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Building Liwan [afikra x Liwan]

  • In person (limited capacity) & online on Zoom. Liwan, Design Studios and Labs Umm Wishad St Doha Qatar (map)

Join us as we interview the director of Liwan, Design Studios and Labs at Qatar Museums Aisha Al Sowaidi as part of our collaboration with Liwan.

Date: Tuesday, December 14
Time: 10AM NYC | 3PM London | 5PM Beirut | 6PM Doha
Hosted By: Mikey Muhanna (afikra)
Location: This event will be open for a live audience in a limited capacity at the Liwan, Design Studios and Labs Umm Wishad St, Doha, Qatar & online. Use the forms below to RSVP for either event.

Bio: Aisha Al Sowaidi is a multidisciplinary designer based in Qatar. Her design practice and research explore themes of home, nostalgia, childhood, memory, heritage, and Doha’s rapid growth. These themes are reflective in the design collection, Bear with Me—a series of bear-shaped objects including candles, mirrors, and screen panels—igniting past childhood memories and serving as a metaphor for Qatar’s present rapid urbanization. Aisha’s reflective installation, The State of You, was included in the 2018 London Design Biennale, and her Central Midkhan design is currently on show in the National Museum of Qatar. Both works engage the viewer in a sensory experience by releasing traditional Qatari household scents, namely oud and cardamon, to ignite the feeling of home and the past. Aisha was an artist in residence and curatorial assistant at the Fire Station Doha before becoming the director for Qatar Museum’s latest design hub, Liwan Design Studios and Labs. Through her various positions at Qatar Museums, she has continued to amplify Qatar’s role as an emerging cultural centre. She holds an MFA in Design Studies and a BA in Graphic Design from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar.

The Liwan, Design Studios & Labs department at Qatar Museums assists with developing content, visuals and detailed plans for social media announcements. Additionally, they work on planning related events, programs and activities.


This event is being videotaped for subsequent broadcast on the library website and other media. The audience is encouraged to offer comments and raise questions during the formal question and answer period, but please be advised that your voice and image may be recorded and later broadcast as part of this event. By participating in the question and answer period you are consenting to the possible reproduction and transmission of your remarks.


This event will be open for a live audience in a limited capacity at the Liwan, Design Studios and Labs Umm Wishad St, Doha, Qatar.

To RSVP for the in-person event follow this link.

RSVP USING THE FORM BELOW (OR CLICK HERE IF IT DOESN’T LOAD)