This poster was a direct commentary on the heated dialogue that followed the fall of the Syrian dictatorship, and the start of a new chapter in Syrian history.
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The caption:
" As humans, we tend to pick a side: black or white, friend or foe. Even in the conflicts we’re living through, we sometimes treat them like a football match: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. But the fact is, conflicts aren’t simple. There’s no good side or evil one. Sometimes things get so complex that we can’t even tell exactly where we stand. Here is a small reminder: our enemy was never a government, an organization, or a person. Our enemy is whatever we’re willing to stand against. Our enemy is oppression, humiliation, and injustice. And that enemy is clear; it doesn’t change with circumstances or alliances. The enemy is the act itself, no matter who commits it or when. A simple equation, easy, and constant.⁩"

The Process:
The design started with the typography. I have always wanted to make the process of creating and editing a Naskh-style Arabic design a bit easier. I knew exactly how I could build an Arabic type setup in Cinema 4D. It was a bit unusual, using a 3D package for type design felt counterintuitive and overkill, but it worked. Now, I have full control over every aspect of how this Arabic brush behaves based on the base path.

While the typography took a lot of effort to figure out, both technically and design-wise, I was happy with the result once it was done. The illustration for the poster was actually done pretty quickly on my couch using a combination of Procreate and Procreate Dreams on the iPad.

An experimental poster inspired by Fairuz’s iconic song released in 1967.
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The caption:
" This song was re-recorded in 2008 for the Syrian TV drama Daffodil (زهرة النرجس), performed by Mayada Al-Hennawy.
The poster features the song's main title, 'One Day, We Will Be Back Home.' The text fades away like sand slipping through our fingers, symbolizing a loss of control. The specific phrase 'will be back' is the most faded, representing the diminishing hope of returning to our war-torn homes.

The Process:
The Arabic typography is a modified version of 29LT Zarid Display. Since the visual concept simulates dust particles, maximum clarity was essential for the letterforms.

The simulation itself was straightforward to create using a combination of Cinema 4D and X-Particles. However, ensuring the text remained legible required some manual refining.

A poster in the wake of the heartbreaking human tragedy that is the genocide committed against Palestinians in Gaza, after that horrific terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.
An action that started as retaliation and ended up as a mountain of human suffering, destruction and war crimes.
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The poster was handcrafted by Sarah Khorbtli, quoting the words of the palastinan poet Refaat Alareer.
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The caption:
“If I must die, you must live to tell my story”, Words from the late Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer
Poster by @its.sarahkhorbtli
‍Animation by @micheloo
‍ #freepalestine #palestine🇵🇸 #refaatalareer #poem

The Process:
I aimed for a subtle, complex animation style to simulate, the feel of a banner waving in the wind, and all connected elements to react accordingly.

An art piece by Sarah Khorbtli, which was part of ICD Brookfield Place's latest poster exhibition "Tasmem 2024".
This was my first personal animation project since 2020. it was a period filled with frustration and turmoil in my home country and the region. Sarah’s poster spoke to me and compelled me to create this animated vision of her original artwork.
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The caption:
"Poster: @its.sarahkhorbtli
‍Calligraphy: @huss.khalifa
‍Animation: @micheloo"