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How to Arabise a logo in 7 steps if you can’t read or write Arabic

Arabic is a beautiful language. I’ll even go as far as saying that Arabic calligraphy is one of the most beautiful expressions of a language from an aesthetic point of view. It has a wonderful flowing motion language that embodies an alluring elegance. I say all this based on what I see, as I cannot read or write Arabic.

Over the years I have been required to Arabise some of the logos I have designed in English. I was required to do the work due to limited client budget, time constraints or availability of Arabic designers. I always enjoy the challenge and have developed a simple 7-step technique along the way. If you are a designer that works primarily in English, I hope that you find it helpful. I use InDesign, but the same steps apply to Illustrator.

Before we get started, it’s important to note that Arabic is read from right to left. So if your logo has elements or icons, aside from the actual font, that are read from left to right, they need to be reversed.

There may be a scenario where you have a bilingual logo, in which case the elements or icons will be shared. More often than not, the English and Arabic should take up exactly the same amount of real estate in order to bring balance to the logo. That said, there are some incredibly well-balanced logos that place greater emphasis and size on one language. The brief will be different each time, so just adjust accordingly.

You should translate the English into raw Arabic text in order to be able to create the logo.

Now onto the 7 steps.

Step 1. Give it to an Arabic Designer to do. They will do a better job than you will do. Once you have exhausted this option due to various factors, move onto the next step.

Step 2. Take the Arabic raw text and select the GE Dinar One font. This font gives you a nice basic construct of the letters and the word you are creating. If there is an Arabic version of your English font or something that looks really similar, then it makes sense to use that font as opposed to GE Dinar One. Select the text box and make sure that it is on World Paragraph Composer in your paragraph tab in InDesign. (Why? In my experience, it’s so that the Arabic actually reads right to left, as opposed to the other way around).

Step 3. Convert it to Outline. You will then notice line breaks between letters. This is where you can open and add space to separate letters along the line.

Step 4. Work out your kerning or “spacing”. How much real estate do you want it to cover? If it is supposed to take up the exact space as the English version, Arabic is wonderfully adaptable as long as you respect where it is you can add space in. (You don’t want to create a new word or alter the meaning by adding space where you shouldn’t.)

Step 5. Build your Toolkit. You do this by taking your English font and building the equivalent of the Arabic letters. Make sure that you stick to the essence of the English font with regard to its curves, horizontal bars, ascenders, descenders and serifs, if there are any. Place these new letters over the Dinar version that you created taking care to place them on the line and spacing them accordingly.

Step 6. Connect the separate letters. Only do this when you have placed the letters properly and in a straight line over the GE Dinar One guide that you created.

Step 7. Flip or reverse the elements or icons. If you have any elements besides the type, add them in now, ensuring that they are reversed so that they can be read the correct way. Match the colour with the English version and presto!

Your English logo has been Arabised in 7 simple steps. Check with an Arabic speaking person to ensure that they can read it easily, sometimes there are some minor tweaks that can be made to improve legibility. If you stick to the Dinar One construct, you should be fine.

Different logos will obviously challenge you in different ways. Each time you do one, you will find new ways to apply the 7 steps in order to get it done.

Alternatively, you can just give it to an Arabic designer to do.

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