Arabic typography meets programming in Hello World: A Creative Coding Exhibition at CAAD

Hello World: A Creative Coding Exhibition, a thought-provoking show that explores the fusion of creative coding and Arabic typography, was recently on display at the American University of Sharjah’s (AUS) College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD). Held from April 15 to 21, it invited audiences to dive into the imaginative and experimental work of CAAD alumni Sally Mallat, Mahmoud Hamdy and Ali Al Saqban.

Through several works on display, the show offered visitors a deep dive into the artists’ reimagining of Arabic typography through creative coding—the name commonly given to the space where artistic expression and computer programming converge. Together, the artists’ experimental projects showcased how playful, process-driven approaches at the intersection of programming and art can reveal new dimensions in the rhythm, geometry and expressive potential of Arabic letterforms. Through generative typography—an approach that uses code and algorithms to create dynamic, evolving letterforms and typographic compositions—and interactive installations, the artists also highlighted how language simultaneously encompasses movement, form and meaning.

"My practice began as a way to reconnect with the Arabic language through type and lettering, but it's now expanding into creative technology, blending programming with Arabic typography to explore new creative possibilities. We’ve only just begun to see what’s possible when creative coding meets Arabic type and culture, and I’m very excited for what’s yet to come,” said Sally Mallat, CAAD alumna, who currently works as a lettering artist and creative technologist.

The exhibition was supported and supervised by CAAD assistant professors Hala Al-Ani, Naz Naddaf and Riem Ibrahim through the CAAD Alumni Relations and Industry Partnerships Committee. It marked the beginning of a broader set of initiatives to integrate creative coding into the CAAD curriculum, with several upcoming workshops and activities being planned. 

“This exhibition captured the spirit of experimentation that defines CAAD,” said Al-Ani. “Through their original uses of creative coding, our alumni pushed the boundaries of Arabic typography, showing how traditional and established techniques can be reinvented and reimagined through technology. We plan to keep working with students to explore how coding can intersect with key areas of design such as typography, editorial design and information design. We’re excited to see how this new line of enquiry at CAAD will inspire current students as well as the next generation of designers at AUS.”

For more about the College of Architecture, Art and Design, please visit www.aus.edu/caad. 

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