Khatt Chronicles in Conversation With Wissam Shawkat
Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès interviews Dubai-based Iraqi calligrapher and designer Wissam Shawkat. They discuss his journey into calligraphy and graphic design starting from his teenage years as a student in Iraq to his move to Dubai – where both his calligraphy and graphic design career crystallized. The conversation addresses the importance of innovation in calligraphy and its relation to contemporary graphic design practice.
They zoomed in on some of Wissam's unique projects, from his calligraphic script Al-Wissam to his Calligraforms artworks and logotype designs. They explore Wissam's process of developing a new calligraphic script and the difference between that and his process of type design. They discuss the overlaps between calligraphy, type design and graphic design work, as well as how these fields intersect and influence each other.
They conclude the conversation with a chat about Wissam's favorite projects for monumental public space, such as for Doha Airport and Dubai Expo, and also discuss his favorite books and the resources available for designers today.
Khatt Chronicles
Khatt Chronicles, in collaboration with afikra, features remarkable designers, illustrators, and researchers from the Arab World, in engaging conversations about their practice, vision, and aspirations. A podcast series that chronicles and introduces the latest explorations in Arab visual communication and material culture.
