Kristyan Sarkis
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Kristyan Sarkis (Arabic: كريستيان سركيس; born 18 June 1985) is a Lebanese type designer and lettering artist based in Amsterdam. He is known for his contributions to contemporary Arabic type design and for co-founding several initiatives dedicated to Arabic typography and design education.[1][2][3]
| Kristyan Sarkis | |
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| Born | 18 June 1985 |
| Place of Birth | Beirut, Lebanon |
| Nationality | Lebanese |
| Occupation | Type designer, lettering artist |
| Notable Works | Thuraya, Greta Text Arabic, Colvert Arabic |
Early life and education
Sarkis was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1985. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, developing an interest in type design under the mentorship of Yara Khoury.[2][4] After graduation, he worked at AlMohtaraf Studio, completing his first type design project.[4] He earned a Master of Design in Type & Media from the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague in 2010.[2]
Career
Sarkis works independently in Amsterdam, focusing on Arabic type design and lettering. His approach combines traditional Arabic calligraphy with contemporary typographic practices.[5] He co-founded:
- TPTQ Arabic, a type foundry and design studio specializing in Arabic fonts, with Peter Biľak in 2015.Cite error: The opening
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He has collaborated with Apple, MoMA, Mozilla, the Louvre, Typotheque, HW/Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Philippe Apeloig, Dalton Maag, Interbrand Singapore, and other studios.[3]
Typefaces and projects
Notable typefaces and projects include Thuraya, Greta Text Arabic (with Peter Biľak), and Colvert Arabic. He contributed the Arabic typeface for the Louvre Abu Dhabi signage system (2017) and worked on the Arabic version of Lineto's LL Unica77.[2]
Design approach
His type families reflect historical and typographic research:
- Qandus, exploring early solid Arabic styles from Eastern Kufic to Western Maghribi forms.[4]
- Mizan, examining hierarchy in Arabic manuscripts and typography.[4]
He distinguishes type design from lettering, noting that type design requires systematic thinking and consistency across contexts, while lettering is often project-specific.[4]
Classification of Arabic script
Sarkis classifies Arabic script into:
- Solid scripts (e.g., Kufic) emphasizing geometric structure.[4]
- Fluid scripts (e.g., Naskh, Diwani) emphasizing calligraphic expressiveness.[4]
Teaching and lectures
Sarkis teaches internationally, including at KABK Type & Media Master Program, Lebanese American University, ESAV Marrakech, and Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. He also conducts workshops and lectures on Arabic lettering and typography.[2][3]
Awards
His work has received the Type Directors Club Certificate of Typographic Excellence, the ATypI Letter.2 award, and the European Design Award.[3]
External links
- [[1](https://kristyan-sarkis.com/) Official Website]
- [[2](https://tptq-arabic.com/) TPTQ Arabic]
References
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