Workshop with Naïma Ben Ayed : When Hüsn-i Hat Learned to Spell in Latin
This workshop, led by type and graphic designer Naïma Ben Ayed, draws inspiration from calligrapher Emin Barın (1913-1987). Barın responded to Turkey’s Language Reform by merging Kufic calligraphy with Latin letters. Participants will experiment with calligraphy and typographic guidelines to explore connections between these two writing systems. Set against the historical shift to a new alphabet, the workshop creates space to see how these lettering traditions intersect and inform each other.
Naïma Ben Ayed is a French-Tunisian graphic and type designer who grew up in Provence. Her passion lies in exploring the spaces between identities and translating them into design forms and ideas. With a Master’s in 'création typographique' from the Estienne School, she runs an independent practice in London, where Arabic and Latin type design sit at the same desk. Her approach to design is telling stories with letters. Beyond leading type workshops, she engages in the question of opening up type design pedagogy in creative ways.
