“A Perspective on Arabic Type, Identity, and Culture” with Kristyan Sarkis
Presentation on TDC65 Judges Night, followed by a discussion with fellow judge Karin Fong
January 24, 2019, Type Directors Club Salon at Parsons School of Design, New York City

After judging the Type Directors Club 2019 typographic competition, Kristyan Sarkis, an internationally renowned type designer and letterer, speaks about the diversity of Arabic script, visual identity, trends in typefaces, and the direction he is taking in his own work.

After his presentation, Kristyan is joined by fellow judge Karin Fong of Imaginary Forces and TDC competition co-chairs, Bobby C. Martin, Jr. of OCD and Nina Stössinger, to discuss their approaches to selecting the winners of the TDC65 competition, winning awards, and how type affects culture.

Kristyan is the co-founder and managing partner of TPTQ Arabic type foundry and the co-founder of Arabic Type Design – Beirut, the first educational program dedicated to the subject. Kristyan’s work has received multiple awards including the TDC Certificate of Typographic Excellence in 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2017.

Karin Fong is an Emmy Award-winning director and designer working at the intersection of film, television, and graphic design. A founding member of Imaginary Forces, she is known for designing iconic title sequences. Her projects include the opening credits for the TV series Boardwalk Empire, South Park, and Black Sails, and most recently Lost In Space and Counterpart, as well as numerous feature films. She has helmed spots for major brands, including LEGO, Lexus, Target, Sony PlayStation, Toyota, and Herman Miller.