DESIGN + MUSIC
Richard Kahwagi
Creative Director & Visual Artist
Beirut-born graphic designer and polyglot problem solver. I specialise in creative direction and typography (Latin and Arabic letterforms), and have an avid love for all things music.
My practice primarily spans the arts and culture field; it is research-centered and queer-focussed. My work has been exhibited, published, and sold.
Co-founder of Prepster.
Email; Instagram; Soundcloud
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My practice primarily spans the arts and culture field; it is research-centered and queer-focussed. My work has been exhibited, published, and sold.
Co-founder of Prepster.
Email; Instagram; Soundcloud
Exhibitons:
→ Origin of Life, part of DesignTO Festival - Toronto, 19–28 January 2024
→ Transport for London: Pride 2021 - Brixton, London September 2021
→ 1PRCNT 2007-2017: Retrospective - Beirut Terraces, Beirut Central District, 21 to 30 December 2017
→ The City in The City - Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon, 9 October 2015 to 11 January 2016
→ Lomography Exhibition, 6:05 depeche mode, Beirut, Lebanon December 2012
→ Good Sex, Alt City, Beirut 2011
→ Project Mulsaq, Traffic, Dubai, UAE, 2008
→Matchmaking Amsterdam-Beirut, Khatt Foundation, Art Lounge, Beirut, Lebanon 2007
Publications:
→ Divine, Issue 4, ‘Joy : Diagrams’, May 2020
→ Journal Safar, Issue 4, Feature: Something Really Difficult to Erase, July 2019
→ Ballroom Express, The Ballroom Blitz journal, LP/EP reviews, May 2019
→ DOUBT magazine, ‘The Typefaces of SLAF Street’, September 2018
→ L'Officiel-Hommes - March/April/May Issue 63, ‘Disco Halal et Délices D'orient’, 2016
→ Queer Geographies: Beirut, Tijuana, Copenhagen - Museet for Samtidskunst, Roskilde, Denmark 2014
→ L'Officiel-Levant - October Issue 49, ‘British Beyrouth,’ 2014
→ 'Revolution/Evolution GD20' American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon 2013
→ Quint Magazine, Artist highlight, 2008
→ Visual Politics - Volume 2, Online interactive archive, 2007
→ Origin of Life, part of DesignTO Festival - Toronto, 19–28 January 2024
→ Transport for London: Pride 2021 - Brixton, London September 2021
→ 1PRCNT 2007-2017: Retrospective - Beirut Terraces, Beirut Central District, 21 to 30 December 2017
→ The City in The City - Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon, 9 October 2015 to 11 January 2016
→ Lomography Exhibition, 6:05 depeche mode, Beirut, Lebanon December 2012
→ Good Sex, Alt City, Beirut 2011
→ Project Mulsaq, Traffic, Dubai, UAE, 2008
→Matchmaking Amsterdam-Beirut, Khatt Foundation, Art Lounge, Beirut, Lebanon 2007
Publications:
→ Divine, Issue 4, ‘Joy : Diagrams’, May 2020
→ Journal Safar, Issue 4, Feature: Something Really Difficult to Erase, July 2019
→ Ballroom Express, The Ballroom Blitz journal, LP/EP reviews, May 2019
→ DOUBT magazine, ‘The Typefaces of SLAF Street’, September 2018
→ L'Officiel-Hommes - March/April/May Issue 63, ‘Disco Halal et Délices D'orient’, 2016
→ Queer Geographies: Beirut, Tijuana, Copenhagen - Museet for Samtidskunst, Roskilde, Denmark 2014
→ L'Officiel-Levant - October Issue 49, ‘British Beyrouth,’ 2014
→ 'Revolution/Evolution GD20' American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon 2013
→ Quint Magazine, Artist highlight, 2008
→ Visual Politics - Volume 2, Online interactive archive, 2007
Conferences & Workshops:
→ Design Culture Day | Fall ‘21 Foundation Program: Mentor — School of Architecture & Design, Lebanese American University, Beirut, October 2021
→ TypeCon, Talk: Arabic Typography and Popular Culture — Boston MA, August 26 2017
→ Data4chan.ge, Beirut Edition 2: Organiser, Pecha Kucha sessions curator, and speaker — Ashkal Alwan, Beirut, Nov 25 - Nov 29 2016
→ Data4chan.ge, Beirut Edition: Organiser & Mentor — Ashkal Alwan, Beirut, Nov 28 – Dec 02 2015
→ Tasmeem Doha International Design Conference, Pink Tank: TasmeemLab: Making Through Linking — Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, Doha 2011
Live Mixes:
→ LILITH MADE ME DO IT: Shitân Disco & Other Sinful Treats, 2019
→ LIVE AT GLASTONBURY: The Meat Rack, Block9's The NYC Downlow, 2017
→ NICE ’N NAASTY: Music from and Inspired by Porn, Cold Cuts, 2017
Selected Past Work:
→ 2014 — 2017:
Creative Lead at Small Media – London, UK
→ 2012 — 2013:
Senior Art Director for the Red Bull MENA account at Interesting Times – Beirut, Lebanon
Education:
→ 2013 — 2014:
Year 1, Masters of Arts (MA) in Innovation Management — Central Saint Martins, London, UK
→ 2002 — 2006:
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design — American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
→ Design Culture Day | Fall ‘21 Foundation Program: Mentor — School of Architecture & Design, Lebanese American University, Beirut, October 2021
→ TypeCon, Talk: Arabic Typography and Popular Culture — Boston MA, August 26 2017
→ Data4chan.ge, Beirut Edition 2: Organiser, Pecha Kucha sessions curator, and speaker — Ashkal Alwan, Beirut, Nov 25 - Nov 29 2016
→ Data4chan.ge, Beirut Edition: Organiser & Mentor — Ashkal Alwan, Beirut, Nov 28 – Dec 02 2015
→ Tasmeem Doha International Design Conference, Pink Tank: TasmeemLab: Making Through Linking — Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, Doha 2011
Live Mixes:
→ LILITH MADE ME DO IT: Shitân Disco & Other Sinful Treats, 2019
→ LIVE AT GLASTONBURY: The Meat Rack, Block9's The NYC Downlow, 2017
→ NICE ’N NAASTY: Music from and Inspired by Porn, Cold Cuts, 2017
Selected Past Work:
→ 2014 — 2017:
Creative Lead at Small Media – London, UK
→ 2012 — 2013:
Senior Art Director for the Red Bull MENA account at Interesting Times – Beirut, Lebanon
Education:
→ 2013 — 2014:
Year 1, Masters of Arts (MA) in Innovation Management — Central Saint Martins, London, UK
→ 2002 — 2006:
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design — American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon