Avid design professional Joud Malhas recently outdid some of the region’s most creative minds to win The Italian Way Product Design Award 2018. The Dubai-based victor, who is a Senior Designer at the Fadi Sarieddine Design Studio, won for her hybrid piece called “The Italian Majlis.”
Surely enough Malhas was beaming away as internationally known figures, creative designers and experts watched her pick up the trophy designed by SUPERFUTUREDESIGN* at the awards event, which took place at Molecule during Dubai Design Week. Alias, one of the most consolidated names of Italian design, will be approaching her to realise a prototype of her design.
Malhas, who has a multifaceted career in design, with a history working on architectural, spatial and furniture designs, believes Italian design shows amazing craftsmanship, functionality and an effortless style. Inspired by converging this with the relaxed and casual theme of Arabic gatherings, she created “The Italian Majlis”.
The ex Lawrie Shabibi Art Gallery Manager’s piece reinterprets modern gathering and the spirit of conviviality, but is overall a celebration of ethnic design by contemporising it through the deconstruction of its patterns into functional elements. The judges, an international panel of renowned design experts, felt the design exquisitely aligns with the innovative ‘The Italian Way’ concept.
"The Italian Majlis" by Joud Malhas
“It’s an amazing self-actualisation moment, “ Malhas said. “I am so happy to know that the judges believed in my design and saw the innovation in it, and I can’t wait to see it come to life,” the designer, who has a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from the American University in Dubai, added.
Malhas, who holds a master's in Strategic Design of Spaces from IE Business School too, was shortlisted with Elizabeth Valkovics, who created the appealing “Shams Lounger,” Ammar Kalo and design collective Caravan. Another finalist was Ruchi Joshi, who won the new People’s Choice Award prize for her design.
"The Italian Majlis" by Joud Malhas
The second edition of The Italian Way Product Design Award aimed to celebrate the timeless essence of Italian design with budding and established designers from the UAE. Organised by Peroni Nastro Azzuro, the competition had an impressive number of submissions from all over the region. The entrants were tasked with submitting an object of any scale, particularly inspired by traditional crafts and Italian style, to be suitable for outdoors. Whether it was with modular concepts or everyday tools, they displayed creative pieces that blended their artistic values with Italian culture.
