Case Study: SkatePal celebrates Arabic language and culture with Pentagram's playful book design

SkatePal brings Arabic to life with Pentagram in 22 illustrated phrases

SkatePal, a non-profit organization using skateboarding to create opportunities for children, collaborated with Pentagram on a pro-bono project. Their challenge was to create a joyful and accessible book that would serve as an introduction to the Arabic language and culture, countering common assumptions and expectations.

Pentagram partner Samar Maakaroun and her team designed "Haraka Baraka," a book that intersperses local Arabic phrases with photography and custom typography. The solution embraced playfulness through original, type-led illustrations that visually interpreted each phrase's meaning. The resulting book successfully provides an illustrated, joyful introduction to the language and is available for purchase, directly supporting SkatePal's mission.

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