A bright generation of regional designers is blending heritage with innovation to create a new era of expression. Read on for a glimpse into their world.
Shaikha Al-Suliati
Interior designer and founder of Casa Lujo Interiors
Photo: Sebastian Böttcher
Qatari designer Shaikha Al-Sulaiti is redefining the design landscape with her distinct approach. As the founder of Casa Lujo Interiors, she has played a key role in the ongoing development of the Doha Design District, using her expertise to elevate one of Qatar’s most promising design hubs. But her ambitions extend far beyond this. “My practice is rooted in celebrating our creative community while inspiring others to follow their own paths,” she says. Over the past year, Al-Sulaiti has been developing her product line, Imagining Utopia, which combines contemporary design with Qatari traditions, honoring the Gulf nation’s rich heritage.
Signature pieces like the Nur table lamp, Sadu chair, and Carrom game table bring traditional design techniques and materials into a modern context.
Her latest addition to the collection, Wahaaj, features vibrantly colored and multifunctional tables that resonate with the line’s concept of merging the modern with the traditional. “What I love most about Wahaaj is its modularity, which pays homage to the nomadic lifestyle of our ancestors,” she explains. The playful colors and forms reflect an adaptability to traditional Bedouin living, where furniture needed to be easily movable and reassembled. “This modularity blends functionality with cultural storytelling, which is something I strive for in all my work.”
Abdalla Almulla
Architect and founder of Mula Design Practice
Emirati architect Abdalla AlMulla founded his Dubai- based studio, Mula, in 2018 with a vision to create designs born from experimentation and learning. His work is heavily influenced by the interplay between geometry and the built environment. “My journey into architecture began during my studies at Woodbury University in San Diego, where I developed a deep interest in geometry and how it can be used to shape spaces,” he says. “Founding Mula was a natural step in continuing that passion.”
AlMulla’s portfolio is extensive, with each project showcasing an innovative approach and a reverence for local heritage. In 2022, he designed a dedicated structure for Hermès’s Petit H debut at The Dubai Mall, drawing inspiration from traditional Middle Eastern souks. The installation featured earthy terracotta tones and openwork ceilings, blending modern design with cultural elements.
Last year, at Dubai Design Week, AlMulla presented Of Palm, a pavilion made entirely from palm trees, highlighting sustainable and innovating use of natural resources. This year, he’s set to debut Stoot, a new pavilion at the annual event, exploring geometry and spatial dynamics. AlMulla continues to refine the prototypes his studio has been developing, translating experimental concepts into tangible designs. “It’s a continuous process of iteration, where each step brings new insights,” he reflects.
Ayah Al Bitar
Product and furniture designer and founder of Aya the Art of Living
Saudi designer Ayah Al Bitar made her debut in 2015 and has since expanded her line to include collections of traditionally inspired pieces and design accessories that stand true to her culture and heritage. Through her design studio, AYA The Art of Living, Al Bitar entered the regional design scene with the Wisada collection, a series of unique floor seats shaped like cushioned bicycle saddles.
She followed this success with the Voice of Aya collection, a handcrafted range of furniture and home accessories that, in her words, reflects “two nations steeped in history, culture, and knowledge.” “Inspired by Saudi Al Qatt women, who paint their stories in vibrant patterns on the internal walls of their home, and Palestinian women, who embroider intricate patterns with strong tones into their traditional dress, I created a hybrid pattern connecting these traditions into one identity,” Al Bitar shares. One of many inspired pieces from this collection is the Majma’ Hadarat table, which combines techniques from 1920s Damascus with Palestinian-inspired patterns and bold geometric Saudi Al Qatt motifs.
Al Bitar’s studio employs marquetry techniques to create pieces using materials like mother-of-pearl, tin, bone, and abalone. Through collaborations with Silsal Design House and Maska Wrap, Al Bitar has built a luxury brand that merges tradition and modernity in each of her designs.
Thomas Trad
Product designer and founder of Thomas Trad Design Studio
Beirut-based product designer Thomas Trad has built an extraordinary portfolio by unexpectedly and quite uniquely bringing together two different design schools into a cohesive practice. Since founding his eponymous design studio in 2016, Trad has focused on blending mid- century modern and Japanese aesthetics to create pieces that feel timeless and emotionally resonant. His use of natural materials like wood, combined with a thoughtful balance of colors, textures, and finishes, results in designs that are refined yet never overpowering. “This balance ensures that my designs remain elegant and functional over time, providing a space where clients can truly feel at home,” he explains.
Trad’s approach is evident in two of his most successful pieces, the Alia vase and the M table. The Alia vase, crafted from contrasting types of marble, play with colors and textures to create a striking visual impact. The M table, a solid oak coffee table hand-gouged for texture, is another standout piece. “I’m particularly proud of the M table because it showcases my commitment to craftsmanship and the seamless blend of beauty and functionality,” he says.
The designer is currently working on two major projects: the Forum at this year’s Downtown Design and a villa renovation in Dubai. “The villa renovation project allows me to apply my timeless design principles to create a harmonious and functional living space,” he notes. “Both projects are wonderful opportunities to collaborate with talented artisans and bring my vision to life.”
Lameice Abu Aker
Glass artist and founder of Ornamental by Lameice
Lameice Abu Aker wanted to create a space where the centuries-old art of Palestinian glassblowing could thrive in today’s fast-paced, digital world. As the founder and designer of Ornamental by Lameice, the Jerusalem- born designer has successfully combined this ancient art with a contemporary flair, and has since gained global attention stretching from New York to Singapore.
“It all began when I found myself between Milan and Jerusalem, navigating the intriguing cross-section of history, heritage, and contemporary creativity,” she says. Now based in both cities, Aker’s work is all about creating pieces that are both intricate and playful, with each item mouth-blown in the West Bank village of Jaba, untouched by molds and mass production.
Her motivation is grounded in her heritage, and she creates collections based on childhood memories and a love of country. “A significant influence for me is my grandmother and the house where I often stayed. I looked at the way old Mediterranean houses often showcased a vitrine filled with precious glassware,” she says.
The nostalgia of this memory is captured in the designer’s Teta Edition, a collection that pays homage to those cherished moments. From the Teta Chaipot tea pot to its miniature pieces, the collection is a sentimental yet contemporary glassware line. With several collaborations and exhibitions in the pipeline, the designer recently launched Yolkie, an egg cup designed with a touch of fun. “It’s the kind of piece that sparks conversation while remaining beautifully functional,” she shares.
Iyad Naja
Multidisciplinary artist and designer
Islamic art is deeply rooted in the work of Iyad Naja. The Beirut-based creative explores various concepts and materials, aiming to reinterpret Islamic art in a modern context. “I identified a gap in the market for weaving words into solid artistic forms, transforming this artisanal craft into high-end creations,” he explains. “This work is deeply personal—it’s inspired by my grandmother, an Arabic poet. My initial drive was to preserve her words in a form that would last forever, which led to the creation of a unique platform for my art.”
Naja pursued a postgraduate degree in Islamic art and architecture to enhance his design skills and deepen his understanding of his cultural history. Nearly a decade ago, he launched his first collection with a selection of pieces inspired by Beirut, and he has since crafted a line of lamps, tables, chairs, and accessories, using architectural materials like concrete and metal to create abstract, graphic interpretations of calligraphic forms. Currently, he is working on the Ablaq collection, drawing inspiration from the traditional Mamluk technique of alternating black and white stone. “For this collection, I’m integrating various stones alongside my signature brass technique,” he says, adding that each product launch typically introduces a new style of wall art. “I’m excited about the upcoming wall pieces, which explore how brass interacts with calligraphy to create a dynamic relationship between the letters and the surface they’re set on.”
Photographs: Bernard Khalil, Natalee Cocks, and Abed ragg.
Originally published in the Fall/Winter 2024 issue of Vogue Living Arabia
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