Co-founder01 / 04
Art director · Designer · Founder
Somar Kawkabi
From the printed page to the product screen.
Istanbul--:--
Thirteen years of Arabic-first design. I lead campaign visuals across MENA for Oriflame, co-founded Mujaz, and build software products of my own.
- Oriflame · Creative Consultant
- Mujaz · Co-founder
- Sylogz · Partner
Practice
What I do
- 01
Art direction
الإدارة الفنية
Campaigns and visual systems that hold together across markets, languages and formats.
- 02
Design
التصميم
Identities, editorial and bilingual typography. Arabic and Latin treated as equals.
- 03
Products
المنتجات
I design and build software, from the first sketch to the shipped interface.
- 04
Consulting
الاستشارات
Creative and digital strategy for brands, publishers and NGOs across MENA.
Ventures
Companies and products
Two partnerships and two products of my own.
- Partner02 / 04
Sylogz
Strategy and digital innovation consulting. I lead design and the Mujaz integration.
sylogz.comsylogz.com
- Founder03 / 04
URUK Shelf
A bilingual home for publishing houses going digital. Built for books, not generic e-commerce.
urukshelf.comurukshelf.com
- Founder04 / 04
Briefrow
The briefing platform for creative teams. Briefs, approvals and files in one place.
briefrow.combriefrow.com
Work
Selected design work
Oriflame
Campaign visuals, MENA
Art direction
2021–
Dar Al Saqi
Book covers & editorial · Award-winning
Publishing
2013–2021
Mujaz
Brand system & product
Brand, product
URUK Shelf
Brand & design system
Brand, publishing platform
2025–2026
Briefrow
Briefing platform
Product design
2026
About
I started in books.
Eight years as art director and designer at Dar Al Saqi taught me typography, patience, and how ideas travel in print.
Then campaigns, then products: the same craft, applied to new formats. I work between Arabic and English, with a wide network across MENA publishing, NGOs and the UN procurement space.
- years of practice
- 13years of practice
- years in publishing
- 8years in publishing
- companies & products
- 4companies & products
- scripts, one voice
- 2scripts, one voice
- 2024 — NowMujazCo-founder
- 20XX — NowSylogzPartner
- 2021 — NowOriflameRegional Art Director, now Creative Consultant
- 2013 — 2021Dar Al SaqiArt Director
Recognition
First Award, Best Book Design
Beirut National Book Exhibition, 59th edition
First Award, Best Book Design
Beirut National Book Exhibition, 62nd edition
Education & languages
BA Graphic Design
Lebanese International University · 2014–2017
TS Graphic Design
Bir Hassan Institute · 2012–2014
Arabic (native) · English (professional) · Turkish (elementary)
Selected projects
Major tournaments
2023–2025 · Layout Specialist
- FIFA Women’s World Cup2023
- AFC Asian Cup2024
- Africa Cup of Nations2025
- AFC Champions League Elite2025
Publishing
Saqi Books
United Kingdom
Khayyam Books
Sweden
NGOs & culture
Gherbal Initiative
Lebanon
Stichting SPARK
Netherlands
Flint Culture
Qatar
Brands & products
NeoTooth
France
Wonderbee
UAE
Contact
Say marhaba.
For art direction, design and product work, or to compare notes.