About
In an increasingly global creative economy, visual artifacts produced in any cultural environment tend to have multiple factors that influence them. As a consequence, the work produced can contain elements in both technique and theme that reflect elements present in other cultures.
In the UAE, emphasis in learning and teaching is given to retaining and exploring indigenous aesthetics and cultural values.
However, design-based techniques - typography, graphic design, illustration, animation and photography – used for the production of image-based artifacts have the capacity to overlook cultural sensibilities and influence the body of work through media present in popular culture. The works thus produced can be termed as 'adaptive,' considering the influence of other, more evolved aesthetics, namely emerging from the West.
The aesthetic approach of Emirati students and professionals is gradually evolving and adapting visually and stylistically to approaches practiced by their instructors and modern forms of media dissemination. Also, the actual effects, identities, and expressions generated by student groups remain largely undocumented. However, the evolution of adaptive aesthetic in the face of globalization warrants further investigation.
This project aims to develop an online archive/repository focused on the appropriative aesthetics of a developing visual culture. The archive documents and presents emergent aesthetic trends within design students that can potentially lead to the development of a modernized aesthetic and the relationship between text and image from rapidly evolving art and design institutions.
The database collates works produced by students, instructors and professionals, focusing on design-based disciplines and exhibiting how the present state of design-based image-making is influencing and being influenced by academic staff and its appropriation by students and professionals in a rapidly evolving culture.
Omair Faizullah
Omair Faizullah, a multi-disciplinary designer, researcher, and writer based in Abu Dhabi, currently teaches Animation & Multimedia Design at Zayed University. Formerly heading the Visual Communication Design department at Beaconhouse National University, Omair initiated the Design Summit Prologue events in Pakistan.
Omair's career includes leadership roles in strategic communication campaigns in Kabul, Afghanistan, funded by organizations like the US State Department and USAID, he created a series of comics featuring Afghanistan's first superhero, "Mir Watan.". He has led creative teams for Geo Network and City42 and showcased his work at prominent art festivals and galleries. Notably, Omair was honored with the "Lorenzo il Magnifico" award for digital art at the Florence Biennale in 2023.
His artistic focus spans generative imagery, adaptive aesthetics, postmodernist fiction, and societal constructs.
Aysha Alsuwaidi
Aysha Alsuwaidi is a Multimedia Designer based in Abu Dhabi with experience in a variety of programs, tools, and modes of communication, with a concentration in digital design, web development, user experience, and media campaigns. As a multidisciplinary designer, Aysha is dedicated to developing her style and story; striving towards constant self-improvement in her creative journey.
Raisa AlQubaisi
Raisa AlQubaisi, Abu Dhabi based digital artist and animator. Senior Animation Design student at Zayed University. She specializes in traditional forms of animation such as 2-Dimensional frame-by-frame animations and stop-motion. She continuously strives towards enlightening others on the Emirates’ rich culture through the portrayal of culture and heritage within her work. Samples of her art can be found on her instagram @RaisaWorks.
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