Kitabat 2006 : Dubai
Kitabat is the first major Arabic calligraphy and typography conference in the region.
Venue :
American University
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dates :
Wednesday–Saturday : 5–8 April 2006
Conference Overview :
Hosted by the Visual Communication Department at the American University in Dubai, in partnership with Linotype GmbH (Germany) and the Khatt Foundation: Center for Arabic Typography (Amsterdam) and in collaboration with the Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI).
The aim of this conference is to bridge Eastern and Western design and lead to a two-way cultural exchange. It also seeks to enhance the dialogue between calligraphy and typography. An Internationally-renown line-up of speakers (from the world's largest type foundries, software companies, and award-winning Arab and Western designers) will be discussing the future of Arabic typography and corporate design.
A new fresh vision of Arabic fonts will be unveiled at the awards ceremony of Linotype's Arabic Type Design Competition.
Conference Topics :
The main topics of Kitabat will be :
- History of Arabic calligraphy and printing
- Arabic typeface design and type technology
- Arabic typography and graphic design in the Middle East.
There will also be workshops, panels and exhibitions on Arabic calligraphy, typeface design, graphic design, type technology, and type education.
Conference Speakers :
- Dr Nabil Safwat (keynote speaker)
- Prof. Ugur Derman (Istanbul, Turkey)
- Mohamed Zakariya (Virginia, USA)
- Dr Goeffrey Roper (London, UK)
- Mamoun Sakkal (Seattle, USA)
- Johannes Bergerhausen (Germany)
- Adil Allawi (Diwan, UK)
- Kamal Mansour (Monotype, USA)
- Bruno Steinert (Linotype, Germany)
- Mounir Al- Shaarani (Cairo, Egypt)
- Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFares (AUD, UAE / Khatt, Holland)
- Nadine Chahine (Linotype, Germany)
- Gerard Unger (Bussum, Holland)
- Tajelssir Hassan (Sharjah, UAE)
- Reza Abedini (Teheran, Iran)
- Tarek Atrissi (Utrecht, Holland)
- Ihsan Hammouri (Jordan/USA)
- Obeida Sidani (Dubai, UAE)
- Yasmine Taan (LAU, Lebanon)
- Aida Sakkal (Seattle, USA)
- Antonia Carver (Dubai, UAE)
- Zeina Maasri (AUB, Lebanon)
- Fawzi Rahal (Dubai, UAE)
- Nadine Touma (Beirut, Lebanon)
- Leland Hill (VCU, Qatar)
- Petr Van Blockland (Holland)