Scene Home celebrates the designs of Noha Ali, a 2020 Jameel House of Traditional Arts in Cairo alumnus, product designer and founder of Naïa Design House, who has managed to subtly carve traditional arabesque patterns on modern home accessories. Noha's designs were displayed in the Egyptian Pavilion at Expo 2020.
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Giving artisanal flair to modern designs is a feat most designers strive for, and nothing says ‘artisanal’ more than arabesque patterns. Noha Ali, a Swiss-Egyptian product designer, demonstrates through her studio, Naia Design House, how traditional arabesque patterns can be subtly styled on modern home accessories that range from tables and jewelry boxes, to trays with dreamy mother of pearl inlays, without losing their heritage touch. Which led to their displays at Bayt Al-Razzaz Palace during Prince Charles’ recent visit to Egypt in November and the Egyptian Pavilion at Expo 2020.
“They have a soul that is inspired by our heritage and filled with the natural beauty of our local materials,” Ali tells #SceneHome of her handmade home delights. Born and raised in Switzerland, Ali moved to Egypt at the age of 14 and was captivated by its architectural heritage, eventually studying engineering at Ain Shams University before working as a principal architect for a multinational firm, but she soon realized that her passion lies elsewhere. “I wanted to immerse myself in our artisanal heritage and craft contemporary products using traditional design techniques,” she adds.