We are proud and excited to announce TPTQ Arabic, a new type foundry dedicated to developing original high-quality Arabic typefaces and systems for bi-lingual typography. Award-winning designer Kristyan Sarkis and Typotheque’s Peter Biľak intend to bring the same attention to Arabic typography that Roman typography has received over that last few decades.

Arabic culture and its written expression represent an extraordinarily rich and diverse calligraphic heritage, one that is not easily handled by technologies designed primarily to support Roman script. Since the invention of mechanical type there have been numerous attempts to adapt the flowing strokes of Arabic writing to different printing processes, with varying degrees of success. Today there are plenty of Arabic fonts, also of varying quality, but few of them explore the possibilities of Arabic type design rather than subject it to the limitations of unrelated writing systems.

TPTQ Arabic believes that Arabic culture is ready to embrace modern, authentic typefaces. Throughout the Arab world and even beyond its borders there is a massive demand for Arabic fonts that can be used in branding, publishing and everyday communication, fonts that address the needs of a rapidly growing global Arab design community represented both by local design studios and international agencies. TPTQ Arabic will also serve as an educational platform offering lectures and workshops, and actively promoting the publishing and exchanging of ideas.

Designers Kristyan Sarkis and Peter Biľak bring a unique perspective on this beautiful script and language. Sarkis has been recognised by leading professional bodies and won multiple awards including the Award for Excellence in Type Design from the Type Directors Club in New York, International Type Design Competition Granshan, and Association Typographique Internationale’s Letter 2 competition for best typefaces of the decade. Biľak is widely known for his innovative approach to design and typography, and has launched several successful projects such as Typotheque, Indian Type Foundry, Fontstand and Works That Work. For his contribution to non-Latin typography, he was named in 2012 one of the 12 Game Changers by Metropolis magazine.

TPTQ FBCover BW

TPTQ Arabic’s inaugural launch consists of new Fedra Arabic, and Greta Arabic type system, with much more on the way. Please sign up for our mailing list (at the bottom of this page), or follow us on our RSS, Twitter or Facebook to stay informed about exciting new releases.