Black and white abstract artwork with a central white circle containing Arabic calligraphy, surrounded by black brush strokes.

Shaping the brand of the first and only Arabic music magazine of its kind in the world.

  • Ma’azef is an Arabic web-based magazine, focused on music critic, analysis and journalism, covering modern and nostalgic Arabic music and extends to culture and heritage.

    The magazine has a counter status quo vibe, pushing the boundaries and challenging the norms.

    They also engage in research, translation, regional training, and archiving, with ongoing workshops and events.

  • I worked closely with the founder to shape the brand story, identity and tone of voice of the magazine. 

    While using classical Arabic calligraphy styling, the letters in the logotype are broken and connected where they should not be, breaking the status quo.

    The magazine is about the craft of the Arabic language to deliver genuine music critic from the region. The visual language draws from that principle, delivering an unusual yet impactful treatment, emphasising the words and paragraphs forged in the magazine.

    • Brand story

    • Naming

    • Tone of voice

    • Brand identity

    • Digital experience

    • Merchandise

Role

Creative Director / Lead Designer

Agency

Personal Project

Street art featuring Arabic text and a woman’s portrait in vibrant colors, graffiti on walls. Ma3azef music magazine
Stacks of printed posters featuring a stylized graphic of a person's profile and Arabic text on a dark surface.
Ma3azef music magazine
Open laptop displaying a website in Arabic with news articles about music and fashion, featuring images of young men in urban settings.
Ma3azef music magazine
Collection of eight social media posts with portraits, Arabic text, colorful backgrounds, and graphic designs, including concerts, events, and cultural topics.
Ma3azef music magazine
Arabic text over a colorful background of cassette tapes. The text says "Sound - موسيقى جديدة" and "٦٩/٧موزع". ma3azef Arabic calligraphy
Ma3azef music magazine
A woman holding a microphone, looking down thoughtfully, with Arabic text overlaid. The background is dark, with the woman's profile highlighted in warm tones. Ma3azef Arabic calligraphy
Event poster with blue and green gradient background, black text, and a large black artistic bicycle symbol, announcing a live streaming event on April 16th featuring performances by Zuli, Rama, El Kontessa, Renata, and June As, hosted by Boiler Room,
Arabic calligraphy Ma3azef Colorful abstract neon-style calligraphy on black background. Ma3azef music magazine

Special thanks to Maen Abu Taleb, the co founder of Ma3azef, we worked together closely to bring Ma3azef brand to life.