CityPages Kuwait June 2016 Issue June 2016 | Page 20

PHOTOGRAPHER: Hamad Al-Ainati - @7mdphotography

showroom, so it was difficult to decide what to give them. My
wife encouraged me by reminding me I was already established
in my own showroom and that now was the time to get myself
known outside. So I made the pieces exclusively for them in the
short time.

How do you think online design resources have
influenced the graphic design being produced today?
I think it is a great support. The most important thing for
designers, or let us say the rule of thumb, is to train our eyes.
The resources help to follow up the trends and get inspired.

What would be your dream assignment? What is
your first step when you start a new project?
My dream assignment is to do an international project. The
first step is to give myself a few days for imagination and
inspiration.

What’s your personal motto?
My motto is ‘take people's comments very seriously’. The first
feedback I got from someone was that my work was bad. This
made me work on myself more and improve my work. The
idea was to work against his comment and compete with his
negativity. Thankfully, I have achieved it.
So, every feedback is important and an opportunity to improve
yourself.
What’s the best piece of advice you have heard and
would repeat to others?
In fact, it was not given to me but it's from the movie In Pursuit
of Happiness. Will Smith says "You got a dream... You gotta
protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna
tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period."

What are the most frustrating and rewarding aspects
of your job as a designer?
The frustrating aspects are the problems I face with
manufacturing my work here in Kuwait. Manufacturing
here is highly expensive. So, by the end when you produce a
masterpiece or a piece, people don't appreciate its value and
feel it's expensive and don't pay the price. Another issue which
is also associated with manufacturing is the lack of skilled
labour because of the new policies of Ministry of Social Affairs
and other reasons.
Time is another frustrat ing aspect. My work takes up most of
my time so I have to stay away from my family.
The rewarding part is to each time create something new which
people like and buy. More than the buying aspect, it's the
feeling that people like my work and are ready to buy it. Seeing
my own brand growing and evolving is a wonderful feeling and
a reward in itself.
Share something you would like the world to know
about you or your ideas.
My ideas are to add the pure Arabic touch to furniture because
everyone, even foreigners, likes the calligraphy or the patterns.
The touch makes the pieces unique.

20

JUNE, 2016

What advice do you have for young designers or
architects reading this interview?
My best advice would be to try and invent your own trend. Don't
wait to see the trend and follow it. When I started Arabic popart everyone complained about the strong colours that I used
and would say they would never buy such work. Later, everyone
started looking and buying my paintings. It was the same with
the calligraphy. When I started using it, no-one appreciated
it but now everyone is looking for calligraphy pieces. So, you
make the trend but within certain rules and ethical guidelines.
Your message for us at CityPages magazine:
I am very thankful for giving me this opportunity for an
interview in your magazine and allowing me to design your
cover for this month. I wish you the best future.