Fahad Ahmed Al Obaidly (right), Acting Head of Public Programs at Msheireb Cultural Forum (M7), and Anis Bengiuma, Design Director at The Creative Union.
Groundbreaking ideas and innovation have never been more important in the design industry now amid many challenges, say design experts.
Speaking at an online event recently, Qatari artist and designer Fahad Ahmed Al Obaidly, Acting Head of Public Programs at Msheireb Cultural Forum (M7) and Anis Bengiuma, Design Director at The Creative Union, a creative studio specialised in branding and design were of the same view of the significance of innovative ideas and technology in the industry as the world grapples with crisis.
They spoke about how the industry has seen transformation recently such as changes in visual language and the presence of new ways of communication which according to Bengiuma has been happening globally and experienced by people around the world at different levels.
New innovation has been keeping engagement in the creative industry alive and opening doors to new ways of thinking, an example of which is virtual fashion shows, said Al Obaidly, stressing the creatives’ use of technology as a new way and an important part of engagement.
“This time you have to work online, share ideas in different ways but at the same time understand the consumers. Design is contextual; it relies on what is happening now and provides insights on what’s going to happen in the future,” said Bengiuma.
About how the production supply has changed, Bengiuma said, “In the last couple of years there has been a lot of demand for sustainable design.”
He said people are now concerned on how design affects the environment, where materials come from, or where the product is made, adding there is a collective understanding that sustainability is where the industry is heading.
“The younger generation focuses more on sustainability. There is greater awareness of the concept of sustainability owing to the fact that awareness campaigns move faster and messages reach them faster and they are paying attention to it more,” added Bengiuma.
Al Obaidly shared the same outlook giving the recent ‘Unwasted” initiative at Msheireb Downtown Doha as an example which was welcomed warmly as many people expressed great interest to see the collection on display and experience the various features of the event.
Al Obaidly and Bengiuma featured in a conversation the “The Era of Now: The Creative Industry in Qatar and the M7 Initiative” held as part of the virtual summit held recently as part of the launch of the new Doha Design District, set to be the global destination of creativity in Qatar.
