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The Arabic Letterform, Reimagined Through Code

What creative possibilities can we unlock when Arabic letterforms are allowed to thrive in interactive coding environments?This talk explores the transformation of Arabic typography through creative coding, sitting at the intersection of emerging technologies and Arab cultural expression. As someone navigating both Arabic lettering and technology, my research explores how tools like p5.js can reimagine Arabic letters as living, dynamic, and interactive systems.Integrating Arabic script into creative coding environments has long posed challenges, with technical obstacles discouraging many creatives from experimenting in this space. In this talk, I’ll share my ongoing (and often bumpy) journey into creative coding and Arabic, reflecting on the struggles, breakthroughs, and creative potential moving forward.By transforming Arabic letterforms through code, we open up possibilities for new visual languages and more inclusive digital expressions that honor the complexity of Arabic script while pushing it into new heights.

Sally Mallat
Speaker

Sally Mallat

Sally Mallat is an award-winning Lettering Artist and Creative Technologist based in Dubai. With over seven years of experience across the UAE and UK, she leads projects merging Arab culture with emerging tech like ML and creative coding. She also researches Arabic typography through a new media lens. Sally holds an MSc in Creative Computing from UAL, and a BSc in Visual Communication from AUS. Her work has been recognized by Dubai Lynx, Gerety Awards, and the Type Directors Club, and featured in Eye Magazine, ItsNiceThat, and PAGE. Beyond client work, she exhibits globally, most recently in Times Square, NYC, where captures the transformation of Arabic typography in the creative tech space.