Mhd Al Sidawi

Specialized in Design.

Mhd Al Sidawi

About Mhd Al Sidawi

Furniture and Interior designer based in Istanbul/Turkey, graduated from Damascus University, Faculty of Fine Art in 2011. Worked on various (Residential, hospitality and commercial) local and regional projects during practice in Damascus and Istanbul. With an aim to create a beautiful and functional spaces / objects that tell a story and reflect culture, traditions and details. Currently I’m head of design at Beytist Interior Design Studio based in Istanbul - Turkey, a studio focus on luxury residential projects.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Mhd Al Sidawi

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
It’s a cliché its always come from the family, but it’s true I do remember my grandfather, father and my uncle working at their workshop as carpenters specialized in classic and handcrafted Syrian inlaid furniture and how much it was and still fascinating to see how much effort and focus applied to create such master pieces.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Currently I’m Head of Design at a Istanbul / Turkey based studio called Beytist, a studio specialized in luxury residences.
What is "design" for you?
Design for me is the statement that combine passion and attraction with function.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
Each time I’m falling in love with a Master and trying to learn and adopt from him/her, currently Dieter Rams specially 606 Universal Shelving System, A modular, multi-function and timeless object.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
It was a software interface (UI) for a software in year 2004-5. I studied before MIS (Management Information System) and I dropped the university at 3rd year, I used to be web designer / developer before and later I studied Fine art.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Creating an experience and telling a story, Details, Materials and how light would affect all
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
Frustration to joy Love to hate, but when it clicks it’s love at first sight.
What makes a design successful?
Combine passion and attraction with function to solve a problem makes a design successful.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
I haven’t had any exhibition yet, but my plan to finish my furniture collection within this year and try to do some during 2019 - 20
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Reading and trying to imagine the set or the places mentioned in a novel and then trying to search those places, plus internet for sure.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
Now a days I would like to say minimalism as furniture but more contemporary classic when it comes to interior. But still my taste is always developing (as my experience) and trying new different styles.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
Currently I’m living at Istanbul/Turkey, so as a heritage for sure it affects my work but unfortunately the progresses of work might be difficult and hard sometimes like any other urban mega city.
What skills are most important for a designer?
It is important for a designer to able to sketch in order to deliver his or her ideas and beside to be a good listener and story teller.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
I tend to start any design by simply having some fun with paper. I like to start with sketch models before diving into any digital design or more complex technology.
What was your most important job experience?
It's not about my biggest design, project or achievement I had done, I have a long journey to spend to be able to say that I have a large project. What I’m proud of that I was a part of Autoban team where I learned too much as i mentioned before about design thinking and being a part of multi-projects that you feel yourself proud of when you finish
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
I always had a dream that I have a wood workshop within my studio, a workshop place that I can work and design furniture for international brands. But for sure it still early. What I’m trying to do in meanwhile when I have free time to be in one of our studio’s supplier factory to learn more about the techniques and wood & materials types and specifications from the handcraft men. And as not long term goal I want to do my a furniture set and exhibit it in Salone del Mobile in Milan - Italy
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
I prefer to work alone at the first stages especially when its a personal project, but for sure I’m going full open to my colleagues for opinion and I do like seeing the first reaction, its my primary feedback, then I’m reshaping the design according to those opinions and feedbacks before sending to client, as a designer my main challenge is not taking feedback personally, being able to detach yourself from your design is the hardest part, in our industry it's really important to learn how to lift up the mood of the studio to make everyone in mood of creativity to help team to create.
How can people contact you?
Via my website al-sidawi.com or Social Media (Instagram, LinkedIn and Behance)

Designer of the Day Interview with Mhd Al Sidawi

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I graduated from Damascus University Fine art facility as Interior Designer in 2011, and because of the war in Syria I traveled to Istanbul / Turkey where I was lucky to work with one of the largest two studios in Istanbul with totally different style (Fatih Kiral) as classic style and (Autoban) as modern, Worked on various (Residential, hospitality and commercial) local and regional projects during my practice in Damascus and Istanbul. And now as Head of Design at Beytist Interior Design Studio where we are focusing more on luxury residential projects.
How did you become a designer?
It’s a cliché its always come from the family, but it’s true I do remember my grandfather, father and my uncle working at their workshop as carpenters specialized in classic and handcrafted Syrian inlaid furniture and how much it was and still fascinating to see how much effort and focus applied to design and create such master pieces. So I think it’s the family roots.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
Creating an experience and telling a story, Solving a problem, Details, Materials and how light would affect the spaces, those are what drive me while I’m designing, as start for sure I’m doing the 3d model its giving me the sense of space and how light interact, after that I’m selecting the materials to finalize the design before going with manufacturing.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
Frustration to joy Love to hate, but when it clicks it’s love at first sight.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
As a designer you should be able to wear multi hats, be able to be a good listener, to manage the time as sufficient as possible, and to analyze the problems and imagine the possible solutions.those skills and how you will use them will affect the design and design progresses.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
I always had a dream that I have a wood workshop within my studio, a workshop place that I can work and design furniture for international brands. But for sure it still early. What I’m trying to do in meanwhile when I have free time to be in one of our studio’s supplier factory to learn more about the techniques and wood & materials types and specifications from the handcraft men. And as not long term goal I want to do my a furniture set and exhibit it in Salone del Mobile in Milan - Italy
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
First enjoy your time at the university as much as possible and try to make a lot of friends. Second learn and study the masters. And Third try to build the business side of yourself.
What is your day to day look like?
Actually its planned weekly, and for sure there is always some added tasks during the week depending on the meetings, site works or during the manufacturing. But for me at morning with coffee I’m surfing the net for some inspiration and new news and trends in design, then the heavy duty works as designing, later its going more tasks like communication and CAD drawing and checking.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
Reading and trying to imagine the set or the places mentioned in a novel and then trying to search those places, plus internet for sure.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
First it should attract you to make you analyze this project/product later you can judge if its solving an issue or not, is it over designed or not, is it easy to use or not. Those are the questions that speak up and tell if it’s a good design or not.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
Any project is able to be revised and updated, but when you have that feeling the click in your mind and hart i think this the moment when you can say OK now its done.
What is your biggest design work?
It's not about my biggest design, project or achievement I had done, I have a long journey to spend to be able to say that I have a large project. What I’m proud of that I was a part of Autoban team where I learned too much as i mentioned before about design thinking and being a part of multi-projects that you feel yourself proud of when you finish.
Who is your favourite designer?
Each time I’m falling in love with a Master and trying to learn and adopt from him/her, currently Dieter Rams specially 606 Universal Shelving System, A modular, multi-function and timeless object.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Lifestyle and culture for sure affect the design, the way you are thinking, living and interacting with your surrounding its all the main feeds of your creative progresses.Being now in Istanbul / Turkey with all mixed heritage surrounding and vast variation of nature and landscapes and for sure with Damascus all in mind it's all affect my work. So to wrap it up being in a metropolitan city with massive heritage and culture its give you a lounge to breath and relax your mind and eyes from such a mega city and same time keeping me in the market.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I prefer to work alone at the first stages especially when its a personal project, but for sure I’m going full open to my colleagues for opinion and I do like seeing the first reaction, its my primary feedback, then I’m reshaping the design according to those opinions and feedbacks before sending to client, as a designer my main challenge is not taking feedback personally, being able to detach yourself from your design is the hardest part, in our industry it's really important to learn how to lift up the mood of the studio to make everyone in mood of creativity to help team to create.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
Being recognized is important, showing your style and marketing yourself and your work are the goals to participate with any competition.Being an awarded designer giving you the opportunity to know the network of other designers, and extra value to your portfolio.

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