Growing up in an Arab household in Japan, Lebanese Designer Nada Debs always felt the need to belong. This strong desire to uncover her identity led her back to her roots, located thousands of miles away from Japan, in Beirut – Lebanon. Nada shares her powerful story with INFINITI, through its global The Makers Series.
The Series started off documenting designers, creatives, and craftspeople in Japan, across two seasons. The Makers’ first International Chapter starts its global journey in the Middle East, and will make its way to Taiwan, Canada and Mexico, focusing on craftspeople who live and work outside the country, formulating their own aesthetics through collective cosmopolitan experiences.
Nada’s work encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including product and furniture design, as well as unique commissions in craft, art, fashion, and interiors. Celebrating eastern craftsmanship is her design philosophy, and she takes much of her inspiration from Islamic geometry, frequently utilized throughout the Middle East.
“Islamic geometry consists of repetitive patterns, which ultimately represent a sense of infinity. It’s like looking at the horizon, seeing the future. To me, geometry is a universal language. Growing up with so many different nationalities and cultures, I needed that one common element among everybody, and I found the answer in geometry. What fuels my work is my search for my identity, and what I’ve found out is that its neither Arab, nor Japanese, it’s a balance of the two,” Debs says.
In the episode, Nada Debs is in her studio in Beirut, where she speaks about what design means to her, and how far she’s come. This collaboration holds special significance for INFINITI Middle East, as Nada is the first artisan from the Arab world to be featured on The Makers.
Andrew McLaughlan, Managing Director of INFINITI Middle East said, “It’s phenomenal to see someone from the Middle East being celebrated on INFINITI’s global platform. The talent in the Arab world is endless, and the brand recognizes and applauds it with this episode. I hope that other regional artisans continue to be highlighted across various platforms, as they have such a unique point of view to offer.”
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