2014 Egyptican | Libertas4u | Egypt 2020
Full Identity, English/Arabic, Web Build/Design, Logo Design, Marketing, Videography,
YouTube, IT Support
Background Information
Originally Egypt2020, later Libertas4u, ultimately Egyptican became dedicated to the prosperous future of Egypt and its people; its purpose is to spotlight the issues and problems suffered as a government and people.
Challenge
Even though social problems are known, there are little ways to get together, collaborate, and act toward a common solution.
Solution: Design
Focusing on facilitating the democratic process in Egypt, the client needed help designing an internet-based medium from which the East and West may work together and find the best way to resolve our issues.
Logo
This project had a unique and pervasive cross cultural foundation that I truly enjoyed designing for. The first logo design I constructed was highly symbolic as the Earth is represented by a naked woman’s back. Dew drops are visible across her skin and the only countries I brought into focus are the US and Egypt, both of which are to represent the East and the West. The woman’s back symbolizes Mother Earth and our shared heritage of the human race. I repeatedly circled the two countries to reinforce the importance of their collaboration.
Though also highly symbolic, I designed the fighting falcon logo with the American flag overlaid one wing and the Egypt flag overlaid the other wing to inspire collaboration between the Egyptian and American people.
Eventually, the client requested the American flag be removed from the logo for fear the Egyptian people would perceive it as a threat. The logo redesign also took emphasis away from the countries behind the falcon. In contrast to the countries’ more equalized, balanced position, the client requested the perspective be rotated so that Egypt was more pronounced than the US in the background.
In celebration of the Egyptian culture, I compiled Egyptian monuments and iconic structures to create a decorative footer that was used to tie together the project’s identity across multiple platforms and networks (the website, YouTube channel art, flyers, and PowerPoint).
Website
The website was designed to stimulate a conversation between the East and the West. Consequently, it was necessary to publish content in both Arabic and English. While both languages were supported online, it was easier to produce bilingual video content, so the website was redesigned from its original flash format to HTML.
An important aspect of the website redesign was integrating alternative media formats to facilitate a cross-cultural discussion.
I designed a video page in Arabic and English from which users could easily stream the latest content from the YouTube channel I customized with the aforementioned graphics.
Videography
Once the website and logo were finished, all creative efforts were channeled into creating high definition video content. All of my focus and energy went into becoming proficient in not only a totally new suite of software (primarily Photoshop to After Effects), but hardware too (Windows to MAC).
It did not take long before the project ventured beyond the safety of the green room and I was tasked with filming, editing, and compiling a unique discussion with a local college class called the “Talk of the Generations.”
PowerPoint Presentation
To organize the generation’s discussion, I customized a PowerPoint Presentation to match the website and YouTube channel.
Results
The project turned out to be ahead of its time. The support of the local community was just not there and it eventually drained much of the client’s resources and work on the project ceased abruptly.
Outcome
Though Egyptican has not exactly manifested the way it was originally expected to, what collaboration the project did facilitate will never be undone. Speaking for myself, I know I am a better person for it and maintain hope that work may resume again someday.
