VCUarts Qatar Graphic and Interior Design Students Receive AEB Awards

Three graduating students from VCUarts Qatar’s Graphic Design and Interior Design departments were the recipients of the Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB) Awards for Design Excellence, for 2021, while two junior students were honored with AEB’s award for Creative Achievement and Potential.

This year’s ceremony – held online – was significant in that it marked the 15-year milestone of the awards, and the partnership between VCUarts Qatar and AEB.

AEB’s GCEO and Chief Architect Ibrahim Jaidah presented the AEB Award for Design Excellence in Graphic Design to Shima Aeinehdar, and Cut Izza Alyssa. Aia Zaina was the recipient of the AEB Award for Design Excellence in Interior Design.

The Design Excellence awards were instituted in 2007 by Jaidah to encourage and assist outstanding graduating students from VCUarts Qatar’s graphic design and interior design departments, as they start their lives as designers, and contribute to the community’s art and design landscape.

The more-recently instituted AEB Awards for Creative Achievement and Potential for junior students were presented to Abdul Rahman Alkhatib Alhosani (Graphic Design) and Noof Al Naama (Interior Design). These awards aim to help junior students recognize their true potential, create leadership and encourage them to continue developing their skills through their senior year.

“When I was told about the news, I immediately shared it with my parents because they’re witnesses to my grit and resilience. Gratitude colored our house. We were all touched that my hard work was recognized by VCUarts Qatar and AEB,” said Alyssa.

“For the past couple of years, I have worked very hard to learn more, expand my knowledge of art and design and get recognized locally and internationally, and seeing the hard work slowly pay off, is very rewarding,” said Aeinehdar. 

“It is my great pleasure to be sponsoring the 15th cycle of AEB VCUarts Qatar student awards,” Jaidah said. “Throughout these past years, I have personally witnessed the impressive work of young interior and graphic designers. Seeing some of the award recipients progress in their professional careers, and obtain important positions in government and private sectors makes me very proud.

“I am a strong believer that academia and practice should be bridged in architectural and design fields, and I am happy to be contributing towards reaching this goal through partnerships in higher education. AEB also offers internships for students through which they get a chance to obtain hands-on experience on many major projects. I am looking forward to supporting the awards in the coming years, and to helping foster the talent of future generations,” he added.

“It is always an honor to be bestowed such an impressive award, and I would like to congratulate all the recipients of this cycle that marks 15 years of AEB’s support for VCUarts Qatar,” said VCUarts Qatar’s Dean Amir Berbić. “The AEB Design Excellence Awards, and Creative Achievement and Potential Awards, together create a foundation for inspiring and preparing young people to enter and build up their skills in the design industry.

“The fact that these students were chosen reflects their perseverance, and their passion for their respective creative fields. It gives us pride and satisfaction to know that combined with the knowledge and skills our students acquire at VCUarts Qatar, the awards will further their plans, and help prepare them for exciting careers.”

Besides the awards, AEB and Jaidah continue to partner with VCUarts Qatar through their participation at VCUarts Qatar’s biennial international design conference Tasmeem Doha, as well as by providing internship opportunities for VCUarts Qatar students.