Four Alumnae Earn Places on AD 100’s 2024 List

Graduates selected by the prestigious magazine for their impact in the fields of design, décor and architecture, in the region

Four alumnae from 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 Condé Nast portfolio and “is the most trusted voice on design, culture and luxury lifestyle in the region. Launched in March 2015, the bi-monthly magazine spotlights exceptional design by Middle Eastern and international talents (…) Architectural Digest was first published in the US in 1920, and there are now nine global editions reaching a highly engaged combined audience of millions.”

Rabah Saeid, Founder and Creative Director of Styled Habitat, in Dubai, UAE, reflected on her journey from being a student at VCUarts Qatar to being selected to the AD 100 2024 list. 

She 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.  Twelve years forward, the same design ethos applies. I am constantly seeking originality that relishes in the appreciation of genuine character remaining true to context. Every space we shape should echo the distinct soul of its inhabitants (…) Through our designs, we aspire to infuse an atmosphere of individuality that sets each creation apart, evoking a sentiment that is as distinct as it is calming.” 

She added, “I’m truly humbled and grateful for this recognition. I owe it to my team, family and comrades in the industry to have attained this acknowledgment. This only keeps me wanting to do more of what it is that I truly love to do – design.” 

Aisha Al Sowaidi, who is 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. These themes are reflected in the design collection ‘Bear with Me’ – a series of bear-shaped objects including candles, mirrors, and screen panels – igniting past childhood memories and serving as a metaphor for Qatar’s present rapid urbanization. Aisha’s reflective installation, ‘The State of You’, was included in the 2018 London Design Biennale, and her Central Midkhan design is currently on show at the National Museum of Qatar. 

Al Sowaidi said that she was, “honored 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.”

Maryam Al-Homaid, who is 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”. 

Shaikha 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.  In an interview with Architectural Digest, the designer said, “The intent is to use recycled materials as much as possible. I believe that designers have a huge responsibility to create beauty whilst not being wasteful.”