Nov 28, 2023
The artisan house of Umlug
Designing With Heritage: My Experience in the Umluj House Artisans Collaboration
Project
Artisan house of Umlug
Effat University
The Vision Behind the Collaboration
One of the most meaningful projects I took part in during my journey as a designer was the Umluj House Artisans Collaboration between Effat University and a community of skilled Saudi woodworkers. This initiative brought together designers and artisans to create modern wooden products inspired by Saudi culture—celebrating tradition while reimagining it for today’s world.
It was a project that blended craft, storytelling, collaboration, and cultural identity into a single design experience.
The goal of the Umluj House collaboration was to preserve and elevate traditional Saudi craftsmanship by integrating it into contemporary design.
Woodworking has always been an essential part of Saudi heritage—from architecture and furniture to daily household objects.
But how could we reinterpret these traditions for the modern user?
Working With Local Woodworkers: A Learning Journey
One of the most enriching aspects of this project was working directly with traditional woodworkers. Each artisan carried generations of knowledge, experience, and technique—details you can never learn from books.
Designing Modern Wooden Products Inspired by Saudi Culture
My role in the project focused on concept development, product ideation, and form exploration. The beauty of this project was finding harmony between tradition and modernity—keeping the heart of the craft alive while giving it a contemporary voice.
After sketching, modeling, and refining our ideas, we worked side-by-side with the artisans to bring the concepts to life.
This project highlighted the importance of design in preserving cultural heritage. By working with artisans rather than designing for them, we ensured that:
Their craft continues to evolve
Their skills reach modern markets
Their stories become part of contemporary design
Saudi culture is celebrated through new creative expressions
This kind of collaboration empowers both sides—designers gain cultural depth, and artisans gain access to new possibilities and audiences.
Nov 28, 2023
The artisan house of Umlug
Designing With Heritage: My Experience in the Umluj House Artisans Collaboration
Project
Artisan house of Umlug
Effat University
The Vision Behind the Collaboration
One of the most meaningful projects I took part in during my journey as a designer was the Umluj House Artisans Collaboration between Effat University and a community of skilled Saudi woodworkers. This initiative brought together designers and artisans to create modern wooden products inspired by Saudi culture—celebrating tradition while reimagining it for today’s world.
It was a project that blended craft, storytelling, collaboration, and cultural identity into a single design experience.
The goal of the Umluj House collaboration was to preserve and elevate traditional Saudi craftsmanship by integrating it into contemporary design.
Woodworking has always been an essential part of Saudi heritage—from architecture and furniture to daily household objects.
But how could we reinterpret these traditions for the modern user?
Working With Local Woodworkers: A Learning Journey
One of the most enriching aspects of this project was working directly with traditional woodworkers. Each artisan carried generations of knowledge, experience, and technique—details you can never learn from books.
Designing Modern Wooden Products Inspired by Saudi Culture
My role in the project focused on concept development, product ideation, and form exploration. The beauty of this project was finding harmony between tradition and modernity—keeping the heart of the craft alive while giving it a contemporary voice.
After sketching, modeling, and refining our ideas, we worked side-by-side with the artisans to bring the concepts to life.
This project highlighted the importance of design in preserving cultural heritage. By working with artisans rather than designing for them, we ensured that:
Their craft continues to evolve
Their skills reach modern markets
Their stories become part of contemporary design
Saudi culture is celebrated through new creative expressions
This kind of collaboration empowers both sides—designers gain cultural depth, and artisans gain access to new possibilities and audiences.
Nov 28, 2023
The artisan house of Umlug
Designing With Heritage: My Experience in the Umluj House Artisans Collaboration
Project
Artisan house of Umlug
Effat University
The Vision Behind the Collaboration
One of the most meaningful projects I took part in during my journey as a designer was the Umluj House Artisans Collaboration between Effat University and a community of skilled Saudi woodworkers. This initiative brought together designers and artisans to create modern wooden products inspired by Saudi culture—celebrating tradition while reimagining it for today’s world.
It was a project that blended craft, storytelling, collaboration, and cultural identity into a single design experience.
The goal of the Umluj House collaboration was to preserve and elevate traditional Saudi craftsmanship by integrating it into contemporary design.
Woodworking has always been an essential part of Saudi heritage—from architecture and furniture to daily household objects.
But how could we reinterpret these traditions for the modern user?
Working With Local Woodworkers: A Learning Journey
One of the most enriching aspects of this project was working directly with traditional woodworkers. Each artisan carried generations of knowledge, experience, and technique—details you can never learn from books.
Designing Modern Wooden Products Inspired by Saudi Culture
My role in the project focused on concept development, product ideation, and form exploration. The beauty of this project was finding harmony between tradition and modernity—keeping the heart of the craft alive while giving it a contemporary voice.
After sketching, modeling, and refining our ideas, we worked side-by-side with the artisans to bring the concepts to life.
This project highlighted the importance of design in preserving cultural heritage. By working with artisans rather than designing for them, we ensured that:
Their craft continues to evolve
Their skills reach modern markets
Their stories become part of contemporary design
Saudi culture is celebrated through new creative expressions
This kind of collaboration empowers both sides—designers gain cultural depth, and artisans gain access to new possibilities and audiences.