It took me a lot of research, trials and exercises to get to the concept for this thesis. I made a process book that explains how I learned about Arabic design, how I got comfortable with it but mainly how all of this content led me to Google.
I did some personal research based on what I already know by studying the various aspects of the Arabic language, making typographic anatomy cards for every letter of the alphabet, and combining Arabic and Latin characters based on phonetic sounds.
I also did some contextual research by analyzing what is already there. On one hand, I studied various Lebanese movie posters from the 60s when designers would create modern Arabic typefaces. It helped me look at the letters in different shapes and styles. And on the other hand, I analyzed road signs around my neighborhood that helped point out the problem with Arabic designs today. There’s a lack of attention on the Arabic side of the designs to focus on the English or French side.
And I also did a series of exercises to help me understand how to design in Arabic and push myself to play around with various styles, colors and letterforms. These exercises later led me to Google where the prototype began.
The book is supposed to come with the Arabic Letters Anatomy cards that I designed.
You can find the pdf versions of both the process book and cards below;
Process Book
Arabic Anatomy Cards