As she celebrates 20 years of her brand, designer Nada Debs reveals how her handmade products will delight at the design fair.
Craftsmanship elicits a gut-level aesthetic seduction. Furniture is best served with artisanal charm, from the feel of French oak that tells the story of fine handiwork to the sight of intricate marquetry. The key word is ‘handmade’ because, as Nada Debs points out, it is the hand that tells the story of the past and imbues objects with a sense of nostalgia.
This reverence for the human touch is central to the vision of the Lebanese designer’s eponymous studio, which combines the allure of Eastern artisanship with a modern spirit. “We follow the tagline ‘handmade and heart-made’ because everything we do is human-centric,” she explains.
In pieces that celebrate a sense of longing and belonging, Nada’s aesthetic vocabulary combines mechanical ingenuity and operational delight.
“My vision has always been to place value on people, not on products. Human stories behind the craftsmanship and the age-old tradition of crafts being passed down from one generation to the next breathe life into every piece we create.”
Nada’s body of work not only nods to form and function, but it also prioritizes evoking a feeling. She employs Islamic geometric art because of its rhythmic appeal, as well as the circular pattern’s representation of the primordial symbol of unity and the ultimate source of all diversity in creation.
She grew up in Japan, and her work frequently reflects the country’s less-is-more aesthetic.
She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States and traveled the world, looking for cultural connections. Nada, celebrating 20 years of her art, design, and fashion brand, has recently established a base in the Dubai Design District.
“The idea is to remain connected to people here and share my design values with the city and the region,” shares Nada. She is gearing up to participate in the upcoming iteration of Dubai Design Week.
“It made perfect sense for us to participate at Dubai Design Week this year, especially since we have a presence in the city now, and I’m more readily available for in-person consultations and appointments,” says Nada, who has long been based out of Beirut.
With the brand spanning two decades, it’s only fitting that its booth at the fair will feature a look back at some of its most iconic furniture pieces.
Regional platforms, she believes, such as Dubai Design Week, are critical to positioning local designers in the global creative ecosystem. “They contribute to a cohesive and progressive society that thrives on arts and culture, dialogue, and inclusion.” They benefit creatives like us because they allow us to identify trends and gauge our position in the world.
She collaborated with social enterprise 81 Designs last year on the On Belonging collection, which included seven Crafted Pebble chairs and Straw lamps inspired by Palestinian artist Nabil Anani’s In Pursuit of Utopia.
The seven pieces represented the seven Emirates and were displayed at Abu Dhabi Art as a tribute to the UAE’s 50th anniversary. She collaborated with Sharjah’s Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council on Zenobia, which debuted at Milan Design Week 2022.
The collection includes three multi-functional bowls inspired by the vessels traditionally carried by Bedouin women, launching a conversation between the two different crafts of Talli and marquetry.
Nada seeks refuge in the cultural scenes of Lebanon and the UAE, especially now that the global appetite for the region’s cultural output is greater than ever.
Nada is currently working on a more lifestyle-based approach, incorporating collectible furniture and accessories into interior design. “We have many requests for customized pieces and corporate gifting, and the vision is to elevate crafts for an international audience seeking a sense of belonging to their Arab roots,” she shares.
Nada’s greatest accomplishment was starting from the bottom and working her way up. “I began my career journey from home, then opened a small studio in Downtown Beirut, and then launched a second studio with a larger place combining retail and design. We’ve now established our presence in Dubai, so we’ve grown from strength to strength. As a craft custodian, I look forward to being a representative of the region and elevating local crafts.”