Author Archives: Ian Whiteman

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About Ian Whiteman

see www.cwdm-portfolio.com

The Quirkylympics 2012

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Ian Whiteman

Readers may be aware I have an ongoing fascination with lettering, fonts, branding, logos etc., and so I followed the recent Olympics with some curiosity as, like many others I suspect, I was acutely aware of its strange logo and … Continue reading →

Posted in typography / design | 2 Comments

More from Sarajevo 1997

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Ian Whiteman

Bosnian Hafiz Alili recites here (mp3s below) some opening ayats of Sura Rahman which opened the Yusuf Islam concert put on in Sarajevo in 1997 to help promote Bosnian culture in war-wracked Bosnia two years after the war finished. Maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in language, miscellaneous, music, religion, tassawuf, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Vanishing Sign Writer

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Ian Whiteman

Much as I have championed skilful type design I am also saddened that the type font has virtually wiped out the sign writer’s craft. Hand lettering on shops, vans and on sign posts and name plates has all but disappeared … Continue reading →

Posted in language, Publishing, typography / design, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Flight from the Actual

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Ian Whiteman

I am one of the many who embraced each new technology as it presented itself over the last 50 years. It included multi-track analogue audio recording and phototypesetting in the 1960s, digital audio recording, digital cameras and mobile phones in … Continue reading →

Posted in miscellaneous, music, Publishing, religion, typography / design | 1 Comment

A Complete Dip in the Ocean (and how to get it)

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Ian Whiteman

“Some of the great spiritual music of the world, rarely heard but strangely familiar – its thousand year-old tradition must have influenced a Northern Europe coming out of the dark ages -played and sung here by today’s greatest exponents,this is … Continue reading →

Posted in miscellaneous, music, religion, tassawuf | 7 Comments

Purification of the Heart Revisited

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Ian Whiteman

The second edition of Hamza Yusuf’s Purification of the Heart is shortly to be printed, eight years after it’s first impression. It has been completely re-typeset in a typeface named Quadraat which was selected as Sandala’s house style ten years … Continue reading →

Posted in typography / design | 5 Comments

Mohamed Zakariya, Calligrapher

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Ian Whiteman

The 20th May just gone was Mohamed Zakariya’s 7oth birthday. He is not that well known outside the rarified atmosphere of Ottoman calligraphers but he has had a great measure of influence on people like myself over the years. His … Continue reading →

Posted in typography / design | 2 Comments

Not About Typography

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Ian Whiteman

This isn’t about typography, or music. File under personal jottings. As a confirmed expat, my umbilical link to the old country is through my computer, like probably millions of other expats. Whilst tapping on my laptop a few days ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in miscellaneous, religion, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Ancient Prophets of Arabia

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Ian Whiteman

Following my tradition of announcing books I have worked on, here is a big one. Dr. Mostafa Badawi, (a medical doctor of Egyptian origin), practices as a psychiatrist in a hospital in Medina and is hidden away in that wonderful … Continue reading →

Posted in architectural, language, miscellaneous, music, Publishing, religion, typography / design | 4 Comments

Chocolate Bunnies

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Ian Whiteman

Easter is a strange time of year in Spain. As a puzzled young mother said to me: How do you explain what all the chocolate bunnies, crucifixions and fireworks mean to a two year old boy. How do you? I suggested … Continue reading →

Posted in miscellaneous, religion, tassawuf, Uncategorized | 1 Comment