Christine Noufaily

I am a Lecturer and holder of MA in Graphic Design at Notre Dame University (NDU) Lebanon and I believe that my design and teaching background satisfies the credentials of this position. I have a significant experience in Arabic typography and contemporary design that meet the particular requirement of this post, as displayed in this letter.

My 15 years’ experience in teaching graphic design and Arabic typography includes courses ranging from foundation levels to senior courses as well as full coordination of graduation projects presented locally and internationally, to the ISTD (The International Society of Typographic Designers) in particular. My students have shown exceptional results and, as every year, receive the ISTD award as evidenced in my enclosed portfolio, which was a first-time experience at the NDU Shouf Campus; an achievement recognised widely at the university. I take pride in my excellent relationship with my students and in motivating them to stretch their creativity for best performances.

I was awarded the ISTD membership in the year 1999 and passed my Masters thesis (A New Horizon: Arabic Typography Revived) with distinction. The emphasis of my research was on the influence of Arabic typography on the Western countries (artistically speaking) and the need to merge scripts in a world were diversity and openness has become a necessity. International symposiums and conferences on the history of printing in the Middle East and the development of new and modern techniques were also researched as well as multi script font families and the fusion process/techniques of both Latin and Arabic typefaces. The research outcome was “CristoX”: A new Arabic typeface compatible with the Latin font “Matrix”.

Throughout my graphic design career I acquired knowledge in contemporary design practice, branding and digital design. Prior to my academic post at NDU, I was a designer at the well-known NAHHAL Printing Press in Beirut for high-end designs, through which I was involved in branding and digital design. Prior to that, I had received courses in branding and communication during my years of education. I have developed my advertising and marketing skills while working as a freelancer for well known clients in the banking and pharmaceutical sectors.

As well as design and research experience, I acquired excellent communicational skills throughout my academic years and work in industry. I have had various experiences in dealing with people from different backgrounds, including clients, students, universities and pharmaceutical staff. At NAHHAL Printing Press, I was responsible for discussing designs and negotiating with clients. During my MA, I took an administrative role at NDU as personnel assistant at the Faculty of Humanities through which I attended to students’ and staff’s course registration requirements on one hand, and was the Coordinator for the Summer Arabic Program which included around 50 international students every summer coming from abroad to learn the Arabic language.

Recently, I created my own design and innovation program “Seeds4innovation” which I am communicating to industry employers and employees. In that respect, I am giving a series of workshops to the Marketing teams of Abbott Laboratories and AbbVie Biopharmaceuticals GmbH, focusing on new hands-on brain innovation techniques to help employees compete and achieve remarkable results in an industry that is advancing in a high-speed pace. The workshops and lectures are always a success and have led to distinctive increase in productivity as per the continuous acknowledgement of their respective Team Leaders.

Passing on my teaching and applied design skills to the next generation of students is an experience which I readily accept. I will spend all the time and effort it takes to meet the professional goals of any educational institution and to be fully involved in their activities.