
Syrian Women at the Heart of the Revolution
These women are not just names in the memory of the revolution, but rather a foundation for building a free Syria. Their struggle is a living testimony that change begins
I’m a Syrian-Polish graphic designer, grew up in Damascus surrounded by a very artistic family and talented father and uncle who both taught at the Faculty of Art, Damascus University. I was consistently influenced by Arabic art, architecture, calligraphy, as well as Old Damascus. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Damascus University and graduated during the war. While there, I participated in Startup Weekend as a graphic designer. My team and I won first prize at this event and it was here that my passion for graphic design sparked! I began to study on my own and decided to shift my career to focus on graphic design and branding, with Arabic type, patterns and geometrical ornaments becoming a massive source of inspiration. I moved and currently live in Brussels, Belgium, where I finished a Master’s in Visual Art, Design, and Image at the college of Sint Lucas Antwerpen. To me, Syria is still home.
My journey has led me to create award-winning works for various international books, worked with several NGOs in Syria, the Obama Foundation, and several companies and start-ups around the world.
Because of my research, I was curious to learn about graphic design and the designers who helped shape Syria’s cultural image from prints, media, stamps, and posters to typologies, signage, and art. This information proved difficult to find, and what could be accessed was very limited in Syria. The war did not help either. Upon realizing this, along with my two friends Sally and Hala, we founded a nonprofit documentary project which celebrates Syria’s little-known graphic design history.
Syrian Design Archive, Syrian Media Archive, Syrian Type Archive, Syrian Print Archive, Syrian Stamps Archive – each share the richness found in these various art forms in Syria.
These women are not just names in the memory of the revolution, but rather a foundation for building a free Syria. Their struggle is a living testimony that change begins
Najeeb Halaby was a Syrian-American pioneer in aviation with an extraordinary journey. He was the first to make a nonstop jet flight across the US and led the largest American
Syrian artists like Marwan Barakat remind us of the cultural and social wealth that Syrians have to offer to the world, and inspire us to express ourselves and our talents,