Tarek Atrissi presented a lecture at the type@cooper postgraduate typeface design program in New York; offered by the continuing education department of the Cooper Union, in conjunction with the Type Directors Club.

The talk  took place on 13 July 2011 and was addressed to both the students of the extended program as well as the condensed program. It focused on Arabic typeface design and the general challenges accompanying Arabic typography today. Atrissi presented an overview of the common Arabic calligraphic styles and their historical development into contemporary type design practice today, analyzing the social and cultural context of the modern Arab world and the resulting influence on the digital letterform.