Arabic Script for Digital Lettering
A course by Wael MorcosGraphic and Type Designer
A course by Wael Morcos, Graphic and Type Designer
Turn simple phrases into meaningful works of art by learning to combine traditional Arabic calligraphy with contemporary digital tools
“Writing and calligraphy have been central to Arab cultures for centuries. It’s a great honor to be able to continue these legacies with the help of modern technology.”
Wael Morcos is a type designer who is passionate about Arabic script. With a focus on this art form, he collaborates with organizations across North America and the Middle East to translate their stories into engaging visual systems. Through his studio, he has worked with commercial brands like Nike as well as non-profits and cultural institutions such as the Dadu Children’s Museum in Qatar.
In this online course, Wael teaches you the possibilities of the Arabic script by examining its history and structure. Learn to create beautiful designs and images using a variety of lettering styles inspired by Arab culture. Turn simple words and phrases into expressive works of art.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 10 downloads
All about Calligraphy
13 minutes, 55 seconds
Calligraphy, Lettering, and Typography
19 minutes, 11 seconds
Lettering Principles: Contrast and Weight
13 minutes, 44 seconds
Lettering Principles: Proportions and Abstraction
18 minutes, 10 seconds
Words and Composition 1
13 minutes, 46 seconds
Words and Composition 2
10 minutes, 51 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by getting to know type designer Wael Morcos. Discover the creative career that led him to start his own studio along with the influences that inspire him and his work.
Dive into calligraphy and how it relates to lettering and typography. Then learn the basics of contrast and weight, as well as proportions and abstraction, and use these to define the composition of your image.
Next, explore different lettering types, from the solid Kufi styles to more fluid families like Nakhs. Scan our favorite and rework it digitally in line with your end goal.
To wrap up the course, Wael guides you through the process of selecting and developing your best sketch, as well as how to share it with the world.
What is this course's project?
Create your own digital lettering design using the fundamentals of Arabic Calligraphy.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in creating contemporary lettering with traditional Arabic script.
Requirements and materials
Basic knowledge of Arabic is helpful, but not necessary.
In terms of materials, you will need access to Illustrator, Photoshop, and Glyphs, as well as calligraphy materials specified by the teacher in the course.
Reviews
- 22 days ago
massa!
- 25 days ago
Outstanding course! Highly accessible and clear
- 3 months ago
A talented teacher, with a pure passion in the field. I love what he does with the arabic letters. All the best Mr. Wael
- 4 months ago
Amazing course!
- 5 months ago
Thank you for this valuable course. It was clear, inspiring, and very useful. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot.
With a particular interest in Arabic typography, Wael has collaborated with organizations across North America and the Middle East to translate their stories into engaging visual systems. His clients range from commercial enterprises like Nike to non-profits and cultural institutions such as the Dadu Children’s Museum in Qatar.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Understanding Letterforms
- All about Calligraphy
- Calligraphy, Lettering, and Typography
- Lettering Principles: Contrast and Weight
- Lettering Principles: Proportions and Abstraction
- Words and Composition 1
- Words and Composition 2
- U3
Lettering Styles and Sketch: "True Love"
- Solid Styles 1
- Solid Styles 2
- Fluid Styles 1
- Fluid Styles 2
- Playing the Role of Editor
- U4
Finishing Off
- Going Digital
- Final Piece: "True Love" 1
- Final Piece: "True Love" 2
- Final Piece: "True Love" 3
- Sharing the Work
- FP
Final project
- Arabic Script for Digital Lettering
What to expect from a Domestika course
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FAQs
This course is designed for intermediate learners with some background in graphic design or calligraphy, but motivated beginners interested in Arabic script may also benefit.
You’ll need basic drawing supplies (pencils, tracing paper, brush pens), access to vector software like Adobe Illustrator or Glyphs, and optionally calligraphy tools such as column and brush pens.
You will learn Arabic calligraphy techniques, type design, creating expressive lettering, multilingual layout strategies, and how to digitize and refine your hand-drawn designs.
Yes, the course teaches manual sketching, calligraphy, and paste-up workflows as well as digital font creation and vectorization using professional software.
Yes, you’ll explore the full process of designing Arabic typefaces, from sketching to digital refinement and export for professional use.
Absolutely. The curriculum includes projects on branding with Arabic script and developing visual identities for museums and cultural exhibitions.
Yes, you’ll study classic styles such as Kufic and Diwani, as well as modern approaches, geometric Kufic, and hybrid script compositions.