Lara Assouad in conversation with Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès [Khatt Chronicles]

Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès interviews Dubai-based Lebanese graphic and type designer @laraassouad. Together they discuss her journey into type design and her other passions and side practices such as book-binding, leather accessories, and pottery.

The conversation focuses on Lara's trendsetting work in developing modular Arabic scripts that go beyond type design and practical graphic design application, claiming a place in the contemporary art world.

She revisits the ubiquitous applications of the Arabic script to various media – a common practice in the traditional Islamic arts – and brings this into today's art and design practice. She candidly discusses her fascination with the various and diverse Kufi scripts describing them as elegant, mysterious and easily adaptable to contemporary minimalist design, for which she has great personal affinity.

About Khatt Chronicles

Khatt Chronicles, in collaboration with afikra, features remarkable designers, illustrators, and researchers from the Arab World, in engaging conversations about their practice, vision, and aspirations. A podcast series that chronicles and introduces the latest explorations in Arab visual communication and material culture.