Cohort 2025
Moufida Mohideen
​
Moufida Mohideen is a multidisciplinary designer based in the UAE, exploring materiality, cultural narratives, and functional storytelling. With a BFA in Interior Architecture and Design, her work spans furniture, objects, and spatial interventions, balancing craftsmanship with playful experimentation and curiosity-driven design.
Her piece Ascension, a sculptural book stand crafted from reclaimed Damas wood and mother-of-pearl reflecting UAE artisanal traditions, received the Middle East Emergent Designer Prize in 2022. Moufida is currently a participant in the House of Artisans Design Competition and a 2025 Athath Fellow, where she investigates local materials, heritage techniques, and contemporary forms while continuing to explore and refine her design voice.
Her recent work involves exploration with wood, experimenting
with grain, texture, and joinery. She enjoys exploring new surfaces
and material combinations. Her practice thrives on playful material research and hands-on experimentation, producing furniture and objects that are tactile, thoughtful, and open-ended, inviting interaction and discovery while reflecting a curiosity-driven approach to design.
​
Zelo
​
Where zeal meets mellow. The Zelo Table is a low seating piece
rooted in the geometry and clarity of Art Deco design. Its precise,
angular form emphasizes strong lines and symmetry, creating
a bold yet restrained presence. The red oak wood contrasts sharply with the blue veneer marquetry on the legs, introducing depth, rhythm, and a subtle visual tension.
Designed for versatility, Zelo accommodates both energetic
interactions—board games, conversations, and social gatherings,
and quieter, slower moments of reading, tea, or contemplation.
Its low proportions encourage a grounded, intimate seating
arrangement that engages users with the space and each other.
Crafted with attention to materiality and joinery, the table
balances functionality and sculptural integrity.
Every element—from the geometric legs to the carefully finished
surfaces—reinforces its architectural inspiration while supporting
everyday use. Zelo stands as a centerpiece that navigates the line
between activity and stillness, structure and warmth.
Materials: Red Oak Wood, Dyed Maple Burl Veneer
Dimensions: 100 x 100 x 35 cm
​
