Designer Interview

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Interview with Lama, Rama, and Tariq Ajinah at Tuesday 15th of April 2014

FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
LRATA: I was interested in art and design since I was a teenager. However, I have always been an attentive student as I got high grades in high school. I graduated with a 98% score, hence I was expected me to get into medicine but I was interested in design instead.

FS: What is "design" for you?
LRATA: Design is a means to communicate honest messages to clarify, educate, and benefit the audience as well as the client without harming society and the environment.

FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
LRATA: I like designing for social, environmental and political issues to raise awareness. I also like to experiment in typography and design branding, typefaces and publications. As self initiated projects, I like designing projects that have a social, environmental and political impact. If it was a client base project, I like to design publication design, branding, and advertising.

FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
LRATA: My favorite design is nature.

FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
LRATA: It was a competition for Mercedes Benz ad.

FS: When do you feel the most creative?
LRATA: when I design for something that has to do with ethical design and a cause that I care about.

FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
LRATA: I focus on concept and paying attention to details in execution.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
LRATA: excited!

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
LRATA: excited!

FS: What makes a design successful?
LRATA: strong concept and attractive visual

FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
LRATA: concept

FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
LRATA: a graphic designer is an author who is aware about the social, political and environmental context he or she is living in, and seek for a better change that will serve the client as well as society and the environment.

FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
LRATA: there is a split among designers between designing something that looks appealing visually that will attract attention and sell more regardless of the product’s value. On the other hand, there is design that is based on ethical issues that discuss and question culture, consumerism, and politics. I think good design is the one that serves the human without harming the society, environment or culture.

FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
LRATA: In London at London College of Communication, as for my future exhibition I would like to hold it in Turkey, Istanbul.

FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
LRATA: it comes from daily incidents, politics, religion, and culture.

FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
LRATA: My designs are based on concepts that relate to issues inspired from culture. The designer Jonathan Barnbrook influenced me, when I was studying my bachelor degree at the university; I was fascinated by his designs and way of thinking. It encouraged me further to continue working in the same approach and polish my designs in typography and ethical design. He was my role model in design, then I took internship at his studio in London which taught me a lot during that period. I learned skills in typography, paying attention to details in design as well as working with issues that discuss politics and society.

FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
LRATA: I live in Saudi Arabia. The fact that I am half Palestinian and half Syrian living in Saudi Arabia and studied in London enriched my vision in design. My style was influenced by the rich mixture of culture and Islamic identity in the Middle East as well as the contemporary design of the west.

FS: How do you work with companies?
LRATA: I work as a lecturer at Dar Al Hekma University. I am also working as a free-lance designer on the side. It comforts me as I tend to be selective of the type of projects I’m working on.

FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
LRATA: chooses a designer who is eager to learn and also has a strong base in typography.

FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
LRATA: once I get the brief from a client, I brainstorm, research, sketch and then proceed working on the computer.

FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
LRATA: I wake up in the morning, get my coffee to work, teach at Dar Al- Hekema University, which I love to do. Then I go home, spend some time with family. And then work on my free-lance jobs. Usually it takes 3 hours a day. I prepare for my lectures the next day and sleep.

FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
LRATA: work hard, connect with issues happening in the world, be passionate about what you design and try to learn everyday till the last day of your life.

FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
LRATA: always be honest, work with passion and work for designs that will not harm the environment, or society.

FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
LRATA: be nice and honest, enjoy learning and have emotional intelligence.

FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
LRATA: I try to manage my time by prioritizing my jobs according to importance and urgency.

FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
LRATA: It depends on the size of the project.

FS: Who are some of your clients?
LRATA: Victoria and Albert Museum, Emaar Contracting Company, Sawani Department store, Dar Al-Hekma University, and TED conference.

FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
LRATA: take my PhD.

FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
LRATA: I work with a team but I prefer to work by my self

FS: How can people contact you?
LRATA: through email: lama.ajeenah@hotmail.com

FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.

A' Design Award & Competition grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award & Competition cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.

Designer of the Day Interview

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Interview with Lama, Rama, and Tariq Ajinah at Wednesday 8th of August 2018

FS: Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
LRATA: I have been working in the graphic design industry for almost 10 years. During the time, I have explored working both in the United Kingdom, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. I worked as an art director in 3-points advertising, Jeddah, KSA. Also I worked at Barnbrook studio, London, which polished my view on ethical designs and typography. I have participated in several projects for local and international clients, such as, Victoria and Albert Museum in London, TED conference, Emaar, and Dar Al-Hekma University. My artwork has been exhibited in China, France, India, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and Saudi Arabia. I have several publications in journals, conferences and books; the most recent were published in the US, Turkey, and Spain.

FS: How did you become a designer?
LRATA: I was always interested in art and design since I was in my teens. During my college application, I was hesitant between interior and graphic design. Whereas medicine was more suitable based on my grades in high school. However, a great interest in the graphic design field in Saudi Arabia as it was considered new and highly demanded. So I decided to register in this major. But my father asked me to promise him that whatever I do in this domain, that I avoid designing and promoting for harmful products. I kept my promise till this day which has given me a niche in the field. By time, my interest in ethical design has increased which lead me to do my master in ethics in graphic design.

FS: What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
LRATA: I always aim for designing good design that does not harm society or the environment while keeping in mind to answer the questions of the brief with the best possible solution. Thorough research always helps me to understand the problem within context, be open to other designs and aim for an award winning design.

FS: Which emotions do you feel when designing?
LRATA: The journey of exploring the process in every design project is always exciting as it differs from a project to another. The process varies according to the design brief, the client needs, the target audience and the context.

FS: What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
LRATA: Emotional intelligence helps in understanding the client and the audience; It refines social relationships. Also observation of the small details in my surrounding, helps me identify problems and hereby finding solutions for them. Furthermore, curiosity motivates me everyday to read and educate myself in various fields beyond design. This helps me connect more dots and enrich my artworks.

FS: What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
LRATA: I would like to educate design students about ethical design and its vital role in shaping society, and preserving the environment.

FS: What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
LRATA: Always have a good relationship with your client, understand the design problem by conducting thorough research, aim for quality artworks and money will follow.

FS: You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
LRATA: Stay humble, honest, do not compare yourself to others but compare your self to your self.

FS: What is your day to day look like?
LRATA: I always try to have a balance between my design and social life. And I try everyday to be better than the day before.

FS: How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
LRATA: It is always great to be open to other designs. It enriches my career as a designer/ lecturer. I usually follow design accounts on social media, observe fashion, and read on design.

FS: How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
LRATA: Good design is visually appealing, serves the client needs without harming the individual, the environment or society.

FS: How do you decide if your design is ready?
LRATA: This is a difficult question. There is always room for improvement. But within the time scale of the project, I try to manage my time to research well, sketch, and develop my ideas to meet the deadline. Always getting feedback from the target audience, family and designers helps to have a better outcome.

FS: What is your biggest design work?
LRATA: It is hard to choose one because every project has its own challenge.

FS: Who is your favourite designer?
LRATA: There are a lot of great designers. Milton Glaser is one of my favorite designers. I actually dreamed once that I was working with him in his studio, it was an amazing experience :) Steven Heller, Jonathan Barnbrook, Ken Garland, and Paul Rand are also my role models in design.

FS: Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
LRATA: The fact that I was originally Palestinian who did not see my homeland plays a great role in shaping the person I am today. It makes me feel open to people from other cultures and motivates me to be better in every context I am in. Having a Syrian mother and a Turkish nationality also enriches to my identity and my design.

FS: Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
LRATA: I look for passionate designers with a nice personality and strong design skills.

FS: What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
LRATA: I love designing for social awareness campaigns. And sometimes I do probono work just for the cause that they uphold. In education, I aim to teach students to be good design citizens not only designers with good design skills.

FS: What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
LRATA: I have participated several times in A design award which has contributed in promoting my work as a designer by participating in international exhibitions and publishing my artworks in different websites and publications.

FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.

A' Design Award & Competition grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award & Competition cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.