Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB) presented the 2020 awards for Design Excellence, and Creative Achievement and Potential, to two graduating and two junior students from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qatar Foundation partner university, in a virtual ceremony.
AEB’s Group CEO and chief architect Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah, a longtime supporter and friend of VCUarts Qatar, awarded the Arab Engineering Bureau Award for Design Excellence for a graduating senior to Interior Design student Farzana Abubacker Velliyattil, and the Arab Engineering Bureau Award for Design Excellence for a graduating senior to Graphic Design student Marwa A al-Kalbani.
The awards were instituted by Jaidah to encourage and assist graduating students as they start their careers as designers in Qatar and the region. Jaidah is recognised as a pioneer of a new architectural movement that combines the far-reaching influences of Islamic art with modern styles to create memorable landmark structures that are shaping Qatar.
“Over the years VCUarts Qatar graduates have proven to be at the forefront of various art and design industries in Qatar, and it is our absolute pleasure to be able to award such individuals for their hard work and to help them kick start their careers,” Jaidah said. “I also must commend the high level of education being offered at VCUarts Qatar. I had the pleasure of working closely with several strong students who came to us as interns, but also several graduates who have joined our team. I consider that recognising and supporting design talent is not only a responsibility of practising professionals as individuals, but that of the industry too. It is our responsibility to support our younger generations in gaining new knowledge and experiences; and it is our responsibility to nurture the leaders of tomorrow. So, I take this opportunity to congratulate once again all of the award winners on their achievements.” The Arab Engineering Bureau Award for Creative Achievement and Potential for a rising junior was awarded to Graphic Design student Zainab N al-Shibani, and the Arab Engineering Bureau Award for Creative Achievement and Potential for a rising junior was awarded to Interior Design student Aia Zaina. These awards aim to help the junior students realise and achieve their true potential and encourage them to continue developing their skills through their senior year.
VCUarts Qatar’s dean Amir Berbic said the university was hugely grateful for the continued support from AEB and Jaidah, who has been a longtime friend and speaker at the university for over a decade. “I am really pleased that we have arranged this virtual ceremony to mark the recognition of four of our leading students by one of VCUarts Qatar’s most enduring industry partners, Ibraham M Jaidah, Group CEO of Arab Engineering Bureau,” dean Berbic said.
“The students who won this award in the past have gone on to leading positions all over the GCC, including Lejla Nikšic (2007) who has been at AEB since 2010; Zlatan Pejdah (2012) is a Design Manager at Cambridge Interiors in the UAE; Amira Natsheh (2017 and 2018) is a Product Design Specialist at Qatar Foundation; and Noha Fahmy (2014 and 2015) is a Regional Retail Design Manager at L’Oreal UAE,” he added.
Dean Berbic noted that the awards recognised the students’ commitment to their future careers in what is a very competitive and demanding environment. Besides the awards, AEB and Jaidah continue to partner with VCUarts Qatar by offering internship opportunities to VCUarts Qatar students.
A screenshot of the virtual ceremony.
