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WinSoft Arabic Typography Contest

Presentation

Prizes

Jury

Contest Jury

Winners will be decided by a two-fold process.

Contestants will be judged by a panel of experts in the field of design and Middle Eastern culture and tradition. Results will depend on the overall impact of the submitted work, typographic skills and creativity.

You will find below a more detailed presentation of the jury members.

The public will also have the opportunity to vote for their preferred entry through the internet. Every person who wishes to vote for an entry will be able to do so on the WinSoft International website from the 7th of April.

	Nadine Chahine Arabic specialist at Linotype Nadine Chahine is an award winning Lebanese type designer with a special interest in Arabic typography. She studied Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut and MA in Typeface Design at the University of Reading, UK. During her study at Reading, she focused on the relationship of the Arabic and Latin scripts and the possibilities of creating a harmonious relationship between the two. She taught Arabic type design as a visiting lecturer at the American University in Dubai and at the Lebanese American University in Beirut.
In 2005 she joined Linotype, Germany, as the Arabic specialist and has been living in Germany since then. In September 2007 she started a PhD program at Leiden University and her focus is on legibility studies for the Arabic script. She has won the Dean's Award for Creative Achievement from the American University of Beirut in 2000, and an Award for Excellence in Type Design from the Type Directors Club in New York in 2008. Her typefaces include: the best-selling Frutiger Arabic, Palatino Arabic, Koufiya, Janna, Badiya, and BigVesta Arabic. Nadine Chahine blog on Arabic Type: www.arabictype.com/blog/about-2 Linotype website: www.linotype.com > Discover Nadine Chahine's Interview

	Joe Karkour Regional Business Development Manager for the Creative Products for Adobe Systems Middle East Joe Karkour is the Regional Business Development Manager for the Creative Products for Adobe Systems Middle East Offices in Dubai. Prior to his appointment at Adobe Systems, Joe held the General Manager's position at Chillout Productions in Dubai, one of the leading Events Management companies in the UAE specialising in Corporate Events, Seminars, Workshops, Training, as well as large-scale concerts and festivals.
Joe is a Native Lebanese born in Beirut and speaks English, Arabic and French fluently. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science from EPSIL University in Lebanon, as well as a System Integration Certificate from Quark Inc. in Denver Colorado - USA. He is on board the Program Advisory Committee of the Higher Colleges of Technology, the Sharjah Women’s College, and on the organizers committee of the Dubai International Jazz Festival. Joe enjoys all sorts of sports, including water skiing, snow skiing and basketball. Plays the Guitar, and enjoys his weekend fishing trips, and scuba diving. His other interests include travelling and Photography. Adobe Systems website: www.adobe.com > Discover Joe Karkour's interview

	George Kandalaft George Kandalaft has been a university lecturer in statistics in Beirut, then a computer journalist, since 1989. He was editor in chief of Apple Magazine for the Arab World (dedicated to the Mac Arabic users) and Tasmeem magazine (specialising in Arabic design). Since 1995, he has been a web developer and designer, specialising in on-line publishing based on Content Management Systems (CMS), mostly in Arabic. He developed the Arabic and English support in the CMS, Spip which, originally only supported French, and created several multilingual sites using this system.
Diwan al Arab: www.diwanalarab.com > Discover George Kandalaft's interview

	Zaid Al-Hilali Adobe Certified Expert and Instructor at Grapheast Zaid Al Hilali is a graduate of a well-known Art School in the field of Computer Graphics and Publishing from Auckland University of Technology - New Zealand. Zaid has been working in the Graphic Design field for over 8 years and offers his technical knowledge to Professional Designers and Photographers as well as novice learners.
Zaid is an Adobe Certified Expert and Instructor (ACE, ACI), he shares his detailed technical skills in Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro. and Mac OS X with his learners in a highly professional manner. His clients range from Arts college faculties in the Gulf region, to offering consultation to Press Print providers and Design studios, and also individuals who are just starting out in the creative market in the UAE and the region. Zaid also heads the local Adobe support team that covers Arabic users in the Middle East. Grapheast: grapheast.com

	Aref Hijjawi Director of Programmes at Al Jazeera Aref Hijjawi began his career as a calligrapher, in Kuwait. He then taught both at Alibrahimiyya Colleage in Jerusalem and the Friends School in Ramallah. He next worked for 11 years at the BBC in London as a translator, announcer, editor, and finished as the Head of Programmes in the Arabic Service. After being the BBC's Palestine Correspondent he was Director of the Media Institute and at the same time, lecturer at Birzeit University.
He has been the Director of Programmes at Al Jazeera for the past 3 years. In addition to his extensive broadcast experience, he has written books and run programs on Arabic grammar and literature (The Palestinian Question, Writing for Radio, Arabic Grammar, Essence of Grammar, Grammar for Announcers, Dear Listener, Poet of a Thousand Years, Al Mutanabbi). He has also produced radio programmes on politics, music, Arab and English literature. Al jazeera website: english.aljazeera.net > Discover Aref Hijjawi's interview