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Arabic Type In Urban Environments: A Graphic Heritage, Shaima Elbardawil

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Graphic design as a cultural object can contribute to the design of heritage in various ways. This study investigates the meaning of heritage and graphic design in relation to culture and communication. It discusses cultural heritage in Arab states with reference to Arabic type and introduces Naskh-style typefaces in wayfinding systems and signage as a graphic urban heritage. This is done using a framework for analyzing urban graphic heritage alongside empirical field study from the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The study reveals that graphic design provides a unique framework toward understanding the role of typographic …