Ramadan Nights

A glimpse into our Ramadan... 

Beautiful Symphony

LOVE!!! 

Brave New World

Last Thursday, I attended the Brave New World: Senior Project Exhibition by AUD students at The Ara Gallery.

It wasn't an art exhibition. It was an exhibition of ideas presented through design. I enjoyed my time and the exhibition appealed to me a lot. As a communications person, I like to think of myself as someone from the ideas business rather than arts.

These are the projects I absolutely loved!

Abdul Azim Al Ghussein

This is a poster that represents the original project. If I'm not mistaken Abdul Azim is inspired by Neil Gaiman's work. So his project revolves around the letter D, representing Dubai, Dreams, D.... and other words that begin with the letter D. He created a book with all these different characters and he tells their stories through words and illustrations too. The book looked pretty amazing. I wish I could show it to you guys, but he only had one copy.

Sally Alzaza

Sally's project is part of an initiative by an NGO she worked for in Damascus (her hometown.). The NGO's initiative promoted individuals giving back to society, and then the NGO would give something back to these individuals. It is sort of like a pay-it forwards kind of thing. What I loved the most was the tree that is inspired by Avatar's  tree of life. You get colored leaves where you write down what you wish for the world or what you are planning on giving back. Here's my leaf:

Reem Akre

This project is a campaign that promotes self-worth in the face of exploitive advertising. The campaign's message tells consumers that they don't have to buy stuff to be confident or happy. The campaign is called "Brand Me". 

Maya El Chammas

 Maya's project is campaign that proposes a solution to the negativity within us that hinders us from doing what we are capable of doing. The first image is of trash can. You acknowledge you're negative thoughts, you write them down, and then dispose them in this special bin where the paper is recycled afterwards. "I Hate Their Faces" is an example of a negative thought. I think its pretty creative and a lot of people can relate to it.

Mashal Khan

This project consists of a book, but it is also a campaign to promote the creation of parks in Dubai. It is an environmental campaign. You can only see the poster here, but the book was amazing! It was very innovative in terms of design and style. I also liked the promotional items (bottom-right), there's this bookmark-like thing, you put it up in front of your eyes and its supposed to reduce stress. Then there's the postcard, which you fill in and then send to Dubai Municipality to request the creation of parks in Dubai. 

For more info visit The Ara Gallery's website: thearagallery.ae

Dynamic Tower

This is proposed to tower to be built in Dubai designed by architecht David Fisher. Each floor will rotate independently.

How cool is that?!

Lessons from my grandmother

My grandmother is one of my role models.

She has taught me many things. The most important of these I learned by observation.

My grandmother is/was a true Emirati bedouin. People of the desert. Unlike my grandfather, who belonged to the sea-faring folk. Later to be called "the civil". She did not always belong. Yet she made the most of her new environment. She adapted, she learned, but still she defines herself as a member of "the people of the desert".


There are many people to this day who belong to the family and the community who don't really like her. From what I've overheard from my mother and aunt, they are rude and despicable. How very civil indeed! (sarcasm intended).


Still. No matter what they say or do. My grandmother is gracious and hospitable. She is kind, and she never responds to their wrongdoings.


Now THAT is inspiring. Something a lot of people strive to achieve but very few actually do. To treat others as you would like to be treated. To be nice to people not because they are, but because you are.


This could be the greatest lesson I have ever learned from my grandmother. Perhaps my whole family even.

H's surprise party in pictures

Quick shopping trip at DCC - It changed so much I got lost there!

At Panini, Grand Hyatt to pick up the cake

The bellboy who helped with my bag - thank you!

Getting ready with H - she didn't know there was a party

Post-Surprise - cutting the cake

LOVEMARKS: Arab Countries

I am currently reading Kevin Robert's book "Lovemarks: The future beyond brands". It was a special gift from my uncle among other books by Kevin Roberts.

I think I'll be posting ideas and thoughts on what I read here on the blog every once in a while.

Here's what I found interesting from the first chapter:

"In the Middle East I learned lessons that have been invaluable to me about how to connect with consumers, and how to do it in a place where mass marketing was in its infancy.

I learned to love the poeple. In Arab countries yoy make friends for life. The people were genuine, emotional, family-focused, hospitable. They understood their traditions and the past, and they really understood that they had a completely different future. It was very exciting. There was little resistance to the new because they didn't have much of a present. They had a past and they had a future."

This made my think of what's happening in the Arab world. I think you can substitute the words "Arab countries" with a  specific name of any other Arab country and that thought would be just as true.

Thinking about the UAE I find that it applies perfectly. We know our history, we understand our traditions, we know that the future will be a lot different than that, but what about our present? I don't think that we don't have a present. I think where we are right now the lines between the past, present, and future are blurred. I am not what my grandmother was, I am not what my (future) children will be, but I am the bridge in between.





What do you think?

Changing the World One Shoe Box At a Time

I belong to a university organization in the name of the "Hala Ambassadors". We represent the College of Communication and Media Sciences.

Our most recent projects is collecting what we call "Laborers' Aid Kits." The kit contains basic items that laborers working in the city need. This is your chance to give back to the people who contribute in making Dubai what it is, but  recieve little or no credit.


It starts with a shoe box! Everyone has some old shoe box they don't really use. Use the shoe box to assmeble the aid kit.

Items to include:

Toothpaste

Toothbrush

Shampoo/Soap (2 in 1)

Razors

Shaving cream

Deodorant

 Optional item:

T-Shirt - Alternatively you can include a small towel or a cap

2 boxes ready to go!
You can decorate the boxes if you want!

You can ask your family and friends to make aid kits too!

After assembling the aid kit, you can drop it off at Zayed University in Dubai. Here's the link for location: ZU maps

Contact me beforehand so we can arrange it. If any case you can't reach Zayed University, we can figure out alternative ways to collect the boxes. Just leave your email in the comments, or contact me via Twitter ( @AliaAlmidfa).

Make a difference!

DEADLINE: THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 2011