AUC Press Releases The Arabic Edition of A History Of Arab Graphic Design
June 18, 2025, Cairo – The American University in Cairo Press (AUC Press) has released the Arabic edition of the award-winning book, A History of Arab Graphic Design, co-authored by Bahia Shehab, professor of practice and founder of the graphic design program at AUC and Haytham Nawar, associate professor of design and former chair of the Department of the Arts at AUC. Available for the first time in Arabic, the book offers Arabic-speaking audiences worldwide access to a comprehensive and visually rich account of the development of Arab graphic design. Featuring over 600 vibrant color illustrations, the volume traces the evolution of Arab graphic design from the early twentieth century to the digital age.
First published in English in 2020, A History of Arab Graphic Design has been hailed as a foundational reference work. The book showcases the work of more than 80 designers from across the region, accompanied by rare visual materials and in-depth narratives that explore the social, political, and cultural contexts shaping their creations.
“The AUC Press has always been an English language publisher operating in Egypt, and a major part of its mission has been to bring Arab voices to a world audience. This has usually involved translating books from Arabic into English. Five years ago, we published A History of Arab Graphic Design in English to much acclaim, including winning the PROSE Award for Art History and Criticism. When the opportunity to translate the book into Arabic arose, we were pleased to take this unusual step and make the book available in the language of our home region, bringing to it the same production and editorial values as the earlier edition,” said Thomas Willshire, AUC Press Executive Director.
A History of Arab Graphic Design charts the development of design in the region, beginning with Islamic art and Arabic calligraphy, and their impact on Arab visual culture, through to the digital revolution and the arrival of the Internet. The book examines the work of key designers from Morocco to Iraq and covers the period from pre-1900 to the end of the twentieth century. It also includes a vast range of graphic design uses, including books, magazines and newspapers, posters, advertisements, stamps, and signage, which influenced and inspired Arab designers.
The authors look at how cinema, economic prosperity, and political and cultural events gave birth to and shaped the founders of Arab graphic design. They have also meticulously documented the stories and works of pioneering Arab designers, including those in the diaspora, to ensure the preservation and recognition of this vital creative heritage.
“We are delighted that this landmark publication is now available for the first time in Arabic from the AUC Press, making it accessible to Arabic-language readers and design practitioners everywhere. Arab graphic design is a vibrant, ever-evolving field, and this translation significantly widens the reach of its insights and rich documentation, opening up new possibilities for dialogue, engagement, and education,” said Nadia al-Naqib, AUC Press director of editorial acquisitions.
The AUC Press is the leading academic publisher of English-language books in the Middle East. With a rich history spanning over 60 years. It is committed to publishing high-quality works that explore the diverse cultures, histories, and ideas of the region. AUC Press publishes around 50 new titles annually and has a backlist of more than 800 title that is sold and distributed globally.