Hibrayer is a month long challenge that happens on instagram and provides a list of 28 arabic words to turn into lettering pieces and share online during the month of February.
I often take it as an opportunity to practice sketching iterations as part of my daily routine for the entire month, for 2023’s challenge I turned all my sketches into a poster that lays out all the sketches for every word throughout the month. Some look done and polished, and some look like half-cooked ideas.
Inspired from the captivating Mamluki hexagonal tiles in Cairo and Syria, this scarf design highlights their distinctive illustrative style, characterized by meticulous hand-drawn details that transcend conventional geometric patterns. The aim of the project is to foster awareness and appreciation for the exceptional richness and diversity of these tiles.
Album Art Cover
This is an artwork for a track by the artist Zein El Arfeen for his debut.
The track centers around The poem “Moutlefy” by Ibn al-Farid which is one of the most celebrated pieces in Arabic Sufi poetry. It reflects themes of divine love and spiritual longing. The artwork is a reflection of the haunting and electric sounds weaved with the whimsical and ethereal words of the poem.
“Imagine being on the wrong side of a genoc1de”
This comic tells the humorous story of two doormen in Egypt, Bor3y and Bo2loz, who work in the same apartment building in Garden City, Cairo. Each day, they engage in a friendly rivalry, vying for the favor of the building’s residents and competing for tips. As they try to outshine each other with clever antics and charm, their antics lead to a series of amusing, sometimes chaotic, encounters.
Sleep paralysis is a brief state of being unable to move or speak while falling asleep or waking, sometimes accompanied by vague hallucinations some experience a bird watching, a faint breeze, or a feather-like touch. These moments blur reality and illusion, leaving one to wonder: is it real, or the mind’s way of waking up faster?
This illustration visualizes the surreal nature of that experience.
This typographic poster celebrates the vibrant street sellers of cairo, who call out robabekya, offering to buy used goods. Through dynamic typography, the design captures their unique calling, highlighting the essence of community and resourcefulness in urban life.
Fan art poster for the Egyptian show The Assassins (الحشاشين), studying Hassan al-Sabbah as a character and exploring Shi’a art.
Khat Masr is a display font designed to use for city gates. As we start to implement Screen signage we tend to choose normal and boring typefaces but khat masr is designed to be eye catching yet shows and emphasize on the beauty that the person entering the city will see. Khat Masr, a captivating display font, is inspired by the beauty of Egypt. Created for city gates and signage, it breaks away from mundane typefaces. Its design reflects Egypt’s rich history.
An imagination for a character from the fifties of the last century. We can call him “Nyazi Abu Al-Ashnab Pasha,” who is one of the notables of Abu Al-Ashnab family. And here we see him wandering around his beloved, who, through her beauty and the beauty of her eyes, has turned into a star in his eyes, radiating beauty and vitality for him.
The calligraphy was initially created by the designer for a platform called Fairouzism, and later, the artist decided to turn it into a poster.
This typographic scarf holds the Palestinan poet, Mahmoud Darwish’s quote, which translates to “I came but I did not arrive, I have arrived but I didn’t return”. The quote is mirrored to reflect the dilemma discussed by Darwish and reflected in his quote.
Wordplay for the method of preparing
feteer. The typography is inspired by the stretched lines of the dough.
Just like a sailor lost at sea relies on the North Star to guide them back to safety, this project encourages individuals, to seek guidance from God. In the vast ocean of life, with its currents of uncertainty and the ever-present risk of losing one’s way, turning to God provides a steady beacon of hope and direction. Offering solace, strength, and a clear path forward.
One of the comforting verses of the Qur’an for those who have lost someone dear to them: “ Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.”
My professor used to say that intention makes habit an act of worship
Headphones on, immersed in Mitski’s melodies.
The society to which we belong seems to be dying or mental-health difficulties. I don’t mean to sound dramatic, but clearly the dark side is rising. Things could not have been more odd and frightening in the world of visible and invisible pains, mental-health difficulties, violence, abused, Social Media and Google replaces our Brain. But the tradition of artists will continue no matter what form the society takes. And this a reason I created this artworks, I as sign of creative.
Modar Poster created for the Modar typeface catalogue.
Blending illustration with reality, capturing a doorman in his cozy kiosk. With a steaming cup of tea, a classic radio playing “Abdel Wahab”, and a cheerful bird as his companion, the piece evokes nostalgia and highlights the charm of Cairo’s everyday moments.
In this artwork, the designer presents a minimalist design that intertwines geometric shapes with a poetic excerpt. The text, derived from a poem by Mahmoud Darwish, conveys a sense of discontent and longing, encapsulated in the phrase (Nothing pleases me). The composition is accentuated by symbolic elements, such as an eye and abstract forms, which evoke a contemplative mood, inviting viewers to reflect on the interplay between visual art and literary expression.
This painting captures the exhaustion of unspoken truths and the weight of unheard words. It reflects a moment of surrender—when the voice is silenced, not by choice, but by the futility of speaking to those who refuse to listen. The hands covering the mouth symbolize the stifling of expression, while the eyes remain wide open, bearing the burden of conveying emotions, truths, and untold stories.