Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah

Interview with Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah

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?

Since I was a child, I favored all the toys and games that were related to building. I was always inspired by the elements of the local vernacular as a child playing in the old neighborhoods. Also, I was somewhat intrigued by photography and I would take pictures of the old neighborhoods and people living there.

Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

AEB was established back in 1966 as the first architectural and engineering consultancy in Qatar. I have acquired it in 1991 and the strong team of 6 individuals; the team I took over as the new owner; has helped me expand the company in numbers and take it internationally. Now, we have over 600 employees in 6 countries across Asian continent.

What is "design" for you?

For me, design is a creative act. In the field of architecture, I believe design is using creativity to create a structure that is functional within its environment.

What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

This project is one of my most favorite and the closest to my heart. It also signifies a great transition in my career.

What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

I am fascinated by BIM (Building Integration Modeling) system that allows you to experience structure before even being built.

What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

I feel absolutely excited whenever we get a chance to do something new.

What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

The best part of being creative is when you see your building being built. It’s your dreams becoming reality.

What makes a design successful?

A design is successful when it excels at serving the purpose that it has been designed for.

From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

A designer should always help in protecting the environment; and exert every effort to avoid destroying it. A designer is the portal between people and their use of the environment. In his/her designs, they should show society how they could use the surrounding environment without causing harm.

How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

I am hoping that it will continue to evolve towards more sustainable designs and less emissions. My hope is that we move forward towards a more holistic approach.

When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

It was in Korea. I would like to hold the next exhibition when the right opportunity presents itself.

Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

My greatest muse is usually the setting of the location and its surroundings.

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?

My approach is a culturally sensitive one. I believe that designs should have an identity regardless of location or the people I am designing for.

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?

I live in Doha. The cultural heritage of my country affects my designs immensely. I live with the impact of my buildings whether it is good or bad. I have to accept the opinions and the reactions of the people towards my ideas and my designs.

How do you work with companies?

We work closely with companies from all over the world. And it is very exciting because you get to learn different approaches.

What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

A good designer is not only creative, but also realistic in terms of function and budget.

Can you talk a little about your design process?

I start with understanding the client requirements; then I look at the site and its strengths environmentally and functionally. Based on these, I start working on the design concept.

Can you describe a day in your life?

I split my day between my responsibilities as the GCEO of the company and design. The greatest challenge is taking yourself away from the joy of design. It was generally challenging, but after many years of practice, it became part of the norms. Also, I like to take the opportunity to visit the construction sites as it is part of the joy of being an architect is to see these projects evolving. For the majority of my evening, I spend it with friends and family and occasionally enjoying listening to Jazz music.

Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

I always recommend that they explore, read and use the internet to see what the architects and designers are doing around the world which should help them set up a dream of what they would like to do in the future. And what I would really like to tell them is that dreams do come to true. If you are sincere to your work and passionate towards it, you will get what you want.

From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

It is a positive thing to be an architect and a designer. But you should be aware of mistakes when they are done. You should be able to handle these mistakes as we are all practicing and exploring possibilities. It is an extremely important journey because the solutions we give will affect people’s lives. Every new job is a new degree that you need to earn. It’s a challenge that is always fruitful.

Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?

In this DNAge of technology we still try to find a balance and express ourselves through hand sketching , so we usually brainstorm and sketch by hand using old fashioned pen and paper. Only then do we turn to Photoshop and 3dMax to generate more realistic representations of our sketches.

Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

I think the research and the mental process is the most difficult part. But in a fraction of a second you get inspired. You try to keep the balance between that mental process and the executing process.

What was your most important job experience?

I worked in the government for a short while; I was heading the architectural section. As someone who had only 2-3 years of experience, I felt very fortunate. Since then, I’ve continued to do the most important job I’ve ever had which is to develop a local firm into the biggest in the country.

Who are some of your clients?

We work with many different client in the private and public sector. We have produced from government buildings to hotels and shopping malls.

What are your future plans? What is next for you?

To expand in putting back the vernacular language into the architecture of this region.

Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

It’s team work; I was fortunate over the years for having several teams working under my supervision and we get to develop simultaneously different projects.

Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

There is a new resort that we are developing in the Sultanate of Oman which is very Eco and minimalist.

Extended Interview with Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

I have obtained BA in architecture form the university of Oklahoma back in 1988. Upon graduation I have worked in the State of Qatar Ministry of Urban Planning where I headed architecture department before acquiring AEB in 1991.

How did you become a designer?

I have always been a curious individual, wanting to know how things work and how they are made. My childhood curiosity and keen interest in arts were the main reason I decided to pursue design education and profession.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

We design many things; residential, urban planning; hospitality; retail…etc. We do a lot of cooperate buildings and hospitality. We would like to be designing more hotels.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

They should work hard, be loyal to what they do and have a vision of what they want to accomplish.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

A good designer is one who succeeds in producing few good examples; while a great designer creates an impact even beyond their living time.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

A good design blends into its environment and reflects its purpose.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

As an investment, a good design is functional and aesthetically appealing that is what makes it hold on to its value throughout the years.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

The design has to go beyond the aesthetics. It should be properly engineered and properly built.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

The traditional masons who built our older buildings; from the west, Philip Jonson and Michael Graves.

What is your biggest design work?

I am fascinated by older religious buildings; mosques and churches like the Duomo. I like about them how creative these people were to build things in big scale that impacts the visitor regardless of their belief.

Who is your favourite designer?

My favorite is Al Shaqab. I think what makes special is its scale and proportion and the impact it had on that style of architecture in our country (as it was printed on the 100 Qatari Riyal bill).

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

You have to listen to other people’s opinion and learn from others. Widen your vision and do not become arrogant.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

I would have been a photographer for National Geographic traveling the jungles and the deserts.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

Design is to create an object that serves a function that will sometimes go beyond obvious use.