This typeface was created as a pre-masters project, at the German University in Cairo. SAHM is a variable Arabic typeface that can be controlled through two axes. The first is a slant axis, which provides the ability to adjust the direction in which the letters are leaning, while the second axis controls the thickness of the letters’ baseline.
everything everywhere all at once
Censured
Censorship in Egypt restricts freedom of expression
Freedom of expression
“Freedom of expression will be stopped with violence.”
The flag of the Egyptian army features two crossed swords. In the poster, one of these swords pierces the balloon that usually, in comics, contains the texts spoken or thought by a character. In Egypt, freedom of expression is repressed with force.
Poster Cult by Dafi Kühne
The first sentence of this book reads: “The poster world is in crisis.” It was written by Angelina Lippert, Chief Curator and Director of Content at Poster House in New York City, the first museum in the United States dedicated to the art and history of the poster. But is the poster truly in crisis?
Dafi Kühne is one of Switzerland’s foremost poster designers, whose bold and diverse work seamlessly blends traditional production tools with modern design processes. While his posters are printed on presses from the 1960s, they defy the typical aesthetic of letterpress prints. Instead, his work connects with the rich history of letterpress production while challenging the boundaries of long-established graphic and typographic techniques. Using analog printing presses, computer software, laser cutters, and freshly cast hot-metal type, Kühne creates wildly inventive, large-format posters.
Kühne’s first monograph with Lars Müller Publishers, True Print, introduced readers to his work from 2009 to 2016. Poster Cult delves deeper into the processes, background, and context of his more recent poster designs.
Looking at the book, it’s hard to believe that the poster is in crisis. The introduction is, of course, a celebration of the medium, but it also highlights the evolving media landscape. While poster art itself is not in crisis, the poster as a mainstream medium certainly is.
“As posters sit on the meeting point of art, design, ephemera, and commerce, not easily categorized into any single genre, those that make them embody a similar enigma. Dafi is as much an artist as he is a designer, an artisan, a craftsman, an entrepreneur, and an educator. His work encompasses the breadth of descriptions, reflecting the man himself—constantly evolving and creating new visual languages to communicate to the world.”
This book is a must-have for anyone who loves posters, appreciates craftsmanship, and values exceptional design—a true collector’s piece for design enthusiasts.
Lars Müller Publishers (pub.), Dafi Kühne (concept & design), 163 pages, 24 × 30 cm, English, ISBN: 978-3-03778-777-9
Buy it here.
SHkhBta 044 [The Cheapest]
This portrait encapsulates the collective experience of a society shaped by powerful forces of control and limitation. It serves as a profound reflection on Cairo while extending to the broader condition of Egypt, offering a contemplative lens on the tension between resilience and submission within an unyielding system.
* This portrait was improvised while listening to “Ali Phi – Endelah”
IRIS Resort
The Alien Hub
Branding for Agency
هيلا يارمانه
Inspired by a Kuwaiti song called Hela ya Romana. It was a project for the pre-masters 2021-2022 and the topic was ‘nostalgic’. The project was called ‘Balooza’
Nostalgia
It was part of my pre-masters project in 2021-2022.
Rules for Students, Teachers, and Life
كشك
مرحلة نعيشها، مكان نلتقي فيه، وأفكار تتراكم مثل الصناديق فوق بعضها البعض.
هذا الكتاب ليس مجرد حكايات عن الأكشاك المنتشرة حولنا، بل هو انعكاس للذكريات، التفاصيل الصغيرة التي تشكل هوية الأماكن وأثرها فينا.
“كشك” رحلة تأمل في عوالم بسيطة بعمق كبير. يجمع بين النصوص والصور، بين الحنين والإبداع.
اكتشف التفاصيل المخفية التي تمر أمام أعيننا يوميًا دون أن ننتبه لها.
leserlich.info
In April 2017, leserlich.info launched as a digital guide for designing texts accessible to both people with and without visual impairments. The site now features updated content, a refreshed design, and an English translation to increase its reach and impact.
Leserlich.info offers practical tools and advice on factors like fonts, font sizes, spacing, layout, and contrast—elements that improve text readability. The site benefits not only the one million visually impaired people in Germany, but also those facing stressful situations, poor visibility, reading difficulties, or age-related challenges. It shows that inclusive design can be both accessible to those with visual impairments and appealing to sighted individuals.
The relaunch aims to expand the site’s international audience. Since design professionals often work in English, leserlich.info has gained international interest. The updated version seeks to fill a gap, as no similar platform exists. Popular features like the Font Size Calculator and Contrast Calculator are now even more user-friendly, with interactive graphics and micro-animations.
The platform has been supported by MSD since its launch. MSD’s Patient Advocate, Xenia von Maltzan, states, “We were happy to support the relaunch to make leserlich.info available internationally and reach a broader audience.”
The guide was developed by designers from adlerschmidt, led by Prof. Florian Adler, in collaboration with experts from the German Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBSV). It is based on current research and recommendations from the DIN 1450 standard for text readability.
In its seven and a half years, leserlich.info has become an important resource. It offers tools like the Font Size and Contrast Calculators, which help designers choose the right settings for accessible text. The platform has been recognized by publications like PAGE magazine and the German government’s online style guide. In 2022, it received the Werkbund Label from the German Werkbund.
Leserlich.info proves that inclusive design benefits everyone, not just people with visual impairments. It improves readability for all users.
Further information here.
Ancient Cairo
The design is a possible explanation of why the city of Cairo was given this name, along with an explanation of some of its famous landmarks
Confusion
Confusion
A poster that expresses the state of disorientation and confusion that anyone experiences at the beginning of their journey and the process of discovering their talents and unique traits. I conveyed this through the word “Confusion,” written in an intertwined and unclear style, with random lines in the background symbolizing the obstacles and challenges a person faces.
I Don’t Understand Anything
A poster that expresses the state of confusion I experience when witnessing the rapid flow of events around me and the incredible pace of technological advancement, which I sometimes struggle to comprehend. I conveyed this feeling through a poster titled “I Don’t Understand Anything.”
Sky Gate
Sky Gate
A travel company distinguished by its ability to fly to destinations all over the world.
The logo is inspired by the shape of an airplane’s tail, and the typeface has been customized to harmonize with the icon design.
A Little Bit of Everything
Nadine Elakl is a multidisciplinary designer that is currently located in Cairo, Egypt. Nadine likes to break the boundaries of design by using her form of expression through illustrations in
addition to applying modern principles of design. Her work can vary from a funky illustration to a minimal book design. She encourages & supports spreading positivity through all creative fields as well as embrace the Egyptian culture. Her dream is to one day build a universe full of unknown creatures.
عصفور في الايد ولا عشرة على الشجرة
Queen of heart / Aurelia
First oil portrait and latest oil portrait
Overprint Flyer
A flyer design informing about siamese fighting fish using overprint style and effects
Poster Design
Typographic design showcasing the anatomy of the word “Typography” in Arabic and English
Typeface flyer
An informative flyer comparing between two arabic typefaces
The Road to Mecca
Egypt has been renowned for years for crafting the Kiswa of the Kaaba. This poster celebrates the idea, drawing inspiration from the traditional Egyptian Khiyamiyya style, which was often used in its creation. It also pays tribute to the magical journey from the farthest corners of the world to Mecca.