29LT Idris Sharp and Flat
Studio Linda Hintz · Linda Hintz, Pascal Zoghbi · 2024
A bilingual Latin and Arabic text family in two stylistic variants, Sharp and Flat, developed as a companion to Pascal Zoghbi's revival of a Berthold Naskh originally drawn by Egyptian surrealist artist Salim Al Habschi.
About
The Sharp variant draws on Naskh calligraphic conventions, with lively stems that flare towards the top, fluid stroke contrast and a mix of triangular and simplified endings. The Flat variant takes a more upright approach, with solid terminals, slightly larger vertical heights and lower overall contrast. Both variants share identical widths, making them interchangeable without causing text reflow, a constraint that required raising the x-height in darker weights to accommodate additional mass.
Classification
A bilingual Latin and Arabic serif family rooted in calligraphic tradition, with flared stroke endings and fluid contrast in the Sharp variant and more upright, open forms in the Flat variant. The Latin design echoes Naskh calligraphic conventions while remaining within the Latin serif tradition.