Abno: A Bilingual Brand Identity

Blending Arabic and English in a Unique Logo Design

The brand identity of Abno, created by the designer duo Abeer Zoumot and Noor Issa, is a testament to the power of language and typography. Influenced by the Arabic language, the designers seamlessly blend Arabic and English in their branding and identity design.

Abno, an acronym of the designers' names, Abeer and Noor, represents their bilingualism and their ability to approach design without any preference for right to left or left to right. This unique perspective allows them to see and understand linguistic patterns and connections, which they incorporate into their logo design.

The Abno logo is a visual representation of the designers' global identities. When displayed online or in print, the logo can be rotated 180 degrees to be read in either Arabic or English. The text in black reads "abno" in the Latin alphabet, while the text in pink reads "abno" in Arabic script. This duality reflects the designers' bilingual capabilities and their commitment to representing both cultures in their designs.

The logo design process involved hand sketching, scanning, and transferring the sketches into vectors using Adobe Illustrator. The designers also created business cards that feature the Abno logo. The cards are 90 mm x 50 mm on a 600 gms card, with pink-colored edges, adding a touch of elegance to the design.

One of the unique features of the Abno brand identity is a custom-made rubber ink stamp. This stamp allows the designers to physically represent their logo on various materials. When used with black ink, the stamp creates a striking and professional impression.

The Abno logo design originated in Toronto, Canada, in 2007. The business cards were first printed in Toronto in 2008 and again in 2017 in Amman, Jordan, reflecting the designers' global presence and their commitment to their bilingual brand identity.

The Abno logo design is a result of the designers' instinctive approach to representing their brand identity. They seamlessly blend both languages in a way that feels natural and authentic, avoiding any forced or contrived elements. The resulting logo is clean, clear, and straight to the point, in both Arabic and English.

The Abno logo design has received recognition for its creativity and innovation. In 2019, it was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design category. This prestigious award recognizes well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements.

Abno's brand identity is a testament to the power of language and design. By seamlessly blending Arabic and English, the designers have created a logo that represents their bilingual capabilities and their commitment to bridging cultures through their designs.

Image Credits: Abeer Zoumot and Noor Issa, Abno Designs, 2015.