Mohammed ‘Siko’ Tatour: The designer behind Shabjdeed’s iconic graphics

Mohammed ‘Siko’ Tatour is a multidisciplinary artist who produces glowing brand identities at an eye-watering pace. Though originally from Palestine, Siko is based out of Amsterdam with work spanning graphic design, photography, painting, installation, and video art. Like most diasporic Palestinian artists, Siko’s work is tied in the personal and political, imbuing experiences of displacement and life under occupation into work that effuses identity, resilience, and transformation. Though a little reserved, there’s a cheekiness to Siko —but his understanding of art as a synthesis of lived realities gleans rare mindfulness in each piece he creates. 

Siko is the founder of Mooni Studio, a multidisciplinary practice founded in 2019 and the brand identity Petri dish for the SWANA region’s most renowned artists. Named after the Arabic word mounir, meaning ‘a bright shining light,’ Mooni is as luminous as its namesake, though instead of reflecting the light of the sun, it casts the shimmering stories of the brands it absorbs through graphic art. Specialising in visual communication for a vast array of cultural practices, Mooni Studio’s work has lived in the pages of platforms like It’s Nice That, i-D Magazine, and GQ Middle East, to name a few.

The studio prides itself most on its ethical branding; its founder is a hawkish proponent of this ethos. There’s a distinct intentionality to the way Siko builds a brand, one that weighs each element of its image with practised care.“My creative process is deeply fueled by a combination of personal experiences, cultural history, and a desire to connect with others through storytelling,” Siko explains to Dazed MENA. “The themes I work with—displacement, belonging, and identity—are not just abstract ideas but lived realities, and each piece I create is driven by a need to process and share these layered emotions.”

Whether he’s creating album covers for Palestinian independent record label BLTNM’s Shabjdeed and Al Nather or shaping the visual identities of brands like SHASHA, an independent streaming platform for South West Asian and North African films, Siko’s creativity is fed by the emblems of his roots.“The landscapes, symbols, and moments I draw from my heritage ground me in the work, helping me connect with my roots while also reinterpreting them into a new context,” Siko expounds. Even working out of the Netherlands, Siko’s clientele is predominantly Arabic-speaking. With his inventive, glowing calligraphy and intuitive understanding of spatial aesthetics, every element of his pieces just clicks. 

A creative agnostic, Siko is invigorated by relentless experimentation. “A big part of my motivation also comes from exploring materials and techniques,” Siko remarks. This approach saturates his work with dynamism; his art is persistently transient, with its dual use of futuristic textures and vintage timbre. His work for BLTNM artist Fawzi’s ‘Kilmeh’ music video title is a CGI calligraphic piece encrusted with gleams of moss and stone, literally gleams with skill.  “I enjoy experimenting and combining traditional and contemporary methods to find new ways of visual expression. This openness often brings unexpected discoveries, keeping my work dynamic and fresh.”

If his extensive list of clients doesn’t already make it clear, Siko thrives within creative partnerships; synergistic back-and-forth is a cornerstone in his artistic process. “Conversations and collaborations with other artists, curators, and creatives also fuel my practice,” Siko elucidates, explaining that these exchanges have enriched over a decade of work anchored in shared experiences. “Whether it’s feedback on a piece or a shared reflection on a concept, these exchanges provide new perspectives that challenge and enrich my work. Above all, the possibility of evoking connection or emotion in the viewer is what drives me to push further each day.”

Preferring to remain covert in his artistic collaborations, Siko’s portfolio is likely much deeper than he lets on. “Since 2012, I’ve been actively involved in various creative movements across the SWANA region—if you know, you know—especially in the visual and music scenes,” the designer notes ominously and without elaboration. “My work is deeply entwined with the cultural and socio-political currents of the area, drawing from local symbols, historical narratives, and community dialogues.”

He’s honed a near-perfect formula for creative output: an amalgamation of personal and political reflection, co-creation, and real care. With Mooni studio on the scene, Siko is poised to remain the cipher behind the swelling movement of cultural storytelling now simmering across the region relentlessly. “Through collaborations with regional artists, musicians, and curators, I aim to create pieces that resonate with shared experiences of resilience, identity, and transformation, often using aesthetics familiar to audiences here, but not just that—the aim has always been to bring something new to the table.” As fresh brands bubble up with visual identities that are only growing cooler, chances are, Siko is the force behind what’s caught your eye.