Interview with Lama, Rama, and Tariq Ajinah
We are three siblings who decided to design with an added value. Lama Ajeenah is a design educator, entrepreneur, and researcher.
Designer of the Day Interview
8 August 2018
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I would like to educate design students about ethical design and its vital role in shaping society, and preserving the environment.
Always have a good relationship with your client, understand the design problem by conducting thorough research, aim for quality artworks and money will follow.
Stay humble, honest, do not compare yourself to others but compare your self to your self.
I always try to have a balance between my design and social life. And I try everyday to be better than the day before.
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.
Good design is visually appealing, serves the client needs without harming the individual, the environment or society.
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.
It is hard to choose one because every project has its own challenge.
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.
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.
I look for passionate designers with a nice personality and strong design skills.
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.
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.
Designer Interview
14 April 2014
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.
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.
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.
My favorite design is nature.
It was a competition for Mercedes Benz ad.
when I design for something that has to do with ethical design and a cause that I care about.
I focus on concept and paying attention to details in execution.
strong concept and attractive visual
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.
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.
In London at London College of Communication, as for my future exhibition I would like to hold it in Turkey, Istanbul.
it comes from daily incidents, politics, religion, and culture.
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.
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.
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.
chooses a designer who is eager to learn and also has a strong base in typography.
once I get the brief from a client, I brainstorm, research, sketch and then proceed working on the computer.
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.
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.
always be honest, work with passion and work for designs that will not harm the environment, or society.
be nice and honest, enjoy learning and have emotional intelligence.
I try to manage my time by prioritizing my jobs according to importance and urgency.
It depends on the size of the project.
Victoria and Albert Museum, Emaar Contracting Company, Sawani Department store, Dar Al-Hekma University, and TED conference.
take my PhD.
I work with a team but I prefer to work by my self
through email: lama.ajeenah@hotmail.com