Alumni and Faculty Earn Places on AD100’s 2025 List

Abdulrahman Al Muftah (MFA in Design), Aisha Al Sowaidi (MFA in Design and BFA in Graphic Design), Maryam Al-Homaid (MFA in Design and BFA in Graphic Design), Rabah Saeid (BFA in Interior Design) and Shaikha Al-Sulaiti (BFA in Interior Design), and Art Foundation Associate Professor Maysaa Al-Mumin were selected for their impact in the fields of design, decor and architecture across the Middle East and North Africa.

Through her creative practice, Aisha Al Sowaidi explores the emotion of nostalgia in “unexpected, fun ways: from mirrors inspired by childhood toys and colorful glass midkhans (Arabic incense burners) shaped like fairytale characters to contemporary majlis concepts born from memories of jubilant get-togethers at her family home. In her current role as director for Qatar Museum’s Liwan Design Studios and Labs, Al Sowaidi helped transform a mid-20^th-century building that once housed Qatar’s first girls’ school into a bustling hub and co-working space for Doha’s creative community.

Abdulrahman Al-Muftah’s creative ethos revolves “around the ‘selfless nature’ of design and its ability to solve problems. Adopting a studied yet experimental approach, Al Muftah is intentional about creating with longevity. Inspired by ritual objects – particularly within the context of Qatar – he has been on a journey of reviving lost wellness practices which he is reimagining for the modern world”. In 2024, he joined Design Doha as a Program Specialist. He is currently working on a birdhouse for native species in Qatar, and a project that aids artisans globally in preserving their crafts.

Maryam Al-Homaid draws inspiration from Doha’s rapid architectural transformation.  She has documented “its iconic landmarks (many of which no longer exist), first through photography, and later woven into playful pixelated rug designs. While inspired by local weaving techniques such as Sadu, Al Homaid also looks beyond the region to Latin America and Central Asia for references that inform her graphical design vocabulary”.

Alumna Rabah Saeid is a Dubai-based designer and the founder of Styled Habitat, a design studio known for its expressive interiors. Her team at Styled Habitat designed the interiors for The Rug Company Bungalow, the immersive Dubai home of The Rug Company, inspired by 1970s Palm Springs glamour. Her team was also the brains behind the serene, gallery-like Dubai showroom for timber flooring brand Nordic Homeworx. She’s currently designing a spa for a luxury skincare label.

Shaika Al Sulaiti was first included in AD100’s list in 2021. Since then, Al Sulaiti has gone from “envisioning luxury homes to being the design lead at Doha Design District, masterminding projects that bring new Qatar-based talent into the spotlight. This doesn’t mean she has slowed down on her own endeavors: At Milan Design Week 2024, she unveiled a collection of Mondrian-esque tables in colors that take after stained glass windows from traditional Qatari houses”. Al Sulaiti is currently working on designs inspired by the hand-crafted plaster decorations one often finds on the walls and ceilings of old Qatari homes.

Faculty member Maysaa Al-Mumin shares her award with her husband Thomas Modeen, Ph.D. The husband-and-wife duo is based in Doha. Their work “transcends the boundaries of traditional practices, integrating architecture, interior design, product design and sculpture”. Their works are both original and quirky and include ‘wearable artifacts’ inspired by walks around Doha, and a ‘secret fruit bowl’ that conceals its contents.

Every year, the AD100 list spotlights the trailblazers redefining excellence in design. The 2025 list is no exception. The chosen designers represent the best of creativity and innovation. Their works showcase inspiring approaches that elevate user spaces both inside and out. From eye-catching accessories and functional interiors to revolutionary architectural achievements, these designers set new standards and influence the way we understand, live in, or interact with the world around us.