Sacred Form, Secular Function

In contemporary design, Arabic script often carries layers of sacred meaning yet it must operate within a secular, commercial world. This talk explores the tensions and negotiations between the reverence of script as a cultural and spiritual artifact and the realities of graphic design as a service industry. Through a series of case studies, we will examine how objects become vehicles for larger narratives: stories of migration, the transmission of knowledge, and the evolution of truth across time and technology. At the intersection of faith, form, and function, Arabic typography becomes more than just communication, it becomes a map of shifting identities, collective memory, and cultural continuity.

This talk is scheduled to take place as part of the main Typographics conference. Conference registration is required to attend in person.

About Wael Morcos

Wael Morcos is a graphic designer/type designer and partner at the NY based studio Morcos Key. Wael leads multi-lingual identity, editorial, environment and digital projects for art and culture institutions between the USA and the Middle East. Wael has been featured in Print Magazine’s 15 under 30, was named a Young Gun by the Art Directors Club and an Ascender by the Type Directors Club.

 morcoskey.com
 @waelmorcos