Nada Debs – 20 years of Crafted Patterns
During #DubaiDesignWeek2022, the Lebanese designer will celebrate the evolution of craft and the 20th anniversary of her brand. The celebration is going beyond a simple look back at two decades of creations, it is a complete journey in Nada’s own world and patterns.
Nada is a traveller
Born in Lebanon, raised in Kobe (Japan) for 18 years before heading to the USA for her studies at RSDI, Nada worked in London but soon her roots called her back. She decided to return and eventually settle in Beirut. But it was only a part of her journey in craft and discoveries.
From humble beginnings twenty years ago to an integrated design studio and retail space in Beirut, and a second home in Dubai, Nada Debs marks 20 years of creating furniture and objects using intricate crafted patterns – a signature element that she is renowned for. These pieces have come to resonate with time, tradition, and future generations, becoming collectibles and heirlooms with a timeless appeal.
“We care about the human being first and foremost, focusing on the human-centric values that bring objects to life with stories.”
I met Nada back in August 2011, a hot afternoon in Beirut where our scheduled 30 minute meeting turned to last over two hours. Her natural aura captivated me and I immediately felt at ease in front of this total stranger. That’s one of Nada’s true gifts… and that was before we even started to talk about craft and the ingenuity of the human hand.
From her studio in Gemmayze, Beirut, Nada works with a team of twenty on annual collections, one-off commissions, and creative pieces that are customised according to individual specifications. She has slowly built an artisanal library in Lebanon designed as a socially responsive space, where she works with noble materials such as wood, stone, marble, mother-of-pearl, brass and leather, crafting them with embroidery, pattern, geometry and texture.
Back in 2017, we both ventured to Afghanistan to visit the production centre of FBMI in Kabul. She never worked nor produce carpets before but less than three days after I presented her the idea, she knew everything, from the type of knot or the dyeing process.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the brand, Nada Debs is showcasing several collectible pieces at Downtown Design during Dubai Design Week from November 9th to 12th, 2022. Designed as a warm and inviting space to engage, entertain and educate, Nada aims to offer visitors an opportunity to connect with stories, energy, and emotions, emanating from the hand-crafted furniture and accessories. At the heart of it all, each collectible piece is adorned with distinctive patterns, evoking a sense of nostalgia, rooted in history, heritage and spirituality – a modern memory.
‘My vision for the future is to develop into a lifestyle brand with a holistic approach to craft and interior design. Setting up a base in Dubai is part of our growth strategy, as this region is a leading design hub and gateway from the Middle East to the world, linking Asia to both, the East and West. It definitely appeals to my global background!’, says Nada Debs.
Renowned for her design projects that span commercial, hospitality, residential and institutional buildings such as the Arab League HQ (Egypt, picture above, left), UAE’s Permanent Mission the United Nations (USA, picture above, right) and the office of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdulla (Jordan), Nada retains her signature approach to Eastern craftsmanship seamlessly incorporated into every facet, from structure to furniture.
Award-winning Lebanese director, Elie Fahed has created a striking visual narrative that recounts the evolution of craft, as envisioned under Nada’s lens. The short two-minute film, merging crafted patterns over the last 20 years is a reflection of Nada’s devotion to preserving local heritage, expressing the palpable emotions of artisans as a silent dialogue touching people on a primal level.
Picture: Mansour Dib (hero picture: crafted pebble seats); Yasmina Hilal (portrait of Nada Debs);
