Preserving Syria’s graphic design heritage, the Syrian Design Archive showcases the nation’s visual identity through decades of typography and print
In 2020, Kinda Ghannoum grew frustrated with the lack of documentation in Syria’s design history which, along with much of the Arab world, has often lacked formal archiving due to political instability, limited resources and the marginalisation of design as an academic discipline. Recognising this gap, Ghannoum partnered with Hala Al Afsaa and Sally Alassafen to establish the Syrian Design Archive, which quickly grew into a platform for preserving the country’s visual identity, documenting everything from street posters and book covers to Arabic typography.
Among the collection are stamps dating back to 1919 and posters and book covers from the 1960s, including Abdulkader Arnaout’s cover designs for Colette Al-Khoury’s One Night to Youssef Abdelke’s 1998 poster for Des Films Pour La Palestine. These works – which are open source and available to researchers and students alike – highlight aesthetic trends throughout the ages, but also moments of unrest, revolution and creativity in the face of adversity. In a region where cultural heritage is under threat, the preservation of these materials feels urgent. The Syrian Design Archive acts as a safeguard, ensuring that these visual narratives aren’t lost to time. As Ghannoum says, “To us, the best art pushes you to see the world through someone else’s eyes.”
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