Shahd Alshahwani
Contacts
Shahd Alshahwani
Graphic Design 2026
Tags
- Cultural
- Identity
- Typography
- Visual Culture
Arabic letters and traditional Qatari architecture share the same foundation: structure, balance, and intention.
Traditional Qatari architecture is shaped by climate, privacy, and social life, where every wall, courtyard, opening, and doorway has a purpose and is carefully organized to support daily living. In a similar way, Arabic letters are built from systems of proportion, rhythm, and spatial relationships.
This thesis turns the Arabic alphabet into a visual system that connects these two worlds. Each letter becomes an entry point to an architectural element found in traditional Qatari architecture. Using shapes extracted from a custom Arabic typeface I previously designed, abstract architectural illustrations are constructed to accompany every letter. The final outcome is a modular wall installation, where each unit represents a letter and its corresponding architectural illustration.
The project is also extended through a stamp kit that allows the architectural forms to be explored through composition and engagement.
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