MAMOUN SAKKAL, PhD


Born in Damascus, Dr. Mamoun Sakkal is a native of Aleppo, Syria, who immigrated to the United States in 1978. He practices Arabic type design, graphic design, and calligraphy as principal and founder of Sakkal Design in Bothell, WA.

EDUCATION

University of Washington, Seattle: Ph.D. in history of Islamic calligraphy 2010
University of Washington, Seattle: Master of Architecture with Urban Design Certificate 1982
University of Aleppo, Syria: Bachelor of Architecture, Honors 1974

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

University of Washington: Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization,
Affiliate Instructor: History of Islamic Art and Architecture. 1990-1999
Pacific Arts Center, Seattle, WA. 1992
Evergreen State College, Olympia, 2000-2013
Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, 2015
School of Visual Concepts, Seattle, 2012-2015
University of Washington: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Seattle, 1991-2002
Teaching Assistant: Arch. 200 studio and Graphics Lab. 1981
Applied Arts Institute, Aleppo, 1978
Lecturer: established and taught poster design course. 1978
Lecturer: Design studio and Free-hand drawing. 1974-1975

HONORS AND AWARDS

Received 48 national and international awards for calligraphy, typography, and design (List):

25 national and international awards for typography and calligraphy work
13 national awards for artwork
7 awards for academic work
3 national awards for architectural work

Selected Awards:

First Prize Award in "Arabic Text Typefaces" category for Sakkal Kitab, with Aida Sakkal, 12th Granshan International Type Design Competition, 2021/22
Grand Prize Award for Sakkal Kitab, with Aida Sakkal, 12th Granshan International Type Design Competition, 2021/22
Typographic work featured in Letter Arts Review Annual Juried Issue, Greensboro, NC, 2021
Sakkal Kitab Arabic typeface family received the Bronze Cube award in ADC Awards Competition, New York, 2018
Typographic work featured in Letter Arts Review Annual Juried Issue, Greensboro, NC, 2017
Typographic work “Fadli Rabbi Arabesque” is selected as a winning entry in Communication Arts 2017 Typography Competition
Second Prize Award in “2nd Main” category (First prize not awarded) for Calibri Arabic typeface, with Aida Sakkal, Granshan International Type Design competition, Cairo, 2016
First Prize Award in “Display” category for Bustan typeface, with Jamal Bustan, Granshan International Type Design competition, Cairo, 2016
Grand Prize Award for Bustan typeface, with Jamal Bustan, Granshan International Type Design competition, Cairo, 2016. http://www.granshan.org
Typographic work featured in Letter Arts Review Annual Juried Issue, Greensboro, NC, 2015
Award of Excellence for Bustan Arabic typeface design, Type Directors Club Type Design Competition, New York, 2015
Calligraphy and typography work featured in The Briem Report: Letterforms 2012, Operina, CA, 2013
Greeting cards featured in Letter Arts Review Greeting Card Issue, Greensboro, NC, 2012
Typographic work featured in Letter Arts Review Annual Juried Issue, Greensboro, NC, 2012
Biography appeared in Illustrated Dictionary of the Muslim World, Marshall Cavendish Reference, NY, 2011
Typographic work featured in Letter Arts Review Annual Juried Issue, Greensboro, NC, 2011
Arabic calligraphy logotype selected for the book "LogoLounge 5" by Catharine Fishel and Bill Gardner, 2009
Four Arabic calligraphy logotypes selected for the book "LogoLounge 4"by Catharine Fishel and Bill Gardner, 2008
First Place Award for logos for non-profit organizations and events, Best of The Best 2006 International Contest. Identity Magazine, Moscow, 2006
Four Arabic calligraphy logotypes selected for the book "LogoLounge 3"by Catharine Fishel and Bill Gardner, 2006
First Prize Award in calligraphy, Letter Arts Review International Competition. Review 2005, Silver Springs, MD, 2005
Awards of Excellence for Microsoft Uighur typeface, Type Directors Club international typeface design competition, 2003
First Place Award, Arab Human Development Report cover design competition, United Nations Development Programme, New York, NY, 2003
Two Awards of Excellence for Sakkal Seta and Arabic Typesetting typefaces, Type Directors Club international typeface design competition, 2003
First place award in the Arab Human Development Report cover design competition, United Nations Development Programme, New York 2003
Third International Calligraphy Competition: First Award in Kufi style, Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture, Istanbul, Turkey 1993
Best Lounge Renovation Award, The Bowlers Journal Annual Design Contest 1987
Top Modernization Award, Holiday Inn Systems 1986
College of Architecture and Urban Planning, U.W: All College Award for graduate work. 1982
Department of Architecture, U.W: Best Thesis Award. 1982
University of Washington: Foreign Exchange Scholarship. 1979
Panorama of October Monumental Museum, national design competition, Damascus, First Prize. 1977
Unknown Soldier Monument, national design competition, Damascus. Winning Design. 1975
University of Aleppo Travel Scholarship. 1972
University of Aleppo Scholarship, granted to top students. 1970, 1973 and 1974
Numerous awards and prizes for art and graphic work.

PUBLICATIONS

Work published and reviewed in 143 books, journals, newspapers, and TV programs (List):

13 logo design books (total of 46 logos)
15 typography books, annuals, and journals
21 calligraphy and graphic design books, journals, and textbooks
20 architecture journals, newspapers, and trade publications
74 reviews in books, magazines, newspapers, and TV programs

Published 41 papers and books, primarily dealing with Arabic calligraphy and Islamic geometry.

AFFILIATIONS

ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale)
Type Directors Club of New York.
North American Historians of Islamic Art, Member.
Middle East Studies Association of North America, Fellow.
Syrian Studies Group, Member.
Middle East Medievalists, Member.
The Arab Center of Washington, Founding Director.
Licensed Architect, State of Washington, USA, and in Syria.

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Updated 09/22/2022