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This MFA in Design alumnus from the QF partner university hopes to raise awareness of the need for slow, sustainable design among young creatives and in the wider community.
Congratulations to our alumnus Abdulrahman Al Muftah who has joined Qatar Museums as a Program Specialist for Design Doha.
In his new role, Al Muftah will work closely with the creative teams leading future Design Doha biennales while helping expand Qatar Museums’ mentoring programs.
Photo credit: Sunny Dave
Al Muftah with his colleague, Irina Kaletinkina.
Photo credit: Sunny Dave
He says, “I’m excited to assist Design Doha in developing programs and facilities that will enhance Qatar’s creative landscape, such as residency programs, comprehensive community outreach initiatives for the upcoming biennale, and coordinating curatorial residencies. I’m also looking forward to helping position Design Doha as a renowned entity that supports designers in the Middle East and North Africa regions.
“But first, I want to spend time observing how local and regional networks within the industry work. I want to listen to what fellow designers have to share about their experiences and challenges and understand their individual and collective expectations and visions. From there, I hope to gather what I’ve learned and help the team develop a strategy that is at once pragmatic, sustainable, and respectful of the environment and the diverse cultures and heritages that call this region home.”
Photo credit: Sunny Dave
When it comes to raising awareness of eco-conscious design and cultural sustainability amongst the next generation of creatives, there probably isn’t anyone better suited for the task than Al Muftah. He walks the talk. Indeed, his respect for the natural environment, its flora and fauna, borders on the reverential. He champions slow, sustainable creativity and growth.
It’s an ethos that can be found across his repertoire of work. His 2022 MFA thesis was on Islamic pre-prayer rituals inspired by traditional Qatari remedies and wellness practices. The same year, he released a vinyl album capturing the soundscape of the Al Wakrah neighborhood.
In 2023, he launched ‘Allum’ a range of vegan, fast-absorbing and rejuvenating natural oil products inspired by traditional beauty practices in the Arabian Peninsula. In 2023, he also organized an exhibition on clay at the Heenat Salma farm in the suburbs of Doha, showcasing the results of his experiments including clay masks and clay crayons for coloring, and highlighting the uses of clay in agriculture.
Photo credit: Sunny Dave
The VCUarts Qatar graduate emphasizes the importance of teamwork in his creative process and approach to work.
“These projects became realities only because I had supportive teams around me. That blessing continues – at Qatar Museums I’m part of a remarkably gifted group of people whose vision is inspiring. It’s a privilege to work with and learn from them.”
Al Muftah says that such a role – where he can directly engage with young designers and the wider community – has always been his goal.
He says, “Supporting the industry and the community has always been my dream. That’s one reason I did my MFA in Design at VCUarts Qatar. In addition to fine-tuning my sense of research in design, my studies there helped me build networks and foster connections. It was at VCUarts Qatar that I was able to build on my passion for conserving Qatari culture and design. I was on track.”