Patricia Millns FRSA is an artist, advisor and mentor. She holds a BA Hon Fine Art and MA Art and Design History. Studio  based in Middle East for over 38 years her practice is based on identity and cultural significance defined through clothing, adornment and olfactory heritage of the region. She is an elected Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts London. Sits on the regional advisory boards, including the American University of Dubai (AUD), and member of IAPA, UNESCO. Patricia has represented UK at United Nations (UN) New York , Women of the World, Sharjah and Cairo Biennials. Public Collections include United Nations UNIFEM, British Museum, British Council, British Common wealth Society, and the  Windsor, Bulgari, Salsali, Sainsbury collections and National Museum Collections regionally. Her works are in private collections locally and internationally.

Fatma Mohammad Al Mahmoud earned her BA in Visual Arts at the Department of Art and Design, College of Art and Creative Enterprises, Zayed University. After a period spent as a graphic designer at the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Fatma became a permanent member of the Maraya Art Centre in 2016, where she was responsible for setting the programmes and workshops for Maraya Art Centre and 1971 – Design Space, in which art, media, design techniques and experimentation on creative thinking are addressed. She is currently the Head of 1971 – Design Space, a non-profit platform for local and international designers. She also manages the Jedariya street art initiative. Furthermore, she chairs the Shurooq Corporate Youth Council and is Managing Partner at the Dubai-based art and design management studio Hamzat Wasl. 

With a passion for art and sculpture through his earlier years Hamad Khoory completed two visual art programs with distinction after which he completed his Bachelor in architecture (BArch ’08) and Masters in architecture, with a concentration in design and research (MArch ’09) both at the Wentworth Institute of Technology, between Boston, USA and Berlin, Germany. His experience in multinational companies includes W.S Atkins, RMJM as well as Ruy Ohtake Arquitetura e Urbanismo in Sao Paulo, Brazil.   LOCI is a Dubai-based practice operating in the fields of contemporary architecture, urban planning, interior architecture and product design. Established by Hani Fallaha and Hamad Khoory in 2012. LOCI is a culturally driven design-led studio that believes in the importance of context and the power of the locus to inform its design process and architecture.    The design philosophy of their studio is based on the knowledge that architecture and design is not an imported technology but one that is informed by and arises out of the site’s culture, tradition and history, as well as its climatic and geographic context. 

May Barber is an experienced Professional in Brand Management and Sustainability advising startups and emerging companies in the Creative Industry on building their brands and integrating sustainable strategies at the core of their models. As a former Award Winning Architect with a background in Luxury and Communication, May is now the Creative Director of Ayed&Barber Creative Strategy. May holds an Executive MBA from HEC Paris and an Executive Certificate in Leading Sustainable Operations from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. 

Coming Soon

Vittorio Barraja has excellent accomplishments in delivering high-level digital marketing solutions while leading corporate marketing strategy and internal and external communications. He is a Global Marketing Leader with deep digital expertise and proven leadership at best-in-class organisations, specialized in travel and retail, he studied Management at Bocconi University

Omar Al Gurg is an Emirati designer from Dubai. He graduated with a Bachelors in Architecture from Queen's University in Belfast and has taken part in the summer program at the Architectural Association in London. Omar has worked in various studios, boutique and large, such as BONE and Zaha Hadid Architects. Currently, he is working as a Projects and Operations Manager for Easa Saleh al Gurg Group, and is launching MODU, a method that focuses on the design of furniture and interactive products.