Arabic beyond Arabic

Arabic is the best and the most complicated language of all time!” Even though this statement seems like an exaggeration, it is what I grew up hearing; from my Arab parents as a child, my Arab teachers as a student, and my Arab customers as a salesperson. The Arabic language has a significant role in Arabs’ identity, yet most Arabs only scratch the surface and do not fully grasp the embedded meaning of the language. I have long been fascinated by the relationship between language and community as well as how it translates to design - specifically, the relationship between Arabs and Arabic. When it comes to designing with Arabic, most of the spotlight is directed towards Calligraphy; in a lot of cases the Arabic language is not considered a priority but is applied to a design as a secondary element. The inherited pride that Arabs have towards their language is immense, yet the design language does not match it in complexity. The strong connection that most Arabs have towards Arabic results in disagreements amongst each other regarding the linguistics of the language. This thesis aims to uncover these behaviors and connections with the language by taking a critical design approach using interaction design to reveal hidden and apparent features of Arabic. This research encourages questioning current design methods and proposes alternative approaches by taking Arabic beyond its stereotypical aesthetical value and over onto its linguistic and behavioral significance