Digital Arabic Calligraphy · Publishing

Arabic calligraphy created for the Library of Arabic Literature book jackets

I created digital Arabic calligraphic compositions for selected jackets in the Library of Arabic Literature series, published by NYU Press with the support of New York University Abu Dhabi.

The work brought classical Arabic literary heritage into a contemporary publishing system. Each composition had to preserve the rhythm and authority of Arabic script while meeting the precise hierarchy, dimensions, and production requirements of a modern book jacket.

Library of Arabic Literature book jackets featuring Arabic calligraphy by Nihad Taisir Nadam

Project

Library of Arabic Literature

NYU Abu Dhabi initiative
Published by NYU Press

My role

Arabic calligrapher

Custom digital Arabic compositions created specifically for selected book jackets

Publication and credit

Published and acknowledged

Work released with the first series titles and officially credited in 2013

01 · The publishing context

A major Arabic publishing initiative connecting scholarship with contemporary readers

Library of Arabic Literature logo

The Library of Arabic Literature publishes authoritative Arabic editions and English translations of significant works of Arabic literature, with particular emphasis on texts from the seventh to the nineteenth centuries.

The series spans poetry, fiction, religion, philosophy, law, science, travel writing, history, and other fields of classical and pre-modern Arabic intellectual life. Its books are produced in parallel-text, English-only, print, and digital editions.

My contribution focused on the jackets: creating Arabic calligraphy capable of working inside a consistent international publishing identity while retaining the cultural character of the script.

02 · The calligraphic contribution

Traditional script translated into a precise contemporary jacket system

The calligraphy was not added as decoration after the cover was designed. It had to function as a primary visual element within the editorial hierarchy and remain technically reliable in print.

Calligraphic character

Each composition retains the energy, proportion, and cultural authority of Arabic writing while responding to the specific title.

Jacket hierarchy

The lettering works with the established cover architecture, balancing Arabic presence with title information, series consistency, and legibility.

Digital production

Forms were refined for accurate scaling, colour reproduction, and the practical constraints of professional book-jacket production.

03 · Selected book jackets

Arabic titles become the visual voice of each cover

Selected examples of the digital Arabic calligraphy created for the Library of Arabic Literature jacket system.

Vertical blue Arabic calligraphy for a Library of Arabic Literature book jacket
Stacked Arabic title calligraphy for a Library of Arabic Literature book jacket
Custom Arabic title lettering for a Library of Arabic Literature book jacket

04 · Official acknowledgement

The series’ first publication announcement credited my work on the jackets

When the first Library of Arabic Literature titles were released in March 2013, the series’ managing editor publicly thanked the calligraphers Joshua Berer and Nihad Nadam for their work on the jackets.

This acknowledgement provides an independent institutional record of my contribution to the launch of the publishing series.

Arabic calligraphy for publishing

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