Abstract/Summary

This essay is an investigation into the origins of Simplified Arabic, a typeface developed in the 1950s by the British Linotype company in collaboration with Kamel Mrowa, owner and editor-in-chief of the Lebanese newspaper al-Hayat. The essay situates the development of Simplified Arabic within a broader geopolitical context of the Middle East after the Second World War, explains the design concepts underpinning the typeface in relation to the technical requirements of 1950s newspaper production, and assesses the design of the typeface itself. Additional discussion addresses the simplified Arabic typeface introduced subsequently by Intertype, Linotype’s competitor, and compares the simplified typefaces of both companies. Brief consideration is given to Simplified Arabic’s influence and its lasting impact on Arabic typeface design.