Nagy Shaker: An Experimental Graphic Artist of the Egyptian Avant-Garde

Nagy Shaker (1932–2018) was an Egyptian design pioneer born in the suburbs of Cairo. He is one of the most influential figures in the history of modern Egyptian design. He is also considered the godfather of modern Egyptian puppetry since he introduced the art of puppetry to Egypt, and his name will forever be connected to this art form. He designed and directed several seminal performances for the Egyptian Puppet Theater Company. Its most famed is El-Leila el-Kebira (The Grand Night, 1960). He enriched Egyptian theater and film with outstanding sets and costume designs. He also worked in editorial design in Cairo in Dar El-Hilal and many others, until he set up his own multidisciplinary design studio in 1980 and carried out various graphic design projects for UNICEF and for cinema and publishing houses. His graphic design solutions instigated a shift in cinema poster design and introduced a modernist approach to editorial design. Through his teaching and mentorship, he influenced a younger generation of Egyptian designers who are practicing today. This has contributed to the development of graphic and three- dimensional design in Egypt and, indirectly, the Arab region.In addition to being a comprehensive presentation of Nagy Shaker’s various design projects, this books presents an intimate insight into his personality, process and life story, retold in his won words through interviews interspersed through the book. 176 p, ills colour & bw, 17 x 24 cm, hb, English/Arabic