Any type font designer can tell you that the shape and form of a letter create a mood — just compare Times Roman with Helvetica or imagine a wedding invitation written in a script used for auto ads. But no matter how footloose on a fancy street the designer may become with decorativeness, type design is still at bottom a utilitarian thing. When the language is sacred, as the Arabic used in the Qur’an is for Muslims, loftier conventions apply.
Islamic art is perhaps the most accessible manifestation of a complex civilization that often seems enigmatic to outsiders. Through its brilliant use of color and its superb balance between design and form, Islamic art creates an immediate visual impact. Its strong aesthetic appeal transcends distances in time and space, as well as differences in language, culture, and creed. Islamic art not only invites a closer look but also beckons the viewer to learn more.