How might we create something of value to the world?
For years, I have built programs and led rooms of hundreds of professionals and business leaders, translating data and culture into innovative ideas people act on and helping them turn vague ideas into something tangible and measurable.
Starting with Human-centred design, combining it with Design Thinking, adding a decade of creative work and another of corporate innovation, and finally filtering that through the lens of living and working in the GCC, you will have an idea of the breadth and depth of what I bring to the table. The driving question that I keep returning to over the years is this: How might I create something of value to humanity?
Cultural Innovation
Exploring the unknown with authenticity.
Designing a research-based culturally aligned innovation methodology for a KSA client.
-
Designing a research-backed methodology for cultural innovation practitioners in KSA that would allow for the time and space needed for culturally innovative ideas.
-
After interviewing 20+ regional and local innovation practitioners, as well as 7+ innovation frameworks and methodologies, we got to work.
-
NAFAS, a cultural innovation methodology built on cycles if inhales pauses and exhales that allowed for thoughtful work.
Ideation tools for Cultural Practitioners and Artists.
-
Deigning a set of tools to engage cultural practitioners during innovation workshops.
-
Referencing local lore, heritage, saying and childhood games, we regularly tested in iterated ice breakers, ideation tools and prototyping tools that start with something "familiar", then push the boundaries of users comfort zones.
-
A set of 14+ tools and a bilingual facilitator guide to facilitate the experience from A-Z.
Arabic/English Prototyping tools for creative teams.
-
Creative practitioners were facing challenges when it came to testing their ideas and prototyping them to prove viability and attract investment.
-
We created a participatory process that made room for local knowledge, shared ownership, and clear next steps.
-
A set of prototyping cards and business model canvases designed to showcase cultural value first, and future business growth second to attract grants, sponsors and investment.
Creative Strategy
Concepts bold enough to spark execution.
Branding Arab&Ajam online concept store.
-
Building the creative direction, identity and product designs for an Arab-driven apparel & lifestyle brand.
-
Deciding on a direction that was Western-friendly yet rooted in Arab third-culture 90s nostalgia.
-
Arab&Ajam: An online lifestyle brand with five collections that adds its unique, quirky and sometimes tongue-in-cheek touch to various products, from Candles and Greeting cards to Hoodies and T-shirts.
Creative Direction for an Arabic-first cultural innovation methodology.
-
Creating a clear visual style for the cultural innovation methodology in line with a pre-existing brand, but giving it enough uniqueness to stand on its own.
-
After researching the existing brand thoroughly, we decided to use pre-existing visual elements as a starting point, but build on them in a way that encourages a collaborative mindset.
-
A unique visual identity that was inspired by the owning brand but still recognisable on its own as a more playful identity that encourages experimentation.
30 Days of Ramadan Creative Challenge
-
Designing a spiritual creative practice for illustrators to challenge themselves during the holy month of Ramadan.
-
While each artist was given the creative freedom to follow their style, the boundaries were set on format, selecting an inspiring verse of the Quran, the need to complete one piece per day, and the need to share on social media with the relevant hashtag.
-
Daily submissions of creative spiritual pieces following the #30daysofRamadan.
Workshop Design & Facilitation
Designing experiences for presence and interaction.
Corporate innovation workshops for a global consulting firm.
-
Facilitated multiple innovation workshops, from 50 to 300+ participants over five years. The challenge was to create a mindset shift within the company from business-as-usual to disrupting their business before competitors do.
-
These workshops were designed for professionals and business leaders during strategic planning sessions and as part of their corporate innovation pipeline. Leader support and buy-in for creative ideas was key.
-
Over time, better ideas and a better understanding of innovation throughout the company. For example, one of the larger workshops resulted in over 100 ideas submitted for the first round, with 25 making it to the group pitches.
Future-Strategy Off-site
-
The client requested a three-day workshop for all their strategy consultants to determine the future growth of their business.
-
After understanding as much as possible about the nature of their business, we designed the workshop as a three-part process. Understand - Ideate - Build.
-
On the third day, the employees pitched the final three ideas to the CEO, with his buy-in for two of the ideas for investment and implementation.
Cultural Innovation Majlis
-
The client requested a 170+ person workshop bringing together cultural practitioners from various disciplines to collaborate on ways to innovate their industry. Their biggest challenge from previous workshops was engagement and the quality of ideas.
-
We designed a full-day Arabic workshop focusing on problem validation, ideation, and pretotyping for a final pitch at the end of the day. We also trained eight facilitators to co-facilitate the groups at each table.
-
High engagement, six ideas pitched to a panel of judges, and the client noted that participants were fully immersed in the process. In the client’s words, “This is the most engagement we have seen.”