles Black Community Center; Goodwill Industries; Office of Innovation & Technology, City of South Bend; South Bend Police Department; Center for the Homeless; Mamas Against Violence; Connect 2 Be the Change; River Bend Quilting Guild, Midwest Photographics.

To my collaborators: Connie Mick, Senior Associate Director Center for Social Concerns; Ike Shipman, Program Director, DePaul Academy; Denise Linn Riedl, Chief Innovation Officer, Office of the Mayor; Maurice Scott, Director of Community Initiatives, Office of the Mayor, Aaron Perri, Executive Director of Venues Parks & Arts; Jordan Gathers, Deputy Director of Venues, Parks, and Arts; Lisa Shaffer, Executive Director, South Bend Museum of Art; Krista Hoefle, Senior Curator, South Bend Museum of Art; Cynthia Taylor, Director, Charles Black Community Center; Laresha Johnson, Manager, Charles Black Community Center.

THE ARTS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

The arts enrichment program was structured around modules that covered various creative disciplines. These modules included drawing (charcoal, pencil, and pastels), painting, music composition (using GarageBand), digital design (Adobe Photoshop), collage, poster design (Adobe InDesign/Illustrator), and mask-making.

The semester was divided into 12-week units, with each module running for 2-hour sessions. The program served approximately 22 students each week, with attendance ranging from 17 to 24 participants. The first session of each semester was dedicated to introducing the program, getting to know the participants, and setting expectations. As the semester progressed, participants explored their interests and selected modules that aligned with their projects. At the end of each module, participants presented their work to peers.

COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS

The workshop was designed to run within an institution, The DePaul Academy, that is part of the Juvenile Justice Center in South Bend. The institution is a private secure program serving male youth between the ages of 14 and 22 with a history of delinquent behaviors, mild mental health issues, abuse, neglect, and trauma needs, as well as students who did not thrive in less restrictive settings. The institution’s program offers an academy model residential treatment that promotes diverse social and educational interactions essential to the competency development of students. Audacious Narratives and Enduring Voices, was offered as an arts enrichment program to youth at this facility on a semester system basis. The design project was launched in February of 2022 and was completed in May of 2024.

RESPONSE to the ARTS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

The program achieved high attendance, with over 45 students served throughout its duration. Participants consistently demonstrated deep engagement, often exceeding expectations in their creative outputs. One confidential evaluation noted, “Ms. Neeta has brought something extremely positive into the institution. Watching the young men engage in something they love has been truly inspiring. Her ability to maintain order and her fearlessness are greatly appreciated by both the boys and staff.”

The workshops fostered a safe, creative environment that encouraged self-reflection, self-expression, and critical thinking. This was evident in the vibrant and imaginative work produced by the youth. This expanded their portfolios to include both the work and proficiencies that served as a validation in their capabilities as these students reassimilated in the community and applied for placement opportunities and jobs.

In August 2023, the project was featured in the Audacious Narratives & Enduring Voices exhibit at the South Bend Museum of Art, running from September 22 to November 12, 2023. The youth participated in the opening reception on November 3, where they had the opportunity to discuss their work with the community and share their creative journey.

MitigatingYouthViolence_DIA_2024Download

This project was the 2024 Design Incubation Educators Awards runner up recipient in the category of Service.

Biography

Neeta Verma situates herself within the porous discipline of Visual Communication Design whose work explores design as a tool for social equity. Her research focuses on systemic social issues examined through the lens of power and privilege. It expands the canon of the discipline to include pluriversal shifts within design discourse. She earned her MFA from Yale University. She served as an Associate Professor of Visual Communication Design at the University of Notre Dame. She is the recipient of the Nehru-Fulbright Fellowship. Awards include the SEGD 2024 Educator Award, 365: AIGA Year in Design Award, Design Incubation Teaching Award, Core77 Award for Social Impact, A’Design Awards, International Design Award, and Rev. William A. Toohey Award for Social Justice. She has presented her research at national and international conferences. She serves on the SEGD Academic Taskforce and is a member of the Pluriversal Working Group of the Future of Design Education.