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The Visual Revival of Naguib Mahfouz: Designing for a New Generation

April 30, 2025
Courtesy of Nesma Moharam.

  Even if you’ve never read a book by Egyptian writer and Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz, his powerful words have likely found their way to your ear, probably without you even realizing. One quote that continues to ripple across the internet is, “Home is not where you are born; home is where all your attempts to escape cease.” Shared in countless designs and styles, its truth has found a home of its own online, resonating with hearts around the world. One of the ways Mahfouz’s work continues to echo through the modern world, especially with younger generations, is through the evolving artistry of his book covers. Over the years, various artists have reimagined his stories visually, each design reflecting the spirit of its time. In our era in the 2020s, that torch has been carried by award-winning Egyptian illustrator Nesma Moharam, who began reinterpreting four of Mahfouz’s novels in collaboration with Diwan Publishing in 2023. The Naguib Mahfouz initiative was a collaborative effort involving several artists and local design studios from Cairo, such as Rizo Masr.  Her work brought a new visual language to his collection, which include four stories…


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