09/12/2025
Watch my talk titled “Future Support of Arabic Typography” at ATypI Copenhagen 2025.
With the continuous progress of Opentype and the variable font technology, the support for diverse scripts is improving annually, accommodating the intricate needs of world scripts. Instead of simplifying scripts to conform to Latin-based type systems, modern multi-script fonts are being developed and utilized in unprecedented ways.
As an expert in Arabic typography, Pascal Zoghbi will delve into the Arabic script, exploring contemporary fonts and type technologies while drawing parallels with the past. By acknowledging the challenges faced throughout the history of creating Arabic fonts and printing, Zoghbi will provide a comprehensive overview of the past and present, offering insights into potential future font developments and their potential applications.
Focusing on Naskh, the most widely used and produced style in Arabic printing, Zoghbi will trace its evolution across different periods. Through a visually analytical narrative, Zoghbi will provide a detailed account of the challenges encountered in Arabic font production over time, offering potential solutions for the future. Additionally, Zoghbi will investigate how a user-friendly typesetting app or plugin can enhance the user experience for Arabic typography, providing an imaginary Arabic typography UI that can benefit typographers in setting Arabic text, editing text justification options, adjusting diacritics, and more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiT67zIomj8&t=1353s
