I’ve recreated a few Moroccan tiling patterns. These designs are great for web and graphic designers or for anyone to use as desktop wallpaper. I kept the designs black and white. You can use an image-editing software to customizing the color scheme to suite your taste. They are free for download.

Download Moroccan Pattern Backgrounds

If there is one food that is associated with Morocco, it is couscous. I’ve seen couscous salads marketed in grocery stores as “Moroccan couscous salad.” However, my family only eats couscous prepared in one way: Seven Vegetable Couscous. Its a great Sunday meal or on any day when you want to gather family and friends around the table.

Recipe for Seven Vegetable Couscous

Looking for something to read? Now you can browse the Moroccan Design Bookstore.

While avoiding doing my taxes (its tax season in the US), I’ve been working on compiling a list of my favorite books about Morocco. Happily, Amazon.com came to the rescure with their A-store. Using their web-based software, I was able to create a store front filled with my favorite things to read. It was fairly easy to customize and fun to set-up.

Have any recommended Morocco reads? Leave me a comment so I can add them to “my” store.

Thanks for reading. Now, I’m off to do real paperwork.

Don’t have the time and money to travel to Fes? Don’t have access Islamic art at the local museum? Help has arrived. I’ve collected the following links to Islamic and Moroccan art so you can get your culture-fix without leaving the computer. How’s that for efficiency?

See the list of museums

The shape that most clearly represents Morocco in my mind’s eye is the eight-point star. It is a simple shape made by overlapping two squares. The hard-edged lines make it indicative of Moroccan patterns, which are known for their use of straight lines in contrast to the curvilinear arabesque of the Middle East. It has a feel that is both modern and ancient. What is the meaning behind this particular shape and what does it represent? (Note: this article was revised on March 24, 2008)

Read more about the eight-point star

An interesting documentary on medieval Arabic/Islamic society in Europe, specifically Southern Spain. Includes an explanation of the geometric proportions used in the construction of the Alhambra, which is based on proportional rectangles. The images in the video are from Morocco or Al-Andalus, the Iberian Peninsula. It is a bit odd to see Rifi women in the North of Morocco on screen as the narrator discusses how Mohammad founded Islam in Mecca. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful documentary worth watching.

If you preferring reading to video, a lot of the historical content in this documentary is also covered in the book Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain . “Ornament of the World” is the phrase a medieval German traveler described Granada, which represented a more advanced society than found in the rest of medieval Europe.

A ten day exchange and research project in Morocco focuses on exploring philosophical, cultural, and spiritual values of decorative and ornamental imagery. About fifteen international artists will collaborate with local artists, curators, writers and intellectuals in Morocco. The project, called ‘Code Ornemental,’ aims to challenge preconceptions about decorative art and crafts. The partner/coproducer of the project in Morocco is Abdellah Karroum (initiator of L’Appartement 22).

After the conclusion of the project in Morocco, the fifteen exchange artists will create one or several new pieces. Their works will be presented in a major group exhibition in the S.M.A.K. Subsequently this exhibition will travel to partner institutions abroad. Hopefully, the exhibit will make it to Washington, DC, as it sounds like a very exciting project and I would love a chance to see the results.

For more information, visit: The Curated Object.

When thinking of Moroccan design, it is easy to drift into thoughts of saturated color, exotic accents, and warm breezes. But don’t overlook the practical use of space that is a hallmark of Moroccan design. I’ve hosted successful dinner parties for a dozen people in a 650 square foot apartment by serving dinner Moroccan style.
Create a Moroccan-Style Dinning Room