Interview with Rita Abou Arraj

I consider the design process, an intimate experience, and I’ve grown to work alone day to day.
Occasionally I sneak out of my bubble and indulge in collaborations with other artists, architects, and designers where the experience spikes my interest, or the task at hand demands it.

Design is “the most elegant” answer to a given riddle.
It is, but not limited to, Knowledge by research for ingenuity, a hint of trickery and ostentatiousness wrapped with skill.

I have ventured in many design routes, from TV studios, scenography, stage and set designs, Interiors of all facets to exhibitions and installations, however, my real passion remains Object and Furniture design.

For Some Reason, my favorite design is always the design I’m working on.

My career premiere happened to be a polyvalent Sports studio Set for a TV channel.

Call me old fashioned, but despite my interest in Technology and constant follow up of all trends and breakthroughs in design materials, I have to admit that I’ve always had a soft spot for simple wood handcrafting and easy mechanical fixing and manipulating techniques.

There is a time when I provoke myself with uninterrupted questions regarding a certain new riddle. Creativity flows when I get a moment to answer them.

Every aspect deserves its share. A successful outcome depends greatly on a designer’s fairness and generosity towards all aspects of an idea.

The satisfaction of knowing the answer to a yet to be asked question.

The satisfaction of sharing the answer mentioned above with the ones curious enough to figure out the question.

Time would only tell. It only recalls successful ones.

Can it drive someone to adopt new points of view further to interacting with it, and most importantly, would it still be relevant tomorrow?

By pure vocation, by esthetic flair or by unadulterated necessity, All good designers fancy themselves superheroes of their generation and the supreme “caped” problem solvers.
As our esteemed colleague, Peter Parker said once: “with great power, comes great responsibility.” ( technically his uncle said it, but who’s counting )

Design can only be accompanying human and environmental evolution, with a constant considerable lead, in order to pave the way and answer the progressive developing needs of society at any given frame in time and space.

I am fascinated by puzzles, riddles and games.
The logic within the process, asking the right questions to get the right answers, can be inspiring and brick-builds an analysis and methodology that works as good in puzzle solving as in design.

I feel unrest towards the static state of everything. Limited functionality and the disabled upgradability bore me. The world is alive, nature is continually morphing, society changes character non-stop. Even “out of this world” ideas are actually of and for this world, thus having to evolve, adapt and propose. My style mirrors this concept.

I’m lucky to be Based In Beirut, Lebanon. This living mosaic of a spot has always been and continues to be a rich and sophisticated hub of worldwide cultures.
This openness contributes a lot to answering universal design issues, not just culture specific ones. I feel concerned and involved in human eagerness and appreciation to design wherever that may be.

Ideas stimulate the curiosity and motivation to realize them.
This urge translates in partnerships with individuals, studios and companies, where an instant team formation can be achieved in order to redirect resources and focus them for a favorable outcome.
Where team integration is goal, I work for seamless integration, and where leadership is aspired, I’m all for it.

Consistency within a designer’s portfolio is key to selection and cooperation with other entities.
Companies deduct a designer’s methodology, way of thinking, equilibrium between shape and functionality from his/her previous works, and should be able to assess expectations based on all of the above, and be ready to offer a significant margin of freedom for the designer in order to extract the most creativity.

I ask too many questions and challenge myself to answer most of them if not all.
I write in doodles.

There is wittiness and merit in most of what surrounds us by unknown and underrated designers, of current and past existence.
Each attempt at answering this question offers 5 alternative and additional designs.

I can, but doing so would give credibility to Routine’s attempts at taking over my days. I will continue to live in denial. Thank you.

A design, one pencil stroke short, is a question partially answered. Keep pushing your design forward till dissipation of doubt.

Positive: the need to evolve constantly.
Negative: the need to evolve constantly.

It CAN be done.

Coffee, beloved pencils and sketchbooks, a solid internet access, a potent PC, 2d Cad, 3d modeling & Rendering and Photo editing software and another coffee round.

NO, being a mother is a very time consuming task. Designing is Fun and Leisure.

Since I’m always in quest for the most elegant answer to that riddle in the most simplistic way possible, it tends to take much more time than allocated, each and every time.

No matter the pedigree of the job, while in progress, there is always a chance to learn and grow.
Frankly, the most complicated of jobs are assortments of smaller ones in chain, and in most of times the answers to their riddles are deducted directly from previous experiences in the simplest of jobs.

Being an interior Architect with an affinity to object configuration and highly artistic event installation, based in a hub where oriental and occidental keep on co-reinventing themselves, my clients happen to be multi-cultural individuals, groups and companies, seeking identity affirmation or fusion, with a sense of detail, and eagerness to showcase evolution and originality, whether in a permanent daily adaption or a unique time/space expression.

Objects that are much more than what they reveal.
Designs that offer multi-use and alternative purposes in a minimal shell.
Bluffing designs, that when you think you’ve seen them in all their facets, manage to surprise you with alternative roles and proficiencies.

I’m always learning, and always aiming at upgrading my skill sets and tools in order to be more productive and more effective in my design approach.
My future plans? Perhaps, More awards, If I may?

As answered above, I consider the design process, an intimate experience, and I do work alone by default.
But I do sneak out of my bubble and venture in collaborations, exchange expertise, and enrich design knowledge in the process.

Works-in-progress are my daily bread, however not all works-in-progress can be shared at least while they don’t answer yet my own questions.

People that are interested in what I do can find me at www.ritaabourraj.com , and drop me a message through info@ritaabouarraj.com or via other contact details found on the website.

I would like to stress the importance of design competitions in modern society development and the opportunity they present for designers, investors and end users alike to evolve and have their questions answered at an accelerated pace.