Out of Hundreds:What made the judge choose this typeface?

NoonFont
NoonFont Posts: 8
edited May 6 in Type Design Critiques

Each year, the judges are asked to select one work that they absolutely love, and would like to discuss it in the TDC annual, The World’s Best Typography.

This year, the MAHAL Typeface was chosen by judge Omanima Dajani. she was one of the judges for the Typeface Design category. (An independent type designer based in the Netherlands, specializes in Arabic script design, bridging Arabic calligraphy with modern type design.)

Why do you think this typeface was chosen?  What distinguishing features do you see in this typeface?

Type Designer: Naser Khadem, More details:  NoonFont.com 




The Mahal typeface design focuses on maintaining verticality while preserving calligraphic features and readability. Key challenges included controlling letter spacing, maintaining independent counters and open spaces, regulating vertical line rhythm, and managing letter height and baseline alignment.

With its display feel and playful details, Mahal is ideal for headlines and short texts. It’s particularly suited for social media admins, bloggers, startups, and designers in web, apps, and gaming.

*"يُطلب من الحكام كل عام اختيار عمل واحد يحبونه للغاية، ويرغبون في مناقشته في سنوية TDC، أفضل الطباعة في العالم."

"هذا العام، تم اختيار خط MAHAL من قبل الحكمة امیمه دجاني. كانت واحدة من الحكام في فئة تصميم الخطوط. (مصممة خطوط مستقلة مقيمة في هولندا، متخصصة في تصميم الخطوط العربية، وتجسر بين الخط العربي التقليدي وتصميم الخطوط الحديثة.)"

"لماذا تعتقد أن هذا الخط تم اختياره؟

ما هي السمات المميزة التي تراها في هذا الخط؟"

للمزيد من المعلومات وشراء الخط :  NoonFont.com 

مصمم ومطور الخطوط :  Naser Khadem

Tagged:

Comments

  • James Montalbano
    James Montalbano Posts: 116
    edited May 4
    The judge chose it. Discussed it in the annual (as is the custom). Done. If and when you get chosen as a judge you can have your pick of  the litter. Paul Shaw and I started this competition back in the prehistoric days. Having observed decades of them, I stopped looking for any rhyme or reason for a judge's selection. It is their choice, and that is all.
  • NoonFont
    NoonFont Posts: 8
    edited May 4

    James Montalbano Poster In 1998 <3 , the year when Adobe and Microsoft collaborated to introduce a new standard called opentype.

  • NoonFont
    NoonFont Posts: 8
    James Montalbano said:
    The judge chose it. Discussed it in the annual (as is the custom). Done. If and when you get chosen as a judge you can have your pick of  the litter. Paul Shaw and I started this competition back in the prehistoric days. Having observed decades of them, I stopped looking for any rhyme or reason for a judge's selection. It is their choice, and that is all.
    I have great respect for the experience and legacy of you and Mr. Paul Shaw, and I appreciate you sharing these points with us.
  • John Savard
    John Savard Posts: 1,167
    Not being a native speaker of Urdu, I can't really evaluate the merits of this typeface.
    However, it appears to have indeed been competently crafted with respect to meeting the demands of the writing system. However, it seems to be a display typeface, suitable, for example, to movie posters, and not for lengthy body text.
  • John Hudson
    John Hudson Posts: 3,374
    1998 3 , the year when Adobe and Microsoft collaborated to introduce a new standard called opentype
    OpenType was announced in 1996.
  • NoonFont
    NoonFont Posts: 8
    John Savard said:
    Not being a native speaker of Urdu, I can't really evaluate the merits of this typeface.
    However, it appears to have indeed been competently crafted with respect to meeting the demands of the writing system. However, it seems to be a display typeface, suitable, for example, to movie posters, and not for lengthy body text.
    Thank you for your comment. You're absolutely right.
  • Dave Crossland
    Dave Crossland Posts: 1,452
    James Montalbano said:
    The judge chose it. Discussed it in the annual (as is the custom). Done. If and when you get chosen as a judge you can have your pick of  the litter.
    Initially I interpreted this thread's subject title as critical one - like, "what is this JUNK?? Whhyyyyyy would anyone pick THIS??" - but then I realized the poster here is the type designer who just won with this typeface, lol

    So, as someone with a very novice idiot eye to arabic type design, my guess is that this is a 'contemporary' design, that doesn't look like traditional designs, and is awarded for bringing something fresh to the genre of arabic type. Well done :)
  • NoonFont
    NoonFont Posts: 8
    Dave Crossland said:
    Initially I interpreted this thread's subject title as critical one - like, "what is this JUNK?? Whhyyyyyy would anyone pick THIS??" - but then I realized the poster here is the type designer who just won with this typeface, lol

    So, as someone with a very novice idiot eye to arabic type design, my guess is that this is a 'contemporary' design, that doesn't look like traditional designs, and is awarded for bringing something fresh to the genre of arabic type. Well done :)
    Thanks for having such a sharp beginner’s eye 😄 I really hope it brings something fresh to Arabic type — even if it causes mild heart attacks at first! 

Categories