VCUarts Qatar alumnae featured in Mideast magazine's top 100 designers

Four alumnae from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) have earned spots in Architectural Digest Middle East magazine’s list of top 100 designers who have made an impact in the fields of top design, decor and architecture talent, in the region.
Aisha al-Sowaidi (MFA in Design and BFA in Graphic Design from VCUarts Qatar), Maryam al-Homaid (MFA in Design and BFA in Graphic Design from VCUarts Qatar), Rabah Saeid (BFA in Interior Design from VCUarts Qatar) and Shaikha al-Sulaiti (BFA in Interior Design from VCUarts Qatar) are the four graduates who made the cut.
As per Architectural Digest’s website, the magazine is part of the Conde Nast portfolio and “is the most trusted voice on design, culture and luxury lifestyle in the region.”
Saeid, founder and creative director of Styled Habitat, in Dubai, UAE, said: “I guess back then and having studied in Qatar, for me it was about understanding the context of this region, its history, and how that can inform design true to its culture. I am constantly seeking originality that relishes in the appreciation of genuine character remaining true to context.”
Al-Sowaidi, currently the director of Qatar Museums’ Liwan Design Studios and Labs, is a multidisciplinary designer based in Qatar. Her design practice and research explore themes of home, nostalgia, childhood, memory, heritage and Doha’s rapid growth. Al-Sowaidi said she was “honoured to be part of AD Middle East's 2024 AD100 – the ultimate list of today’s top talents in interior decoration, architecture and product design.”
Al-Homaid, a faculty member at VCUarts Qatar, is an interdisciplinary artist who uses textile design to creatively depict change and transformation, especially the change associated with a rapidly evolving Qatar. Her eye-catching designs are a “visual snapshot of the nation’s culture, exploring changing dialects, technologies and styles, including typography”.
Al-Sulaiti’s work focuses on keeping Qatar’s traditions alive by creating a “more sustainable, ethical luxury movement, and celebrating culture and tradition through design. While playing a key role in the establishment and development of the Doha Design District in Msheireb Downtown Doha, she continues to explore the field of interior design. She is currently working on a modular bench/table concept that will be showcased at Salone del Mobile 2024.