Alanood Bukhammas is a Graphic Design Instructor at the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University in Dubai, UAE. She uses visual tools and mediums to communicate abstract concepts and ideas, often concerning youth and female empowerment in the region.
Her interest in the social aspects of her field has propelled her into academia at Zayed University, where she interacts with the next generation of female designers. Bukhammas uses both her insights into tradition and culture and her international training to supply a global standard curriculum customized to her students.
Her current research encompasses rudimental expressions of design, studied through the historic and current visual culture of the Gulf. Bukhammas holds a Master’s degree in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship in Design from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Questionnaire:
- Why did you choose to participate in Al Burda Festival
As a design educator in the UAE, I appreciate the efforts that Al Burda Festival creates to merge the Islamic art and design philosophies into our modern day and age.
It's an honor to be part of the jury for the newly launched Al Burda Award typography category, and to be part of Al Burda Festival overall.
- How do you define Islamic arts and culture?
Islamic arts and culture to me is a lot more than aesthetics – it’s about the philosophy and the precision of the act of making.
- In your opinion, what are the global and regional trends that are shaping Islamic arts and culture?
With the focus of regional educational institutions in cultural/Islamic references and projects in curriculums, you see more and more investigations in young designers related to Islam and spirituality
- What or who is inspiring you lately in the field of Islamic arts and culture?
Sami al angawi
- What music are you listening to these days?
Andre Soueid Violin Songs, as well as Mawlid performances, ever since I started working with Al Burda
- Which discipline of Islamic arts and culture do you feel needs more recognition?
The concept of precision in any discipline
- What does creativity mean to you?
The act of observation that leads to documentation and experimentation of a specified topic
- If you could make a documentary/podcast abput anything, what would it be?
Visual representation of the UAE
- What is your favorite memory that involves food?
Street food, and how it introduces you to a whole new culture and the conversations with strangers around food