DESIGN DISPATCH
[UNPUBLISHED WORK]
During my in-house design internship at experimental studio 40MUSTAQEL, I created an original T-shirt illustration inspired by Mohieddine Ellabbad’s analysis of graphic tees as reflections of cultural awareness.
Building on Ellabbad’s 1990s observations, I compared past and present T-shirt cultures before developing my own design based on a popular Egyptian folk saying. The illustration features an older woman carrying a massive tajin of okra over her head — a playful yet critical symbol of generational frustration — layered with subtle nods to Ellabbad’s work and contemporary struggles.
Blending analog marker techniques with digital refinement, the piece bridges nostalgia and modern realities, offering a fresh take on Egyptian cultural identity.