“What is in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet,” wrote Shakespeare in his famous play Romeo and Juliet. When it comes to Aya Jibreal, however, a name means a lot. People come to her to have their name calligraphed and enjoy uniqueness.
Jibreal was born in Jeddah, studied interior design at Dar Al-Hekma and graduated in 2009. She has mastered what she calls ‘abstract calligraphy.’ “It is inspired by art work of all different types,” she said. She developed her style when making logos and corporate identities for many companies. “People liked my work because it is different,” she said. “You have to stop, look and think to understand the name.”
To create this effect, Jibreal tricks the mind by taking out a letter in a way that the person can still read the word. “For example, take the word ‘sultan.’ If you look closely, you’ll notice the ‘alif’ is missing. But it looks a complete word.
“People started to like it after I published pictures on my Instagram account and via other social media. They wanted me to do their names and pay me for it. I started making concept designs for rings.”
She began with stone and went on to silver and gold, as she wanted her product to be luxurious. “The line of rings started in December 2012, and already they are selling very well,” said Jibreal, who has a showroom and also works from home.
Reda Omda, a jewelry designer, helps her in the execution. “We can produce rings with any calligraphed word. It may be a name, a word of inspiration, a number, anything is possible,” said Jibreal said. A ring can take up to six letters, or eight, depending on the form and the size of the ring.
Soon, she will branch out to a pendant collection and various other products.
Jibreal has been working in graphics as a freelancer and was art director for Design magazine. She plans to conduct creativity workshops for designers — photographers, artists — in a joint venture with a company called Tashkeil. An advertisement poster reads. “It is a three-day course called “Give me 30.” We give them 30 small projects. Some take five minutes, some an hour or more. It is really fun, while triggering different skills — imagination, memory — to exercise their mind and creativity,” she explained.
Presently she is busy preparing for her wedding. Asked if she would design her own jewelry, she said, “There is a saying in Arabic, bab Al-najjar mkhalla, which means: a skilled person will fix items for others, but will neglect himself.” Said Nader, her fiancée, said, “Others can have anything they want. We need nothing.”
The minimum price for a silver ring is SR950. If diamonds are added to a gold ring, prices start from SR4,300.
A client is provided two or three design options for a ring. Production takes 10 to 15 days. There is also an option to buy the creative rights of a design itself. “All the creative rights belong to me. However, a client can buy the rights for an extra fee so that nobody else with a similar name will have the same design and style. Many people have obtained the right to have exclusivity,” said Jibreal.
She plans to organize an annual event featuring new calligraphed products, together with another artist — a painter or a photographer — in modern or traditional style.
For Jibreal, her work is her passion. “I enjoy seeing people wear my artwork. It is fun to do. Sometimes it can be nerve wrecking. It is enough for me to see people liking it, wearing it, and feeling really close to it. When people buy a ring, and show their appreciation for it — I feel happy.”
A name as a work of art
A name as a work of art
