PERANCANGAN TYPEFACE ARAB “KUSAKA” BERGAYA KUFI FATIMI DENGAN ADAPTASI KUJANG UNTUK MENDORONG PERKEMBANGAN KALIGRAFI DIGITAL

Along with the advancement of digital technology, the need for practical media to create Arabic calligraphy in digital format has become more evident. Arabic calligraphy, which holds high aesthetic and spiritual value, is typically created manually with a high level of precision and specific skills. In digital practice, the process often requires additional steps such as tracing and vectorizing, which can be a challenge for some calligraphers. On the other hand, most available Arabic fonts are not specifically designed to follow particular calligraphic styles such as Kufi Fatimi. Additionally, Typefaces that incorporate distinctive visual elements from local culture remain limited in number.
Based on these considerations, this study aims to design a Typeface in the style of Kufi Fatimi enriched with adapted visual elements from the kujang. This Typeface is expected to support calligraphers in developing digital calligraphy works while also expanding the variety of characterful Arabic typography.
The method used in this study is a design thinking approach, involving several stages: idea development, digital form refinement, and Final font production using High Logic FontCreator software. The designed Typeface consists of 28 Arabic letters in four contextual forms (Isolated, Initial, Medial, and Final), and includes automatic ligature features for selected letter combinations.
The result of testing through a questionnaire involving 52 calligraphers indicates that the font is considered easy to use, visually appealing, and remains legible. The kujang adaptation is perceived as well-integrated with the Kufi Fatimi letter structure and successfully conveys a strong and meaningful visual impression. This Typeface is expected to serve as an alternative for the development of digital calligraphy that is relevant and meaningful.
Keywords: Arabic Typeface, Fatimi Kufi, Digital Calligraphy, Kujang, Typography.