My journey in transdisciplinarity.
I was trained as an architect,
I started my higher education with a Bachelor of Architecture at the American University of Beirut and continued with a Masters of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University NY, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation GSAPP.
I became a fashion designer,
In parallel to my architectural studies, I ventured into sustainable fashion. In 2007, I co-founded Vanina, a Beirut-based internationally distributed label that explores the synergy between fashion and sustainability through eco-luxury projects that promote the valorization of craftsmanship and environmental awareness.
A coder,
In the past few years, I have developed a passion for digital design and programming, through a variety of projects that have allowed me to explore the ever-ending potential of algorithmic data science and visualization through front-end and back-end development.
A maker,
Part of my research revolves around the revival of traditional crafts through parametric design and digital fabrication: a computational approach to biomimicry which allows for the exploration of sustainable materiality and responsive skins.
An urbanist,
I’ve always been fascinated by the complexity and beauty of cities. Over the past few years, I have developed a passion for computational mapping and data-driven co-planning systems which I had the chance to present in the form of interactive exhibitions at the Venice Biennale of Architecture and the Dubai Design Week, as well as at international conferences such as the Spatial Methods for Urban Sustainability Conference in 2021.
An educator,
I have been teaching design and architecture since 2013. I am currently an Assistant Professor at the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation [DIDI] where I teach design studios and seminars, conduct academic research, and lead the DIDI FutureCityLab. Prior to joining DIDI, I was a senior lecturer at the American University of Beirut [AUB].
A social entrepreneur,
In parallel to my academic research and teaching, I ventured into social entrepreneurship. Vanina, which started as a hobby in 2007, grew to become a social enterprise currently engaging 70+ artisans. Through close collaboration with local NGOs, it aims at using fashion as a tool for social and environmental change. More recently I co-founded Emerge a social digital start-up currently at its pilot phase.
A researcher,
I founded this website as ‘An Open Studio’ in 2012. It is an immaterial space of thought and action that aims at consolidating my research and promoting future collaborations, speculations, and explorations in sustainable design innovation. The aim is simple: designing for a better tomorrow. It is a drop in the ocean, yet is there any harm in wishful thinking?
