VCUQatar Viewbook 2014: Where Vision Has No Limits

WHERE VISION HAS NO LIMITS

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY IN QATAR

CONTENTS

M E S S A GE FR OM T HE DE A N ......................... ................................................. 5 W H E R E VI S I ON HA S N O LI MI T S.................... ................................................. 6 P R O GR A MS OF S T U DY F O U N D AT I ON.............................................. ............................................... 26 FA S H I O N DE S I G N....................................................................................... 44 G R A P H I C DE S I G N....................................................................................... 62 I N T E R I O R DE S I G N...................................................................................... 80 PA I N T I N G + PR I N T MA K I N G.......................................................................... 96 A R T H I S T OR Y............................................................................................ 112 L I B E R A L A R T S + S C I E N C E S........................................................................ 120 H O N O R S PR OG R A M.................................................................................... 126 P R O CE S S L I B R A R I E S.................................................. .............................................. 130 T E C H N OLOG Y + S T U DI O S PA C E.................... .............................................. 134 W O O D S HOP + DI G I TA L FA B R I C AT I ON LA B..... .............................................. 136 PA I N T I N G + PR I N T MA K I N G S T U DI OS............. .............................................. 138 I N N O VATI V E ME DI A S T U DI O.. ....................... .............................................. 140 R E S E A R C H + E N T R E PR E N E U R S HI P.............................................................. 142

P E R S PE C T I V E S E X H I B I T I ON S.............................................. .............................................. 146 L E C T U R ES.. ................................................. .............................................. 148 W O R K S H OPS + C ON FE R E N C E S...................... .............................................. 150 S T U D E NT S U PPOR T..................................... .............................................. 152 I N T E R N AT I ON A L E X PE R I E N C E....................... .............................................. 154 I N T E R N SHI PS . . ............................................ .............................................. 156 P O S SI B I LI T I E S B FA + M FA E X HI B I T I ON / FA S HI ON S HOW................................................... 160 A L U M N I. ..................................................... .............................................. 162 V I S I T + A PPLY............................................. .............................................. 172 M FA I N DE S I G N........................................... .............................................. 176

V I S I ON VC U QATA R S T R I V E S T O C ON T R I B U T E TO THE VITALITY O F H U M A N , S OC I A L, E C ON OMI C A N D E N V I R ONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT IN QATA R A N D T HE R E G I ON T HR OU G H CREATIVE INNO VATION, E X PR E S S I ON A N D C OLLA BORATION.

‫الرؤية‬ ‫ والتنمية االجتماعية‬،‫تسعى جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث يف قطر إىل الماسهمة يف حيوية اإلناسن‬ .‫واالقتصادية والبيئية يف قطر والمنطقة من خالل االبتكار اخلالق والتعبري والتعاون‬ MI S S I ON .

V C U QATA R C U LT I VAT E S A DYN A MI C I N T E RCULTURAL ENVIRO NMENT O F D I V ER S E R E S E A R C H, LE A R N I N G A N D C OMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TH AT PR OPE LS T HE HOLI S T I C DE V E LOPMENT OF EXEMPLARY A R T I S T S , DE S I G N E R S A N D S C HOLA RS TO BUILD VIBRANT C OMMU N I T I E S A N D DI V E R S I FIED ECONO MIES.

‫المهمة‬ ،‫تنمي جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث يف قطر بيئة ديناميكية بني الثقافات من البحوث المتنوعة‬

‫والتعليم وإرشاك المجتمع المحيل وهذا يدفع بالتنمية الاشملة للفنانني المثاليني والمصممني‬ .‫والعلماء والمجتمعات واالقتصادات‬

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Welcome to Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar.

VCUQatar is a place that offers endless opportunities for intellectual and personal growth. Being creative, exploring meaning and issues, establishing connections and collaborations, examining the world from many different perspectives—these are all part of the VCUQatar culture.

Relationships—with peers, alumni, the business world, cultural organizations, the creative professions and academic institutions— are at the core of the VCUQatar experience. Our vibrant learning community helps build and maintain these vital connections.

Our innovative undergraduate and graduate programs continue to grow and adapt to meet the needs of the national and regional professional communities.

With the inspirational and unwavering support of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, we work in a context of continuous, rapid growth with a focus on the future. Our efforts are in line with the Qatar Foundation mission and the Qatar National Vision 2030.

When I look forward, I see vast opportunities for our students, alumni and faculty to participate in creating the future of Qatar and the region , by bringing a local perspective to international conversations.

Our graduates join a proud and highly accomplished family of more than 150,000 VCU alumni worldwide—people who have made a lasting mark in the world and have attained the highest levels of personal and professional success.

Our context is changing on a daily basis and we strive to excel in this multifaceted, challenging environment, always being aware, nimble and receptive. We encourage you to visit our distinctive learning community in person to see what sets us apart.

Allyson Vanstone Dean

‫حيث‬ ‫ال حدود‬ ‫للرؤية‬

WHERE VISION HAS NO LIMITS

AS SOMEONE DRAWN TO ART AND DESIGN, YOU RECOGNIZE THE POWER VISUAL CULTURE HAS TO CONNECT

‫كشخص انضم إىل‬ ‫الفن والتصميم‪،‬‬ ‫ستتعرف عىل‬ ‫الطاقة التي‬ ‫يجب أن تتصل بها‬ ‫الثقافة البرصية‬

‫‪HERE TO‬‬ ‫‪THERE‬‬

‫أو ربط هنا بهناك‬

THOUGHT TO ACTION

‫الفكر بالعمل‬

‫الفكرة إىل‬ ‫واقع‬

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W H E R E

V I S I O N

H A S

N O

L I M I TS

Qatar is unparalleled in its support of creative thinkers and makers. Setting itself apart by investing in a knowledge-based economy, Qatar values and encourages your chosen path as a student artist. The initiatives and exhibitions available at your doorstep strengthen your work and affirm your choice to pursue a future in art and design.

E A S T- W E S T / W E S T- E A S T B Y R I C H A R D S E R R A , Z E K R E E T, Q AT A R D E S E R T

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Qatar and the Arabian Gulf region present a vast range of opportunities to those invested in arts and culture, including world-class museums, galleries, symposiums, events, and festivals. Here, the pace of development and scope of innovation form an ideal backdrop for your education.

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W H E R E

V I S I O N

H A S

N O

L I M I TS

M AT H A F : A R A B M U S E U M O F M O D E R N A R T, D O H A , Q AT A R

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W H E R E

V I S I O N

H A S

N O

L I M I TS

Qatar Foundation’s Education City, with its newly established Hamad bin Khalifa University, is one of the world’s most exciting campuses dedicated to education, research, and technology. Eight of the most globally respected universities have branch campuses here, offering top-ranking graduate and undergraduate programs.

VCUQatar was the first campus established in 1998, followed by Weill Cornell Medical College, Texas A&M University, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, HEC Paris, and University College London.

E D U C AT I O N C I T Y W I T H T H E N E W Q AT A R F O U N D AT I O N H E A D Q U A R T E R S B Y R E M K O O L H A A S

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W H E R E

V I S I O N

H A S

N O

L I M I TS

VCUQatar is the branch campus of the prestigious Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Richmond, Virginia, USA. VCUarts has been the number one ranked public graduate arts and design program in the United States since 2002. Alumni can be found throughout the academic and professional fields, and have been recognized with everything from Emmys to MacArthur Fellowships.

Students at VCUQatar have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad at the home campus and can take three to six credits in the summer as part of the VCUQatar Summer in Richmond program.

R I C H M O N D A N D D O H A C A M P U S E S C O L L A B O R AT E AT T A S M E E M D O H A , T H E B I E N N I A L I N T E R N AT I O N A L D E S I G N C O N F E R E N C E AT V C U Q AT A R

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Art Foundation at VCUQatar is an introductory program designed to prepare you for your pursuit of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The program, recquired for those students planning to major in fashion, interior, or graphic design, or painting & printmaking, aspires to teach creative thought through projects & lectures, alongside training of skill & craftsmanship.

AF

Learning by Doing: Four courses make up the core of Art Foundation: time, space, surface, and drawing. Through these courses, you and your classmates not only gain the fundamentals of visual studies, but also learn to focus your attention in a studio setting and discuss work in a critique format. Brief “project” courses in painting & printmaking, fashion, interior, and graphic design familiarize you with the individual majors and faculty during your second semester at the university.

Once you have successfully completed the Art Foundation program, you will apply to the department of your choice through the annual spring portfolio review. Through this review, major departments make acceptance decisions based on the students’ academic records, creative work, and performance in Art Foundation courses.

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A RT FO U N D A T I O N

‫‪ART‬‬ ‫‪FOUNDA‬‬‫‪TION‬‬

‫برنامج الفن التأسييس‬ ‫برناجم الفن التأسييس يف جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث يف قطر هو برناجم متهيدي‬

‫تم تصميمه للبدء يف إعدادكم للحصول عىل درجة البكالوريوس يف الفنون‬

‫اجلميلة‪ .‬يعد هذا الربناجم إلزاميا للطلبة الذين خيططون للتخصص يف كل‬

‫من تصميم األزياء‪ ،‬أوالتصميم الداخيل‪ ،‬أو تصميم الغرافيك أو الرسم‬

‫والطباعة‪ .‬يعمل هذا الربناجم عىل حتفزي الطالب لتعلم التفكري اإلبداعي من‬

‫خالل الماشريع والمحارضات‪ ،‬إىل جانب التدريب عىل المهارات واحلرف‪.‬‬

‫التعلم عن طريق العمل‪ :‬أربع مقررات تشكل جوهر هذا الربناجم‪ :‬الزمان‬ ‫والمكان‪ ،‬والسطح‪ ،‬والرسم‪ .‬من خالل هذه المقررات‪ ،‬التتمكن أنت‬

‫وزمالئك فقط من احلصول عىل أاسسيات الدرااست البرصية‪ ،‬ولكن‬

‫ستتعلم أيضا كيف تركز انتباهك يف االستوديو ومناقشة العمل يف شكل‬

‫ناقد وبناء‪ .‬ستعرفكم المقررات و"الماشريع الصغرية" يف الرسم والطباعة‪،‬‬

‫واألزياء‪ ،‬والتصميم الداخيل‪ ،‬وتصميم الغرافيك عىل هذه التخصصات‬ ‫وأعضاء هيئة التدريس خالل الفصل الدرايس الثاين لكم يف اجلامعة‪.‬‬

‫ستقوم ومبجرد االنهتاء من برناجم الفن التأسييس بنجاح‪ ،‬بالتقديم لاللتحاق‬ ‫بالقسم الذي ترغب يف اختياره ومن خالل عرض ما تم جتميعه يف ملفكم‬

‫السنوي الشخيص من أعمال‪ .‬ستقوم اإلدارات الرئيسية ومن خالل هذا‬

‫العرض ألعمالكم باختاذ قرار القبول بناء عىل سجالت الطالب األ كادميية‪،‬‬ ‫وأعماله اإلبداعية‪ ،‬وأدائه يف مقررات الفن التأسييس‪.‬‬

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AISHA AL-SAAD, FIRST YEAR

BETINA BRESSEL JENSEN, FIRST YEAR

L O LWA A L S O L A I T I , F Y I

FARZANA ABEDIN, KIARA HODGE, LOKUGONADUWAG THEEKSHANI PERERA, FIRST YEAR

SHOUQ AL-MANA, FIRST YEAR

RADHEYA VISPERAS, FIRST YEAR

AISHA AL MOHANNADI, FIRST YEAR

AISHA AL MOHANNADI, FIRST YEAR

“I have consistently found that beginning art and design students are remarkably courageous, tenacious, and resilient. Their receptivity and willingness to try new things make them a pleasure to teach.”

— JESSE PAYNE, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, ART FOUNDATION

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FALL TERM Art History Survey I Drawing Studio Time Studio Introduction to Contemporary Math Introduction to the University Focused Inquiry I 16 Credits SPRING TERM Art History Survey II Space Research Surface Research Project x2 Focused Inquiry II Social/Behavioral Science Elective 17 Credits

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For students who need additional studio training, VCUQatar offers the First Year Incubator Program (FYI), which features an intense first-year studio sequence alongside the university’s general education courses. The program is designed to help develop the skills, processes and practices necessary to advance to the VCUQatar Foundation studios the following year.

A RT FO U N D A T I O N

IN FOCUS THE MOVING POSTCARDS PROJECT

In Time Studio, you learn that understanding and treatment of time is essential to good storytelling. As part of this course’s exploration of time-based media, students create a series of “moving postcards” that document Qatar’s unique stories through micro-video loops.

Simone Muscolino, Foundation faculty, features the work of the university’s emerging filmmakers on a web platform called the Moving Postcards Project. In addition to this growing online collection, the Qatar Museums Authority and the Orientalist Museum presented an interactive installation of the project in October 2012 as part of the “Art of Travel” exhibition. Through the collaboration, students were able to see their efforts on display at a world-class cultural institution for the first time.

The Moving Postcards Project connects to a growing regional community invested in film by continuing to curate and share work. Its mission is to provide glimpses into the landscapes and customs of a country in motion through the eyes of those who know it best—the future artists and designers at VCUQatar.

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A RT FO U N D A T I O N

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In Fashion Design, you explore the 21st century fashion industry from a multicultural perspective. An understanding of the history and tradition of dress informs your path through the curriculum and beyond.

FD

Craft and Command: Fashion is far more than the creation of beautiful clothing—in this major, you acquire a range of technical skills including drawing, color illustration, pattern drafting, draping, textile design, and jewelry design.

Computer-assisted design, aesthetics, composition and color theory, and the business of fashion are additional areas of focus. An internship offers you real-life experience, and field studies to fashion capitals provide inspiration.

Guest designers lecture, critique, and interact with students. Past visitors have included Emanuel Ungaro, Carla Fendi, JJ Valaya, Reem Acra, Ruben & Isabel Toledo, Eric Raisina, and Eric Gaskins.

From forecasting to merchandising, styling to sourcing, your future can be shaped to best suit your talents. Fashion Design at VCUQatar invests in your educational progress while helping you keep your professional goals in sight.

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FAS H I O N

D E S I G N

‫‪FASHION‬‬ ‫‪DESIGN‬‬

‫تصميم األزياء‬ ‫يف تصميم األزياء‪ ،‬فأنت تستكشف صناعة األزياء يف القرن الواحد‬

‫والعرشين من منظور متعدد الثقافات‪ .‬سيمكنك فهم تارخي وتقاليد‬

‫اللباس من اختيار الماسر اخلاص بك من خالل المناهج الدراسية وغريها‪.‬‬

‫احلرف واألوامر‪ :‬الموضة هي أكرث بكثري من جمرد ابتكار مالبس مجيلة ‪ -‬يف‬

‫هذا التخصص‪ ،‬عليك اكتاسب جمموعة من المهارات التقنية مبا يف ذلك‬

‫الرسم‪ ،‬واختيار األلوان وأداء الرسوم التوضيحية ورسم األمناط وصياغة‬

‫النماذج‪ ،‬والثنيات‪ ،‬وتصميم المنسوجات‪ ،‬وتصميم المجوهرات‪.‬‬

‫التصميم مباسعدة احلاسوب‪ ،‬واجلماليات‪ ،‬وتصميم التكوينات وفهم‬

‫نظرية األلوان‪ ،‬واألعمال التجارية يف جمال األزياء هي جماالت إضافية ال بد‬

‫من الرتكزي فهيا‪ .‬فهو ختصص وتدريب يوفر لك جتربة من واقع احلياة‪ ،‬كما‬ ‫توفر الدرااست الميدانية لعواصم األزياء يف العالم اإللهام‪.‬‬

‫المحارضات من المصممني الزوار‪ ،‬النقد‪ ،‬والتفاعل مع الطالب‪:‬‬

‫استضفنا كل من‪ :‬إميانويل أنغارو‪ ،‬كارال فندي‪ ،‬جي جي فااليا‪ ،‬ريم عكرا‪،‬‬

‫روبن وإيزابيل توليدو‪ ،‬اريك ريزينا‪ ،‬واريك جاسكزن‪ .‬من التنبؤ إىل الرتوجي‪،‬‬

‫ومن التصميم إىل المصادر‪ ،‬ميكنك تشكيل مستقبلك مبا يتناسب‬

‫ومواهبك‪ .‬يستثمر تصميم األزياء يف جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث يف قطر‬

‫يف االرتقاء بتعليمك يف الوقت الذي ناسعدك فيه عىل احلفاظ عىل‬ ‫أهدافك المهنية يف األفق‪.‬‬

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ALANOUD AL NUAIMI, FOURTH YEAR

ALANOUD AL NUAIMI, THIRD YEAR

MARION SANGUESA, FOURTH YEAR

FAT I M A M A K I , T H I R D Y E A R

HISSA ISMAIL ZAINAL, FOURTH YEAR

MONA AL-ANSARI, FOURTH YEAR

HISHAM DAWOUD, FOURTH YEAR

SABRINA CHRISTENSEN, FOURTH YEAR

ALEXIA THOMAS, FOURTH YEAR

“Each year I grow more and more impressed by the creative risks our students take.

It’s not easy to put your talent out into the world, but it’s amazing to watch them work hard at doing just that.”

— DONALD EARLEY, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, FASHION

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOUNDATION, YEAR ONE Art History Survey I and II Drawing Studio Surface Research Space Research Time Studio Project x2 Focused Inquiry I and II Introduction to the University Introduction to Contemporary Math Social/Behavioral Science Elective 33 Credits

JUNIOR, YEAR THREE Textual Analysis Design Studio I and II Contemporary Fashion Fashion Promotion Design Theory and Illustration I and II Fashion Forecasting The Business of Design Writing in the Workplace Fashion Workshop: Fashion Show Production 31 Credits SENIOR, YEAR FOUR

SOPHOMORE, YEAR TWO Construction Techniques Patternmaking Fashion Drawing Textiles for the Fashion Industry Draping Computers for Fashion Writing and Rhetoric Workshop General Education Elective Fashion Workshop: Fashion Show Production Focused Inquiry II Social/Behavioral Science Elective 31 Credits

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Design II (Studio and Capstone) Design Theory and Illustration I and II Fashion Seminar (five weeks) Fashion Internship Natural/Physical Science Elective Open Elective General Education Elective Fashion Workshop: Fashion Show Production 25 – 27 Credits * Subject to changes. For up‑to‑date course requirements, please refer to the VCU Bulletin online (School of the Arts in Qatar).

FAS H I O N

D E S I G N

IN FOCUS AYABA PROJECT

With the Ayaba Project, VCUQatar faculty Stella Colaleo and a group of students revisited the traditional abaya, worn by generations of Gulf women. Their goal was to make a simple garment with global appeal that could be adapted to create a multitude of looks for every day of the year.

Through experimentations with color, embellishments, and shape, the abaya of today has developed individuality, but has lost its simplicity and versatility. With the traditional abaya, earlier generations were able to control the degree of coverage by choosing whether to wear it on the shoulders or over the head, to wrap it around the body, or to hold it closed with one hand. Many Qataris remember being covered by an abaya like a bed sheet during a nap, or being folded inside their mother’s abaya as she wore it.

The Ayaba project sets out to recreate this garment’s versatility, and combine it with the individuality expressed by modern abayas. With simple modifications such as slits, buttons, and drawstrings, the ‘ayaba’ can playfully morph into endless variations that reflect global styles.

The ‘ayaba’ also offers a variety of day-to-evening looks, and does all this while retaining its original function as a garment of modesty.

Sandra Wilkins, Chair of the Fashion Department at VCUQatar says, “This Ayaba, I think, is reflective of the boundary-crossing lifestyles and experiences we are all exposed to in this day and age. I like that this once-exclusive national dress has become an invitation to discover Gulf culture.”

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FA S H I O N

D E S I G N

63

In Graphic Design, you learn to see the visual communication and culture that surround us with new eyes, and discover how to present them in fresh and powerful ways.

  GD

Mediums, Methods, and Meanings: A creative and analytical field, graphic design uses art, technology, and critical thinking to develop and convey ideas, narratives, identities, and interactive processes.

Our curriculum, developed by experienced and talented faculty, explores and builds skills in a broad range of mediums including print, web, and interactive design, while also incorporating training in typography, photography, videography, screen printing, bookbinding, and beyond. Access to state-of-the-art design and fabrication facilities broadens the scope of your skills and strengthens the impact of your work.

As you progress through the major, you develop abilities that foster innovative approaches to designing value for markets, communities, and cultures. Positioned in a country invested in nurturing a strong and stable knowledge-based economy, VCUQatar is an ideal arena for you to get your start in this field.

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G RA PH I C

D E S I G N

‫‪GRAPHIC‬‬ ‫‪DESIGN‬‬

‫تصميم الغرافيك‬ ‫تتعلم يف تصميم الغرافيك‪ ،‬أن ترى االتصال المريئ والثقافة اليت حتيط بنا‬ ‫بعيون جديدة‪ ،‬واكتاشف كيفية تقدميها بطرق جديدة وقوية‪.‬‬

‫الواسئل واألاسليب والطرق والمعاين‪ :‬حقول حتليلية وإبداعية‪ ،‬يستخدم‬ ‫تصميم الغرافيك الفن‪ ،‬والتكنولوجيا‪ ،‬والتفكري النقدي لتطوير ونقل‬

‫األفكار والروايات‪ ،‬والهويات‪ ،‬والعمليات التفاعلية‪ .‬تم تطوير مناهجنا‬

‫الدراسية‪ ،‬من قبل أعضاء هيئة تدريس موهوبني وذي خربة‪ .‬تستكشف‬

‫هذه المناهج وتبين المهارات باستخدام جمموعة واسعة من الواسئل مبا‬

‫يف ذلك الطباعة‪ ،‬المواقع والشبكات اإللكرتونية‪ ،‬والتصميم التفاعيل‪،‬‬

‫كما تتضمن أيضا التدريب عىل الطباعة‪ ،‬والتصوير الفوتوغرايف‪ ،‬وتصوير‬ ‫الفيديو‪ ،‬وطباعة الاششة‪ ،‬وجتليد الكتب‪ ،‬والعديد غريها‪ .‬الوصول إىل‬ ‫مواقع الفن والتصميم ومرافق التصنيع يوسع نطاق مهاراتك ويقوي‬ ‫أثر أعمالك‪.‬‬

‫ومن خالل تعمقك يف هذا التخصص‪ ،‬تعمل عىل تطوير قدرات تعزز‬

‫الهنج المبتكر لتصميم قيمة لألسواق والمجتمعات والثقافات‪ .‬وجودكم‬ ‫يف بالد استثمرت يف تغذية اقتصاد قوي ومستقر قائم عىل المعرفة‪،‬‬

‫جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث يف قطر هي الاسحة المثالية لك للبدء يف‬ ‫هذا المجال‪.‬‬

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D AW O O D A N WA R I , L E I L A N AT S H E H , M O Z A K H A L I FA A L - S U WA I D I , N A D A H A M M A D A , T H I R D Y E A R

A I S H A A L - M A N N A I , A L D A N A A L - K H AT E R M U H A M M E D A L I A L M A S R I , H E S S A H A L - T H A N I , T H I R D Y E A R

BARBARA CHARRUE, FOURTH YEAR

MARYAM AL KAABI, FOURTH YEAR

NAJLA AL-KHALIFA, FOURTH YEAR

L E I L A N AT S H E H , F O U R T H Y E A R

M AYA S A A G H A , S E C O N D Y E A R

RANA ABDALLA MOHAMED, SECOND YEAR

MALAK ELZAHED, FOURTH YEAR

M A H A A L - K H AT E R , F O U R T H Y E A R

MOZA KHALIFA AL-SUWAIDI, FOURTH YEAR

NADA HAMMADA, THIRD YEAR

“My time at VCUQatar has helped me realize the great potential for graphic design to become a means of cultural production, rather than just a traditional service industry. The best design not only expresses culture, it also creates culture.”

— LEVI HAMMET T, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, GR APHIC DESIGN

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOUNDATION, YEAR ONE

JUNIOR, YEAR THREE

Art History Survey I and II Drawing Studio Surface Research Space Research Time Studio Project x2 Focused Inquiry I and II Introduction to the University Introduction to Contemporary Math Social/Behavioral Science Elective 33 Credits

Systems in Design Print I and II Visual Narrative I Interaction I and II Graphic Design Internship Literature Elective Mathematics Open Elective Natural Physical Science 31 Credits SENIOR, YEAR FOUR

SOPHOMORE, YEAR TWO Design Technology I Design Methods and Processes Design Form and Communication Typography I and II Imaging I and II Theory and Philosophy History of Visual Communication Writing and Rhetoric Workshop 30 Credits

Senior Seminar Senior Studio Graphic Design Electives x3 Business of Design Writing in the Workplace Open Electives x2 General Education Elective 30 Credits

* Subject to changes. For up‑to‑date course requirements, please refer to the VCU Bulletin online (School of the Arts in Qatar).

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IN FOCUS ARABIC + BILINGUAL TYPE DESIGN The Graphic Design department offers an elective course in Arabic & bilingual type design to senior students. The course, most recently co-taught by faculty Basma Hamdy and Jordan Gushwa, introduced the calligraphic principles of Arabic script, focusing on the styles of Kufi and Naskh.

Students developed an understanding of lettering and moved on to draw a full basic Arabic character set. Using a variety of software and font authoring tools, student work was then translated into a digital format, which allowed for testing and potential professional use of the original hand-drawn letters as an OpenType font.

Instilling students with an appreciation for Arabic type design is a key objective of the Graphic Design curriculum at VCUQatar. “With typography being the foundation of graphic design, it is crucial that we have more type designers in the region who are trained in Arabic,” says Hamdy. “I believe students with a deep interest in type design can become professionals in the field. This will allow them to contribute to the preservation of its past, but also its contextualization for Qatar's future.”

To conclude the semester, students compiled portfolios of their completed typeface concepts to be reviewed by internationally renowned bilingual type designer, Tarek Atrissi. The mentorship carries with it the potential for future development of the concepts for use in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign. In this way, student designers at VCUQatar become more acquainted with the commercial application of design, and the process of bringing learned skills to reality in a global campaign.

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Interior Design at VCUQatar provides you with an extensive background in spaces, functions, aesthetics, and associated meaning. In this department, you learn how to create and activate spaces in residential, hospitality, healthcare, retail and corporate interior environments.

   ID

Plan for Growth: Ours is the sole program in the region fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and our focus is on design excellence, collaboration, and research. Areas of study include building systems, color and lighting, materials and finishes, furniture and product design, and life and safety codes.

Additionally, you are encouraged to develop your skills through the use of digital tools and fabrication facilities.

Visiting designers, lectures, international field trips, and open houses expose you to the industry of interior design. Through courses in entrepreneurship and the business of design, and internship opportunities with respected firms, you gain invaluable professional experience.

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I N T E R I O R

D E S I G N

‫‪INTERIOR‬‬ ‫‪DESIGN‬‬

‫التصميم الداخيل‬ ‫يوفر لكم التصميم الداخيل يف جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث يف قطر خلفية واسعة‬

‫عن الماسحات‪ ،‬والوظائف‪ ،‬واجلماليات‪ ،‬والمعاىن المرتبطة هبم‪ .‬ستتعلم يف‬

‫هذا القسم‪ ،‬كيفية إناشء وتفعيل الماسحات يف الماسكن والفنادق وأماكن‬ ‫الرعاية الصحية والمحالت والبيئة الداخلية للرشكات والمؤساست‪.‬‬

‫خطة للنمو‪ :‬برناجمنا هو الربناجم الوحيد يف المنطقة المعتمد بالكامل من‬ ‫جملس اعتماد التصميم الداخيل (سيدا) وينصب تركزينا عىل التمزي يف‬

‫التصميم‪ ،‬والتعاون‪ ،‬والبحوث‪ .‬تشمل جماالت الدراسة لدينا بناء النظم‬ ‫واإلضاءة واأللوان والمواد والتشطيبات وتصميم األثاث و المنتجات‪،‬‬

‫ورموز احلياة والسالمة‪ .‬باإلضافة إىل ذلك‪ ،‬يتم تشجيعك لتطوير مهاراتك‬ ‫من خالل استخدام األدوات الرقمية ومرافق التصنيع‪.‬‬

‫المصممون الزائرون والمحارضات والرحالت الميدانية الدولية‪ ،‬والبيوت‬ ‫المفتوحة‪ ،‬كل ذلك يكشف أمامك صناعة التصميم الداخيل‪ .‬ومن‬

‫خالل دورات يف تنظيم الماشريع واألعمال التجارية يف التصميم‪ ،‬وفرص‬

‫التدريب مع رشكات لها اسمها‪ ،‬تتمكن من اكتاسب خربة مهنية ال‬ ‫تقدر بثمن‪.‬‬

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NOORHAN BULBUL, FOURTH YEAR

RANA ABDUL MAJEED, FOURTH YEAR

NOUR ABU GHAZALEH, FOURTH YEAR

ZALTAN PEJDAH, FOURTH YEAR

IMEN IBALA, FOURTH YEAR

NOOR AL SAFI, SECOND YEAR

AMANI ABBARA, FOURTH YEAR

“While other parts of the region are focused on business and tourism and various development projects, Qatar is a country that is looking to establish roots for the future with education. As a Khaleeji myself, that makes me feel very proud and excited.”

— MAYSAA AL-MUMIN, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, INTERIOR DESIGN

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOUNDATION, YEAR ONE

JUNIOR, YEAR THREE

Art History Survey I and II Drawing Studio Surface Research Space Research Time Studio Project x2 Focused Inquiry I and II Introduction to the University Introduction to Contemporary Math Social/Behavioral Science Elective 33 Credits

Interior Design Studio I Interior Design Studio II Advanced Interior Graphics II Light and Color in Interior Environments Building Systems Design History: 20th and 21st Centuries Construction Documents Writing in the Workplace Literature Elective General Education Elective 32 Credits

SOPHOMORE, YEAR TWO

SENIOR, YEAR FOUR

Introductory Interior Design Studio I Introductory Interior Design Studio II Interior Graphics I Interior Graphics II Advanced Interior Graphics I Fundamentals of Interior Design Historic Environments: Ancient 19th Century Interior Materials and Textiles Writing and Rhetoric Workshop General Education Elective 32 Credits

Senior Interior Design Studio I Senior Interior Design Studio II Senior Seminar I Senior Seminar II Interior Design Internship Business of Design Open Elective Natural /Physcial Science Elective 25 Credits

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* Subject to changes. For up‑to‑date course requirements, please refer to the VCU Bulletin online (School of the Arts in Qatar).

I N T E R I O R

D E S I G N

IN FOCUS A TEACHER'S HOUSE FOR THE MUEN PHEM SCHOOL Taking advantage of an opportunity to combine learning with service, the Interior Design department at VCUQatar facilitated the construction of teacher accommodations for the Karen hill tribe’s Muen Phem School in the hills north of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Several trips have been taken to the area in recent years, each focusing on improvement projects for the school and surrounding community. When discussion of the school’s difficulty with teacher retention arose, it became clear to faculty chaperones that an on-campus house would greatly benefit the quality of education at Muen Phem. It would likewise give IDES students a chance to hone their skills in design and construction in a hands-on, collaborative way.

The school teamed up with service-learning facilitators Into the Wild, while students Fahad Al Kuwari and Samira Abbas drafted designs for the house, and longtime university supporter, Qatari architect Ibrahim Jaidah, provided funding for construction. Participating VCUQatar students from various departments pitched in on the project—mixing cement, building walls, tiling, and painting. This week spent in Thailand proved enriching and instructive, according to Interior Design faculty Maysaa Al Mumin, who said, “We use these trips to achieve many things, one of which is to give the students direct experience with design and construction.

It vastly improves the ability to design once you have felt the material and have learnt how to build with it. Inevitably along the way, with teamwork, we create bonds of respect and friendships between students as well as with faculty.”

With the project complete and the house ready to be occupied, the department will continue to seek out unique volunteer opportunities with the potential to coincide with its instructional goals in the future.

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I N T E R I O R

D E S I G N

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In Painting & Printmaking, you draw energy and inspiration from Qatar’s emerging presence in the world of fine art. This strengthens your practice and enables you to significantly participate in contemporary visual culture.

PAPR

Freedom and Flexibility: The Painting & Printmaking faculty encourage the development of your technical and conceptual skills and research interests through studio-based courses. Diversity of experience, mediums, and styles of instruction create a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. By incorporating technology with traditional methods of image-making, your education is both wellrounded and suited to your talents. The department offers courses in painting, printmaking, digital media, photography, video, sculpture, and beyond.

Our publishing program—Fanoon: Center for Printmedia Research—and artist-in-residence program bring to campus prominent figures in contemporary art for workshops, lectures, and critiques. Such programs ensure that your studio practice evolves within a rich community of artists. Likewise, VCUQatar strives to provide platforms for professional training, with internship opportunities at prestigious institutions in Qatar and the wider region.

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PA I N T I N G

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P R I N T M A K I N G

‫‪PAINTING‬‬ ‫‪+ PRINT‬‬‫‪MAKING‬‬

‫الرسم والطباعة‬ ‫يف الرسم والطباعة‪ ،‬فأنت ترسم الطاقة واإللهام من األماكن الناشئة يف‬ ‫قطر يف عالم من الفنون اجلميلة‪ .‬مما يعمل عىل تعزيز مماراستك اخلاصة‬

‫بك ومتكينك من الماشركة بشكل كبري يف الثقافة البرصية المعارصة‪.‬‬

‫احلرية والمرونة‪ :‬يعمل أعضاء الهيئة التدريسية يف قسم الرسم والطباعة‬ ‫عىل تطوير مهاراتك التقنية والمفاهيمية واهتماماتك البحثية من خالل‬ ‫المقررات العملية‪ .‬خيلق تنوع اخلربات والواسئل‪ ،‬وأاسليب التدريس‬ ‫بيئة تعليمية ديناميكية وتعاونية‪ .‬من خالل دجم التكنولوجيا بالطرق‬

‫التقليدية يف صنع الصور‪ ،‬سيصبح تعليمك مالمئا لمواهبك‪ .‬يقدم‬

‫هذا القسم مقررات يف الرسم‪ ،‬والطباعة‪ ،‬والواسئل الرقمية‪ ،‬والتصوير‬ ‫الفوتوغرايف‪ ،‬والفيديو‪ ،‬والنحت‪ ،‬وغريها‪.‬‬

‫يقدم برناجمنا للنرش – فنون‪ :‬مركز حبوث واسئل الطباعة ‪ -‬وبرناجم الفنان‬ ‫المقيم‪ ،‬للحرم اجلامعي شخصيات بارزة يف الفن المعارص لورش العمل‪،‬‬

‫والمحارضات‪ ،‬والنقد‪ .‬تضمن مثل هذه الرباجم إطالق وتطوير مماراستك‬ ‫العملية اخلاصة بك داخل االستوديو داخل جمتمع غين بالفنانني‪.‬‬

‫وبالمثل‪ ،‬تسعى جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث يف قطر جاهدة لتوفري منصات‬ ‫للتدريب المهين‪ ،‬مع فرص التدرب بشكل أوسع يف المؤساست‬ ‫المرموقة يف قطر والمنطقة‪.‬‬

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N AT H A N I E L T O N E L L I , T H I R D Y E A R

AHMED AL JUFAIRI, FOURTH YEAR

SUMAM AZZAM, THIRD YEAR

SARA AL SALEM, FOURTH YEAR

DIEGO MENDOZA, FOURTH YEAR

ABDULLA AL KUWARI, SECOND YEAR

DIEGO MENDOZA, FOURTH YEAR

L E I L A N AT S H E H , T H I R D Y E A R

“I’m fascinated by the diversity of our student body.

Although the majority of our students have grown up in Doha, it’s interesting to see how they identify with their cultural heritage, and how this influences the way they think about art and see the world.”

— ZACH STENSEN, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, PAINTING + PRINTMAKING

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOUNDATION, YEAR ONE

JUNIOR, YEAR THREE

Art History Survey I and II Drawing Studio Surface Research Space Research Time Studio Project x2 Focused Inquiry I and II Introduction to the University Introduction to Contemporary Math Social/Behavioral Science Elective 33 Credits

Painting: Intermediate Drawing: Intermediate Printmaking: Intermediate Studio Elective outside PAPR PAPR Elective x2 Art History Elective x2 29 Credits

SOPHOMORE, YEAR TWO Painting: Basic Drawing: Basic Concepts and Issues Textual Analysis Materials: Printmaking Natural/Physical Science Elective Basic Sculpture 1 Humanities Course Writing and Rhetoric Workshop II 29 Credits

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SENIOR, YEAR FOUR Painting: Advanced Printmaking: Advanced Drawing: Advanced Painting or Printmaking: Advanced Senior Seminar (capstone) Art History Elective General Education Elective x2 Studio Elective outside PAPR 30 Credits

* Subject to changes. For up‑to‑date course requirements, please refer to the VCU Bulletin online (School of the Arts in Qatar).

PA I N T I N G

+

P R I N T M A K I N G

IN FOCUS FANOON CENTER FOR PRINTMEDIA RESEARCH The highlight of many exciting initiatives established by the Painting & Printmaking Department at VCUQatar is Fanoon: Center for Printmedia Research, an in-house printmaking publishing program. The program collaborates with local, regional, and international artists in the publication of print editions, artists’ books, and the further realization of research projects within printmaking. At its core is a unique opportunity for students to be mentored by visiting artists as they explore what printmaking can be in the 21st century.

Fanoon is dedicated to helping artists realize their vision in both traditional print mediums and new technologies. It also aims to expose student assistants to fresh processes and problem solving methods that will enrich and expand upon the knowledge they are developing in the Painting & Printmaking classroom. By hosting up to eight artists a year, Fanoon ensures diverse creative output while also keeping focus on regional practices in printmaking, as the first printmaking publishing program in the Middle East.

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+

P R I N T M A K I N G

113

Art History at VCUQatar is the only undergraduate degree program in the Gulf region offering a concentration in Islamic art. The program provides you with an extensive background in the historical interpretation and critical analysis of visual arts and architecture, studied from a global perspective.

  AH

Art at the Crossroads: As an Art History major, you are uniquely positioned to understand the interactions of visual art and thought between Islam, Asia, and the West. Through our knowledgeable faculty and rich course offerings, you will find that the analysis and interpretation of cultural discourse is not only a worthwhile scholarly pursuit, but one that shapes the future of an increasingly globalized society.

Art history is deeply valued in Qatar and throughout the Gulf. Access to leading scholars and lecturers, world-class museums, as well as the biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art, set VCUQatar apart as an ideal incubator for young minds eager to enter this dynamic field.

114

A R T

H I S T O R Y

‫‪ART‬‬ ‫‪HISTORY‬‬

‫تاريخ الفن‬ ‫تارخي الفن يف جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث يف قطر هو برناجم البكالوريوس‬ ‫الوحيد يف منطقة اخلليج الذي يقدم الفن اإلسالمي بشكل مكثف‪.‬‬

‫يوفر الربناجم خلفية واسعة يف التفسري التارخيي والتحليل النقدي للفنون‬ ‫البرصية والعمارة‪ ،‬والدراسة من منظور عالمي‪.‬‬

‫الفن يف مفرتق الطرق‪ :‬بتخصصك يف تارخي الفن‪ ،‬فأنت يف وضع فريد‬

‫لفهم التفاعالت بني الفنون البرصية والفكر بني اإلسالم وآسيا والغرب‪.‬‬ ‫سوف جتد ومن خالل أعضاء هيئة تدريسية ممزية ومقررات ثرية‬

‫بالمعلومات‪ ،‬أن التحليل وتفسري اخلطاب الثقايف ليس فقط ماسعي‬

‫علمية جديرة باالهتمام‪ ،‬ولكهنا تاسهم وبشكل مزتايد يف تشكيل مستقبل‬ ‫جمتمع معولم‪.‬‬

‫هناك قيمة عميقة لتارخي الفن يف قطر ومجيع أحناء اخلليج‪ .‬الوصول إىل‬

‫كبار العلماء والمحارضين والمتاحف عىل مستوى العالم‪ ،‬وكذلك منتدى‬ ‫محد بن خليفة للفن اإلسالمي الذي يقام كل سنتني مرة‪ ،‬كل ذلك جيعل‬

‫من جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث يف قطر حاضنة مثالية لعقول الشباب‬ ‫حترص عىل دخولهم هذا المجال احليوي‪.‬‬

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CLASSROOM WITHOUT WALLS

A strong education creates lifelong learners with enduring intellectual curiosity. In Art History, you develop the skills of visual literacy, historical interpretation, and critical analysis through direct, hands-on engagement outside the classroom walls. Our program provides a number of exciting opportunities for field study, both locally and abroad. By engaging with artwork at Qatar’s world-class museums, including the Museum of Islamic Art and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, you develop critical, object-based research skills valuable for future professional pursuits in a variety of fields.

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H I S T O R Y

Faculty-led field study trips to international artistic hubs allow you to learn firsthand about global visual culture. Faculty members with diverse areas of specialization (including Ottoman Turkey, the Classical worlds of Italy and Greece, the Mediterranean region of Europe, the Americas, and Asia) enhance and inform your experiential learning at sites of historical significance. You gain an appreciation for conditions that shaped the cultural movements, and the ways in which art and architecture define the fabric of unique societies. Most recently, our field trips have explored the Andalusian region of southern Spain, Sicily, and Rome.

117

“When students realize their roles and responsibilities in the production of knowledge, they grow to be critically informed and involved citizens of their communities and the world. For me, there is no greater satisfaction than knowing I played a role in this transformation.”

— R ADHA DAL AL, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, ART HISTORY

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FRESHMAN, YEAR ONE

JUNIOR, YEAR THREE

Introduction to Anthropology Art History Survey Focused Inquiry I and II Wonders of Technology History Elective Fine Arts Studio Elective Introduction to Contemporary Math Introduction to the University 32 Credits

Islamic Art & the West Before 1200 Islamic Art & the West 1200-1600 Islamic Art & the West 1600-1800 History Elective History or Religious Studies Elective Open Elective 30 Credits

SOPHOMORE, YEAR TWO Islamic Art Survey I and II Prehistoric & Ancient Art & Architecture History Elective History or Religious Studies Elective Fine Arts Studio Elective Writing & Rhetoric Workshop II Museums in the 21st Century Art Historical Methods Textual Analysis 30 Credits

118

SENIOR, YEAR FOUR Islamic Art & the West 1800-1900 Modern & Contemporary Art in the Middle East Senior Seminar in Art History History or Religious Studies Elective Open Elective Museum Internship Directed Research Project 30 Credits

* Subject to changes. For up‑to‑date course requirements, please refer to the VCU Bulletin online (School of the Arts in Qatar).

A R T

H I S T O R Y

IN FOCUS HAMAD BIN KHALIFA SYMPOSIUM ON ISLAMIC ART

An exciting highlight of VCUQatar’s Art History program is the biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art. As one of the most prestigious conferences in the field, it brings together internationally renowned experts to explore the visual arts and architecture of the Islamic world. Inaugurated in 2004, the conference has successfully fostered a tradition of collaboration between VCUQatar and our home campus, VCU School of the Arts in Richmond, through both faculty and student participation.

On both campuses, courses in Islamic art prepare the majors to develop visual literacy, critical thinking, and research skills in art history. The Symposium extends this classroom experience into the real world, where students have the unique opportunity to learn from cutting-edge research in a setting of importance to the discipline. To provide further experience in this academic forum, several students are selected to introduce speakers. According to VCUQatar student Reem Abou Ghazala, such an experience is transformative: “I never thought I would be able to speak in front of a large crowd, but going to the Islamic Art Symposium in

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H I S T O RY

Palermo taught me presentation skills and made me more confident. Meeting leading art historians who have published some of the most important scholarship in the field helped me imagine what my life might look like if I continue to work hard and dedicate myself to the study of art history.�

Furthermore, the conference venues, alternating between Doha and sites of key significance to Islamic heritage, provide students a chance to see firsthand the profound influence of this culture in a global context. Situated at various cultural crossroads, previous locations have included Doha, the beautiful Andalucian city of Cordoba in Spain, the historical capital of the Islamic Caliphate of Cordoba, and the city of Palermo, which was once the capital of the Emirate of Sicily in the 9th century.

The VCUQatar liberal arts and science courses help you gain knowledge that both informs and inspires your work.

  LAS

Beyond Basics: The Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) program at VCUQatar provides you with a highly comprehensive education that encourages you to view life from a variety of angles. This considered offering of courses develops your critical thinking, reading comprehension, and proficiency in math and science. Special topics courses in literature, history, and the social sciences are designed to spark your curiosity and help you acquire strong research and writing skills. Through your LAS classes, you come to see how interdisciplinary learning leads to greater possibilities and outcomes in your chosen major, and promotes intellectual, cultural, and social development.

Skills learned in LAS significantly prepare you for your future as a citizen of the world. Your studies provide proof that a truly successful education is a well-rounded one.

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LI B E R A L

A RTS

+ S C I E N C E S

‫‪LIBERAL‬‬ ‫‪ARTS +‬‬ ‫‪SCIENCES‬‬

‫الفنون والعلوم العامة‬ ‫يف المقررات العملية يف االستوديو‪ ،‬ميكنك تطوير أدوات من المهارات‬

‫اليت تاسعدك عىل حتقيق طموحاتك اإلبداعية؛ أما يف مقررات الفنون‬ ‫والعلوم العامة فأنت تكتسب المعرفة اليت ترثي وتلهم اعمالك‪.‬‬

‫ما وراء األاسسيات‪ :‬يقدم برناجم الفنون والعلوم العامة (‪ )LAS‬يف‬

‫جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث يف قطر جمموعة تعليمية اشملة للغاية‪ ،‬برناجما‬ ‫يشجعك عىل استعراض احلياة من جمموعة متنوعة من الزوايا‪ .‬وهذا‬

‫يشمل توفري مقررات تعمل عىل تطوير تفكريك الناقد‪ ،‬القراءة والفهم‪،‬‬

‫والكفاءة يف الرياضيات والعلوم‪ .‬تم تصميم مقررات مبوضوعات خاصة‬ ‫يف األدب‪ ،‬والتارخي‪ ،‬والعلوم االجتماعية الثارة فضولك‪ ،‬وماسعدتك‬

‫عىل اكتاسب مهارات عالية يف البحث والكتابة‪ .‬ستتمكن من خالل‬

‫هذه المقررات من رؤية كيف يؤدي التعليم متعدد التخصصات أل كرب‬ ‫االحتماالت والنتاجئ يف التخصص الذي قمت باختياره‪ ،‬ويعزز العقول‬ ‫واألفكار والثقافات والتنمية االجتماعية الاشملة‪.‬‬

‫ستعمل المهارات المكتسبة يف برناجم الفنون والعلوم العامة (‪)LAS‬‬

‫عىل إعدادك وبشكل كبري لمستقبلك كمواطن يف هذا العالم‪.‬‬

‫ستكون دراستك دليال عىل أن التعليم الناجح حقا هو التعليم الاشمل‬ ‫لكل اجلوانب‪.‬‬

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“I love being able to walk through the building and see the work of my students and colleagues. This urgency to create fills me with awe and fuels my own creativity, both as a teacher, and as a writer. Being part of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program allows me to tap into this creativity in the classroom, to create a context for what is being created.”

— PAT TY PAINE GIBBONS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, LIBER AL ARTS & SCIENCES

LAS COURSES Behavioral/Social Sciences introduce psychological and sociological theories, concepts and methodologies that students can use to enhance their understanding of themselves, society, and the use of behavioral and social science techniques in design.

Mathematics courses offer specific problem-solving skills with an emphasis on algebraic and geometric concepts. Topics include growth and symmetry, optimization problems, and mathematics with applications in areas of social choice.

English and Literature courses provide students with an opportunity for in-depth reading and analysis of literature in a variety of genres and considerable practice doing researched writing.

Natural/Physical Sciences introduce students to natural science concepts used in everyday technology. Topics include energy, measurements, material properties, heat, optics, electricity, magnetism, mechanics and flotation.

Focused Inquiry courses teach written communication, oral proficiency, critical thinking, information fluency, ethics, social responsibility and literacy.

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LI B E RA L

A RTS

+ S C I E N C E S

IN FOCUS THE DONKEY LADY AND OTHER TALES FROM THE ARABIAN GULF The Liberal Arts and Sciences program helps you make connections between your creative work and your academic studies. You will discover the university presents many exciting interdisciplinary opportunities. No project better illustrates the success of such opportunities than The Donkey Lady and Other Tales from the Arabian Gulf, an anthology illustrated and designed at VCUQatar.

This book, which grew out of a Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) grant project entitled “Orality to Image: Traditional Qatari Narratives and Visual Media,” aims to preserve and re-present traditional Qatari culture by adapting cross-generational folk tales through the use of text and graphics.

The project was collaborative—involving faculty and students from Qatar University and VCUQatar, and interdisciplinary—encompassing both the humanities and the arts.

In addition to being a cultural text, The Donkey Lady and Other Tales from the Arabian Gulf also introduces a young readership to the visual arts in a national context. Featuring mischievous goats and magical fish, the book offers a diverse and delightful collection of illustrated folk tales from the Middle East.

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L I B E R A L

A R T S

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S C I E N C E S

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   HONORS PROGRAM The VCUQatar Honors Program is designed to engage students who excel academically and are eager to seek learning and intellectual opportunities beyond the normal curriculum.

Within the scope of learning gained through the Honors Program, you develop a foundation for academic excellence that sets the stage for lifelong learning.

The Honors Program offers an expanded curriculum that allows you to explore exciting ideas in an intellectually and artistically stimulating environment.

The curriculum includes the completion of 24 honors credit hours that can be earned in a number of ways. Students may complete custom-designed honor components contained The Honors Program is composed within regular courses, develop of students drawn from every with faculty a new honors major program on campus, component in a pre-existing creating a diverse community course, or work with an indithat encourages a lively and vidual faculty member through involved exchange of ideas and independent study. perspectives. Once admitted into the program, you receive personal Students who complete the guidance from dedicated rigorous requirements of the advisors, while our professors program are eligible to graduate challenge you with unique with University Honors, a special research projects designed to distinction for academic excelspark your curiosity. Most of all, lence and achievement. the Honors Program seeks to foster self-exploration, to help cultivate your interests and talents, and to deepen your worldview.

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LIBRARIES AT VCUQATAR

LINKING INFORMATION TO INNOVATION As a student at VCUQatar, you have access to the first academic library in Education City and the extensive collections housed within. This comprehensive environment, staffed by knowledgeable and helpful research specialists, promotes lifelong scholarship, creativity, and intellectual exchange.

Our collections, which include the Materials Library, Gaming Lab, and a variety of audiovisual and digital tools, provide a network of resources developed to enrich your studies and artistic practice. In addition, the library hosts the annual Student Art in the Library Competition, providing a platform for student work in a supportive educational environment, and furthers alumni development through outreach and collaboration.

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P R O C E S S

L I B R A R I E S

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MATERIALS LIBRARY

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P R O C E S S

L I B R A R I E S

SOURCING THE SUSTAINABLE In the Materials Library, you have access to a broad range of material samples and supplementary publications. With an unusual and inspiring archive that includes everything from a selection of sustainable materials to day-glo fun fur, this resource informs the design process and enriches your studio education. By focusing specifically on materials available in Qatar, the Materials Library helps you match the capabilities of our educational environment with the most appropriate and conscientious methods of production.

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TECHNOLOGY + STUDIO SPACE

RANGE OF RESOURCES VCUQatar provides access to cutting edge technology and all-purpose studio space. When you begin your studies, you are loaned a computer outfitted with a suite of industry standard design software to enhance your learning and strengthen your creative output. Studios and classrooms are technology-enabled, allowing for a variety of innovative instructional practices. And our jewelry studio provides an ideal setting for courses in metalworking and design.

VCUQatar strives to place student artists and designers in an atmosphere that closely mirrors that of the professional world. Invested studio spaces create the core of this learning environment and allow for the flexible and personalized development of fruitful design and art practices.

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P R O C E S S

T E C H N O L O G Y + S T U D I O

S P A C E

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WOODSHOP + DIGITAL FABRICATION LAB

EVOLVING CAPABILITIES Access to our state-of-the-art facilities and training on the tools within provide a conceptual and technical advantage in your design practice and creative output.

In our woodshop, you receive instruction in the safe and efficient use of a range of equipment and gain skills in traditional fabrication as it applies to a variety of disciplines.

In the Digital Fabrication Lab, you learn to translate digital data into tangible objects of all kinds. Through training on the latest in rapid prototyping technology, including 3D printers, laser cutters, scanners, and milling machines, you gain a competitive edge in the art and design fields you seek to enter upon graduation.

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P R O C E S S

W O O D S H O P + D I G I T A L

F A B R I C A T I O N

L A B

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PAINTING + PRINTMAKING STUDIOS

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P R O C E S S

PA I N T I N G + P R I N T M A K I N G

S T U D I O S

BENEATH THE SURFACE VCUQatar’s Painting & Printmaking studios enable you to explore how the mediums can be mastered and translated across disciplines. Including drawing and painting studios, etching, lithography, and screen-printing studios, digital printing facilities, and book-binding equipment, these resources promise exciting creative opportunities as you pursue your arts education.

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INNOVATIVE MEDIA STUDIO

ADDING NEW DIMENSIONS

Comprised of photography and time-based facilities, our Innovative Media Studio introduces you to new technologies in image-making, video, and interactive media. With professional grade equipment including a green screen, a photography studio, numerous still and video cameras, lighting kits, and editing tools, instruction in the use of this resource elevates your art-making and encourages your experimentation.

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P R O C E S S

I N N O V AT I V E

M E D I A

S TU D I O

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RESEARCH + ENTREPRENEURSHIP

FROM KNOWLEDGE TO PROGRESS Whether you are a student trying to answer a complex research question, or a graduate starting out in the professional world, the Center for Research, Design & Entrepreneurship acts as a resource and guide within the university.

The Center focuses on one fundamental objective: to positively impact the development of Qatar, and does so by connecting you directly to new opportunities and challenges relating to the country’s rapid social, economic, environmental, and urban transformation.

The Center has, to date, supported a wide range of critical projects and partnerships. Among its recent successes is a collaborative Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) project funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). This project saw students and faculty from VCUQatar and Qatar University collaborating to develop, translate, and illustrate folk tales, which culminated in the publication of the anthology, The Donkey Lady and Other Tales from the Arabian Gulf. In honor of their achievement, the UREP team had the distinction of receiving third place amongst 88 submissions at Qatar National Research Fund’s fifth UREP competition.

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P R O C E S S

R E S E A R C H + E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P

VISUALIZING THE FUTURE In addition to its support for research, the Center works to further your entrepreneurial mindset by fostering a culture that adapts to change, and values creativity, risk-taking and excellence. Through course offerings like Business of Design and collaborations with stakeholders in the community and beyond, you are prepared for practical and longterm application of your skills in a professional role.

One recent initiative, the Young Entrepreneur Series, connects alumni with sponsors who commission design services while helping to build local design capacity and supporting education. The program provides a dedicated space for selected alumni to support and mentor their entrepreneurial ambitions. During their 12-month sponsorship, exceptional VCUQatar graduates receive mentorship, business planning guidance, and technical training. Sponsors provide real world design projects and a competitive starting salary. As part of their commitment to the program, sponsors agree that a percentage of the graduates’ time can be spent on personal development and training to enhance their education.

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EXHIBITIONS AT VCUQATAR

ELEVATE AND INSPIRE

At VCUQatar, you will benefit from a dynamic exhibition program that puts you in close contact with the work of compelling contemporary artists and designers. The program intends to reflect, complement, and elevate the diversity of your art and design studies, while also contributing to the artistic life of Qatar and the region.

The VCUQatar Gallery hosts a variety of solo and group exhibitions throughout the academic year. As an open forum that encourages exchange, debate, and dialogue, the gallery feeds directly into the life of the university.

Beyond the gallery walls, there are a number of unique opportunities to display and view work both within the VCUQatar building or at off-site locations. Individual, class, and group work are regularly showcased in departmental areas, and a Student Art in the Library Competition is held annually. Members of the VCUQatar community also exhibit at off-site locations, often through collaborations and partnerships with outside organizations in Qatar and abroad, and this is considered a vital part of the creative life of the university. One example of this is the annual faculty exhibition, a juried and curated show of work, which highlights the creative diversity of faculty members and the eclectic range of materials and approaches involved in their individual art and design disciplines.

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P E R S P E C T I V E S

E X H I B I T I O N S

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LECTURES AT VCUQATAR

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P E R S P E C T I V E S

L E C T U R E S

EMPOWER BY EXAMPLE

“Crossing Boundaries,” VCUQatar’s popular lecture series, features globally recognized artists, designers and scholars, and intends to highlight the cross-disciplinary nature of art and design practice and research.

Additional lectures are organized in association with partners such as the Qatar Museums Authority, whichhas collaborated with the university to present a number of lunchtime presentations by world-renowned visiting artists.

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WORKSHOPS + CONFERENCES

INTERACTIVE INSTRUCTION

To complement the full program of lectures and exhibitions, each department incorporates visiting scholars, artists, and designers into its curriculum. Through these opportunities, and other initiatives aimed to further enrich the learning environment at VCUQatar, you and your classmates participate in workshops and collaborate directly with esteemed invited guests.

CREATE AND CONNECT In addition to an annual public events program, VCUQatar hosts the biennial design conference, Tasmeem, which brings to Doha international designers, artists, academics, and industry professionals for a week of innovation and dialogue.

During Tasmeem, you take part in workshops with peers from the home campus and regional universities, and discover firsthand the value of intensive collaboration and creative output. Over the years, the ambitious themes of Tasmeem have gained the university widespread attention and praise, while fostering sustainable university-community partnerships that enhance the educational, economic, and cultural vitality of Qatar.

Additionally, VCUQatar co-sponsors the biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art with Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts and Qatar Foundation. The conference is held in Doha and various locations of historical significance to Islamic art and design. VCUQatar students majoring in Art History have the opportunity to attend and introduce distinguished speakers.

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P E R S P E C T I V E S

W O R K S H O P S + C O N F E R E N C E S

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STUDENT SUPPORT + INVOLVEMENT

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P E R S P E C T I V E S

S T U D E N T

S U P P O R T

A STUDENT-CENTERED CULTURE

VCUQatar’s Student Affairs Office seeks to promote community, encourage engagement, and help you become a contributing citizen in a global society through programs, services, and activities. Counseling services are offered and focus on the intersection of student well‑being, personal development, and academic success.

You also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of extra-curricular programs at VCUQatar, including the Student Government Association, basketball team, Desi Club, and Qatari Student Association. Students who display qualities of excellence, both in the classroom and amongst peers, may be selected for various leadership opportunities in conjunction with partner universities at HBKU. Additionally, Student Affairs hosts regular Health and Wellness events, and a monthly “karak hour” to generate friendship and cooperation within the educational community.

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INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES As Qatar gains attention on the world stage, its students need to be both ambassadors and interpreters of culture.

Assuming a significant international role in art and design education and research, VCUQatar organizes a variety of study abroad experiences. Through these programs, you have the opportunity to learn in a global context, work with students from international universities, and share the cultural heritage of the Gulf region. Additionally, service-learning trips focus on using design thinking to aid communities in need, and exchange programs with the home campus in Richmond, Virginia build connections and shared experience between the two branches of Virginia Commonwealth University.

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P E R S P E C T I V E S

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

E X P E R I E N C E

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INTERNSHIPS + PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ON-SITE EXPERIENCE

Internships provide hands-on experience in a professional art or design environment. These opportunities enable you to assist and learn from specialists in your field in settings that include architectural firms, museums, design studios, and beyond. VCUQatar’s internships form part of the core curriculum and all students are expected to undertake a 120-hour placement, often in their final year. While internships are generally unpaid, they may lead to sponsorship or employment after graduation. Placements are managed by the faculty internship coordinator with contracts, reporting documents and timesheets to ensure the highest professional standards are maintained.

Recent internships opportunities include: Qatar Museums Authority, Al Jazeera, Qatar Foundation, Saatchi and Saatchi, Art Dubai, Art Abu Dhabi, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Qatar Petroleum, Ras Gas, Shell Qatar, Qatari Diar, Lusail Consultants, LLC, Jean Nouvel Design, Saks Fifth Avenue, Versace, Vivienne Westwood.

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I N T E R N S H I P S

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THE CULMINATION

The BFA and MFA Exhibition is the most significant institutional exhibition opportunity for students at VCUQatar, showcasing the work of all graduating students and marking the completion of your university experience. This event enables you to present yourself as an artist or designer, network, and create potential links for future career opportunities. A publication is produced to accompany the exhibition, and an opening reception is held as part of the wider graduation event celebrations.

BFA+MFA EXHIBITION AND FASHION SHOW

For students in the Fashion Design program, VCUQatar’s Annual Fashion Show is both a formative and culminating event, showcasing the work of sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and launching the latter from university life into successful careers.

This celebration of fashion brings together spectators, friends, and fashion enthusiasts from the region, not only to view and admire the collections, but also for the vibrant atmosphere of this grand showcase.

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BUILDING A LEGACY

VCUQatar graduates are pursuing successful careers within the government, nonprofit and private industries in Qatar and around the world. Many of our graduates have gone on to establish their own businesses, thereby contributing to the development of the small and medium enterprise culture in Qatar.

ALUMNI

As a former VCUQatar student, you are automatically a member of a unique international network of creative individuals from over 33 nationalities with a broad range of design disciplines—the VCUQatar Alumni Network.

In addition to opportunities available through the Center for Research, Design & Entrepreneurship, our alumni can enjoy a number of benefits and services, which are managed and delivered through our Alumni Relations Office. This dedicated office encourages alumni to share news, achievements, and to create close links between VCUQatar and former students.

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W HOTEL DOHA SINCE GRADUATING IN 2013. CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE 24TH MEN’S HANDBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AS UNIFORM COORDINATOR, SHE IS ADDING EXPERTISE IN MATERIAL SOURCING, GARMENT MANUFACTURING, AND BRANDING TO HER ALREADY IMPRESSIVE RESUME.

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FA S H I O N & I N T E R I O R D E S I G N ‘ 1 3

RABAB ABDULLA RABAB ABDULLA HAS NO SHORTAGE OF TALENT OR ENERGY—PORTIONS OF HER SENIOR COLLECTION WERE SHOWCASED AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK AND SHE HAS PRESENTED A FULL COLLECTION AT THE

DAWOOD ANWARI

GRAPHIC DESIGN ‘13

GRAPHIC DESIGN GRADUATE, DAWOOD ANWARI, IS EMPLOYED BY THE QATAR-BASED ADVERTISING AGENCY, ADABISC. CURRENTLY WORKING AS A DESIGNER & GAME PRODUCER, DAWOOD CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO TWO OF THE COMPANY’S LATEST PROJECTS: DEVELOPING BRAND IDENTITY FOR

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JUNIVERSE, AN EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT CENTER FOR KIDS; AND WORKING ON GAME DESIGN AND USER EXPERIENCE FOR VIRTUOCITY, AN ENTERTAINMENT CENTER FOR TEENS AND ADULTS.

M FA I N D E S I G N ‘ 1 4 GRAPHIC DESIGN ‘10

MARYAM AL-HOMAID AFTER GRADUATING IN 2010 WITH A BA IN GRAPHIC DESIGN, MARYAM AL-HOMAID SPENT A YEAR WORKING FOR RASGAS. BUT A DESIRE TO FURTHER HER EDUCATION LED HER BACK TO VCUQATAR’S MASTER’S PROGRAM IN DESIGN. HER THESIS PROJECT, PERSONIFIED, EXPLORED THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF QATAR THROUGH INTERACTIVE DESIGN OBJECTS. NOW A DESIGNER FOR THE ARAB ENGINEERING BUREAU, SHE’S EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH AND LEARN FROM INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS.

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HEND ALMOUGHNI FA S H I O N D E S I G N ‘ 0 2

Seeking Fresh Challenges: Hend Almoughni is a member of VCUQatar’s very first graduating class, completing her BA in Fashion Design in 2002. In seeking out challenging opportunities that add both depth and worth to her abilities as a designer, Hend’s postgraduate path has taken her far—she has worked in garment manufacturing in Qatar, studied business in the U.S., collaborated with VCUQatar’s own Center for Research, Design & Entrepreneurship, and received Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Textile Technology from the University of Manchester. While Hend’s education has

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endowed her with in-depth technical knowledge of textile functions and properties, she is quick to highlight the integral role design thinking has played in implementing her ideas, and enabling her success.

What drew you to fashion?

VCUQatar didn’t open until a year after I finished high school. During that year, I sewed more than I have in my whole life; it was like I found a reason to attend the university.

Design was something I liked and spent hours doing, so I joined the school. My dad especially was supportive, but not everyone in my family was sure about art school.

They wondered if it was certified, if it was sustainable as a career, and they worried I was training to be a tailor. But my parents were always telling me: you need to do what you like to do; and even when I had some challenges finding work opportunities right out of school, I still believed in the value of my education. I continue believe that it was the right path.

Describe your path after graduating from VCUQatar.

I started out in a garment factory for uniforms, as a designer. It was fascinating for me to see how things are made; we made clothes in school, on a small scale, but it’s a different experience to see the full production cycle. From there, I went to the States for a business internship at Gap International. I did that for six months, and afterwards joined Fitch, the design company in Doha, as a client manager. I was the interface between the designers and the client. Again, a different experience, away from cutting and sewing, but I think at its core it was design—the business side of design.

Then I received a scholarship to do a Master’s in Textile Technology in the UK, in Manchester. This didn’t come by chance; I worked hard to look for another opportunity at that stage in my career. I realized, with the various experiences I had, that I wanted to get a more technical background.

At the time I graduated from VCUQatar, the opportunities were not that established yet in this country. I saw a big need to combine design with a bit of technical understanding in the production of textiles specifically, so I chose to study textile technology.

After completing my master’s degree, I received another scholarship from the University of Manchester to do my PhD, which I just finished a year ago. In my doctoral work, I looked at moisture management in materials. In the heat especially, material is a barrier that plays a critical role in how sweat transfers to cool you down.

If the material efficiently functions in that regard, your body temperature doesn’t elevate. This becomes really critical when it comes to people in the field, like workers, military personnel, athletes, and medical professionals—moisture management is key for wound healing, for example.

Tell us about your return to Qatar.

I returned to look for local opportunities. I’m hoping to build on my background in design and textile technology, and I think somehow this works as an advantage for me in that I am able control both aesthetics and function through informed solutions. Also, I see the need for this kind of knowledge—we are in a hot environment and clothing is a big factor in how we interact with this environment. So I’m trying to target research opportunities, and to disseminate some of the knowledge I’ve accumulated to come up with relevant local solutions. Regionally, this line of research is new, so the biggest challenge is to find the interest in people, find my circle, and take the first steps to establish something that will be of value.

How do you describe yourself? As a designer, a scientist, or engineer…?

I’m a designer, with a textile science background. I still design. I made the jacket I’m wearing. I still go to the fabric souq. I still take my sewing machine with me wherever I travel.

I do lots of painting; so I still have my designer’s “toolbox”, but now it has a wider scope.

Design is a process that is embedded in everything we do. I learned this more so when I did my technical studies—I realized that what I was doing was design, but that my instructors were simply calling it something else.

A designer’s brain is essential to any process, but especially necessary in the research process where you take full ownership of your plan’s direction. You draw out your plan and this is what we did as designers at school.

Our projects are problems that we seek the solutions for.

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HADEER OMAR GRAPHIC DESIGN ‘10

HANEEN AL SHAREEF GRAPHIC DESIGN ‘13

Pursuing Their Passions: As alumni supported by the Young Entrepreneur Series, design team members Haneen Al Shareef and Hadeer Omar have accomplished a great deal in a relatively short period: they helped develop the widely acclaimed ‘One Second’ National Road Safety program for Qatar’s Ministry of the Interior, curated “Trifold,” an exhibition of complex origami works by Education City security officers, and are preparing to present at conferences of national and international scope in the coming year. Their collaboration exemplifies

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what VCUQatar’s Center for Research, Design & Entrepreneurship and partnering corporate sponsors had in mind when they established the YES program: support for designers who strive for creativity, embrace risk, and achieve excellence.

While the rewards of this collaboration have been great, perhaps the most beneficial aspect of their shared professional work is the inspiration it’s provided for their individual entrepreneurial ambitions. Below, Haneen and Hadeer share some wisdom and talk about their plans for the future.

Talk about your work as a team.

Haneen: It started with the ‘One Second’ campaign. When we began, I was a fresh graduate and Hadeer had some more experience professionally. We look at things in different ways—I’m more into concept design and have a systematic approach.

Hadeer brings the creative part; she’s an out-of-the-box thinker. Together we were able to conduct research and use it in productive and successful ways. We collaborated with psychologists at Qatar University, lead focus groups …

Hadeer: I actually think the differences between our ways of thinking are small.

Since we have the same background, the same education at VCUQatar, we understand how the other approaches a problem and how to create solutions. We have the same language to talk about things, and the same level of understanding. We’ve been lucky, because the projects here are unique and different. They have social importance.

What are your individual interests/projects as designers?

Hadeer: I went straight to Alexandria—where I come from—after graduating and began my own design studio, KROKI. I thought I could use what I learned to help my country and change what it means to be an “artist” or “designer” there. It was important for me to work locally and provide design services at reasonable prices, for entrepreneurs trying to reach the market. Now that I’m back in Doha, I run KROKI as an online creative platform aimed at helping entrepreneurs grow and prosper. I’d like to get my Master’s degree next, but most important for me is to never design in a bubble.

I always want to be part of the process.

(an international organization that creates opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities), I know this is the area of design I want to pursue. My studio experience has provided the research skills and structure that will allow me to do this work in a fresh and effective way.

Most recently I’m looking into how design can be used to teach those with special needs and continuing my involvement with Best Buddies.

What lessons have you learned since graduation?

Haneen: I’ve learned to be realistic about society’s perception of design. Design is so much more than just being good at Photoshop, but you can’t change opinions overnight. This can be an obstacle, but we never put aside our creativity. We keep looking for new ways to use our skills and strengthen our field.

Any advice for new students entering VCUQatar?

Hadeer: It may sound cheesy, but it’s true: you should search for what you love and find your motivation. Also, with all the competition and technology you will face after graduation, it’s important to be updated.

You need to create your own competition, find your own path, and keep growing.

Haneen: I’m most interested in social design projects, in serving people. After collaborations with Hadeer on “Trifold” and working with the Doha chapter of Best Buddies

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DIMA MASOUD I N T E R I O R & FA S H I O N D E S I G N ‘ 1 0

Discovering New Strengths: In the few years that have passed since she graduated from VCUQatar as a double major with degrees in interior design and fashion design, Dima Masoud has flourished in a variety of professional roles. She first worked for the Doha Film Institute, then spent time as a freelance designer before moving on to a position within VCUQatar’s Center for Research, Design & Entrepreneurship. After that, she became part of a team assisting internationally renowned graffiti artist, el Seed, on a Doha-based public art project.

While working for DFI, Dima developed a

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taste for exhibition design, and this is what led her to pursue a master’s degree in the field at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City.

Dima embraces possibilities and enthusiastically explores new arenas (and countries) where she can stretch her wings and improve her skills as a designer. As a current intern for the New York-based design firm, Tangram, she is eager for what’s next—and hopes to find it in the realm of Middle Eastern-focused museum exhibition design.

How did your design education at VCUQatar help prepare you for the professional world?

How did you decide to go to graduate school in New York? How is studying there unique?

Design education is really all about problem solving. When I look back at my time at VCUQatar, I realize the number of skills I learned there now set me apart from others in my field. Those skills may be anything from design to presentation. A great designer will not only have the ability to design something great, but they should also learn to “sell” their ideas. The fact that I was a double major allowed me to apply what I learned in one field to the other.

I found that I had developed a range of architectural drawing skills in my interior design program that I was able to apply to drafting patterns in my fashion design classes. At the end of the day, any skill you learn, in any field or major, will find its way in the professional path you embark on.

Going to graduate school was something that I was planning on for quite some time. I got to a point in my career where I had spent 3 years in the field of exhibition design, working on traveling exhibits and kiosk spaces. This stirred my interest to learn more about exhibition design for museums. The program

What were some of the highlights of your work with el Seed?

Working on the "eL Seed in Doha" project was an extraordinary experience. We spent four months painting 52 walls in the tunnels of Salwa Road. I recall the day I came to understand what this project meant to me as an Arab woman. Having lived in Doha permanently for the past 12 years, it was the first time I had seen efforts to support Arab artists. While working on the project, I was able to reconnect with and see the beauty of our heritage. eL Seed’s work was fresh and beautiful and I felt fortunate to be a part of it. During this time of great focus on contemporary design and art in Qatar, I felt the project was a great way to show that Arab culture can be modern without discarding our heritage and identities.

at FIT is one that encompasses a real-life workplace, and is unique in that all the project briefs are from actual clients.

So you learn to work with real clients and you get real feedback, all in New York City—home to some of the greatest museums in the world.

What's next for you?

What are you excited to work on?

I am currently working in New York and have had the chance to meet great people through the program at FIT. I am most excited about getting my start in museum exhibition design; there’s a lot currently happening in Middle Eastern galleries and museums. During my time at FIT, I dedicated my thesis research to cultural identity and developed a comprehensive interactive museum exhibition about Middle Eastern textiles. I am interested in developing exhibitions that take visitors on a journey of learning through interactivity.

The possibilities are endless with this degree, and for that I am excited.

Do you have any advice for incoming freshmen at VCUQatar?

My advice to upcoming freshmen is to take risks and experiment with everything. See and try new things—this is the only way you will learn anything new. And lastly, look at things from other fields or disciplines of design.

A simple line or shape may become inspiration for the most unexpected design element.

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VISIT + APPLY

GET ACQUAINTED

ADMISSIONS CHECKLIST

The best way to get to know VCUQatar is to experience our campus for yourself.

By attending the university’s public programming or by scheduling a visit through the Office of Admissions, you gain a keener understanding of our academic community and educational mission and are better prepared to begin the application process.

Personal statement Letter of recommendation Official academic transcripts English language proficiency test exam scores Copy of passport In-person interviews may be requested

BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY

FOR BFA ONLY

All undergraduate applicants apply through an online application system and only completed applications are considered.

Admission is highly competitive and admissions decisions are made by committee and based on assessment of submitted applications.

FOR ALL UNDERGRADUATE APPLICANTS

Art portfolio FOR BA IN ART HISTORY ONLY Essay Official SAT or ACT scores Once admitted, those students pursuing a BFA degree are placed within the Art Foundation program and apply for admission into a major upon successful completion of the program. The BA candidates in Art History begin coursework for their chosen major in their first year.

More online: www.qatar.vcu.edu/undergraduate-admissions

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‫تقدم اآلن‬

‫تعرف‬ ‫أفضل طريقة للتعرف على جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث في‬

‫متطلبات القبول (لجميع المتقدمين لدرجة البكالوريوس)‬ ‫بيان شخصي‬

‫قطر هي تجربة الحرم الجامعي لدينا بنفسك‪ .‬من خالل‬

‫خطاب توصية‬

‫حضور أحد برامج الجامعة العامة أو عن طريق تحديد موعد‬

‫كشف العالمات المدرسي الرسمي‬

‫للزيارة من خالل مكتب القبول‪ ،‬ستحصل على فهم أكثر‬

‫نتائج اختبار إتقان اللغة اإلنجليزية‬

‫عن مجتمعنا األكاديمي ورسالتنا التعليمية وستكون أكثر‬

‫صورة من جواز السفر‬

‫استعدادا للبدء في عملية التقديم‪.‬‬

‫من الممكن طلب المقابلة الشخصية‬

‫ابدأ رحلتك‬ ‫تقدم جامعة فرجينيا كومنولث في قطر العديد من البرامج‬

‫متطلبات القبول (للمتقدمين لدرجة ‪ BFA‬فقط)‬ ‫ملف األعمال الفنية للمتقدم‬

‫بما في ذلك بكالوريوس الفنون الجميلة (‪ )BFA‬في كل من‬ ‫تصميم األزياء‪ ،‬وتصميم الغرافيك‪ ،‬والتصميم الداخلي‬ ‫والرسم والطباعة‪ ،‬وعلى بكالوريوس اآلداب (‪ )BA‬في‬ ‫تاريخ الفن‪ .‬على جميع المتقدمين تقديم طلباتهم من‬ ‫خالل نظام التقديم اإللكتروني وسيتم النظر في الطلبات‬ ‫المكتملة فقط‪ .‬هناك تنافس قوي على القبول الجامعي‬ ‫وتقوم لجنة مؤهلة باتخاذ قرارات القبول استنادا إلى تقييم‬ ‫الطلبات المقدمة‪.‬‬

‫متطلبات القبول (للمتقدمين لتاريخ الفن ‪ BA‬فقط)‬ ‫مقال‬ ‫نتائج امتحانات ال ‪ SAT‬أو ال ‪ACT‬‬ ‫بمجرد القبول ‪ ،‬سيتم انضمام الطلبة المقبولين في برنامج‬ ‫الفنون الجميلة (‪ )BFA‬إلى برنامج الفن التأسيسي وسيتمكن‬ ‫الطالب من التقديم إلى التخصص المطلوب عند استكمال هذا‬ ‫البرنامج بنجاح‪ .‬سيبدأ الطلبة المقبولون في برنامج تاريخ الفن‬ ‫(‪ )BA‬مباشرة في دراسة مقررات هذا التخصص ومنذ سنتهم‬ ‫الجامعية األولى‪.‬‬ ‫للمزيد من المعلومات‪:‬‬ ‫‪www.qatar.vcu.edu/undergraduate-admissions‬‬

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A LTERED STAT ES / MFA IN D E SIG N

V I RGI NI A COMMONWEALT H U N IVE R SIT Y IN Q ATAR

VCUQatar’s MFA in Design aims to produce globally-minded design professionals capable of great flexibility and focus in a range of fields and industries. While those entering into the program have backgrounds in various disciplines, a curiosity and passion for design ties members of this educational community together and drives them forward.

At VCUQatar, we believe education should alter your perspective, expand your critical process, and produce the greatest possible outcomes.

Change your mind. Change the world.

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A LTERED STATES

As the first program of its kind in the Gulf region, the MFA in Design at VCUQatar is shaping the future of design in Qatar and beyond. Qatar’s proximity to diverse and influential cultures, as well as its own unique context, provides students with points of inspiration for their own work. And because the country is deeply invested in growing a strong research community, opportunities for collaboration and project development are exciting and extensive.

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MFA candidates are exposed to new theories, methods, materials, tools, and research practices. Their abilities and interests are cultivated in a collaborative studio setting and students have the opportunity to apply their developing expertise to the needs of various communities in Doha and beyond. In short, the program asks students to alter the environments around them by using their skills as reflexive, reflective thinkers.

A LTERED STATES

183

A I S HA A L SOWAIDI

F in d in g H is t o r y in t h e F u t u r e

The pace of growth and development in Qatar has shifted the atmosphere and scale of the countr y. This project blends past experiences and behaviors with contemporary design through the exploration of objects commonly used in the Qatari household.

These objects revisit fading behaviors and traditions while incorporating the modern city into the home through the use of materials. Out of experimentation with human senses, behavior, and forms, grows a series of projects that deal with and traces of time.

T H ES I S P ROJECT

185

RA NI A CHAMSINE

Las h e s t o As h e s : E x p lo r in g t h e H i d d e n D i m e n s i o n s o f H u m a n H a i r

Hair is power, beauty, and seduction. It reflects ethnicity and religion, and is even a canvas for self-expression. A key feature in defining identity and social status, it holds the essence of our individuality. However, once removed from its original and natural setting—the epidermis—hair is seen as waste, and often evokes disgust. This project is an exploration of human hair, which, particularly in the Arab-Islamic region, carries great significance and raises many religious, cultural, and gender issues. Through design, and informed by critical design theory, this corporeal material is reused and re-presented as a means of interrogating the references, symbolism, and connotations of hair both in, and out of, its natural setting.

T H ES I S P ROJECT

187

CORBY J. ELF ORD

Op p o r t u n it ie s fo r Su s t a in a b le U s e o f th e C a m e l i n Q a ta r

As Qatar modernizes, the need for camels is greatly diminishing; herds have reduced in numbers and are now confined to enclosures.

Overall, neglect of this valuable resource means that the camel is threatened with gradual extinction.

Currently, there is a need to address problems concerning sustainable development in Qatar by taking action and investing in existing natural heritage to develop the use of indigenous animals like the camel. Through a review of past and present use of the native dromedary, a new form of sustainable agritourism will be developed—a type of farm where visitors can learn about, and interact with, traditional animals. These farms will create a market for a range of camel products, thereby transforming the national symbol of the past into an icon of a sustainable future.

T H ES I S P ROJECT

189

ES RA K A Z EM Beyo n d t h e St a t e d F u n c t io n : Sh o w c as i n g , th ro u gh ev e r y d ay o b j e c ts , s oci al obsta c le s impose d o n Q a t a r i fe m a le yo u t h

This critical design project showcases and critiques the obstacles and pressures Qatari culture can impose upon female youth. It highlights the effects of social perception and judgment, family authority, and gender favoritism. It intends to first, stimulate awareness, and then, through objects, reflect the results of such pressures back to society in a humorous, yet complex, way. These objects are hybrid accessories and fashion items embedded with meaning to arouse curiosity, invite questions, and stimulate thought.

Through the design of these appealing, high quality, fully functional personal objects, the project highlights the importance of the wearer’s individuality and the value of this often thwarted individuality to the future of Qatar.

T H ES I S P ROJECT

191

A LI A K HAIRAT Not Anot h e r Sp a c e s u it : F u s in g Te c h no l o g y & I n d i ge n o u s S o l u ti o n s t o Faci l i t a te Ther mal Com fo r t

Working up to 60 hours a week, migrant workers in Qatar fall victim to heat stress and dozens are hospitalized daily, especially during the summer months. Since clothes are essentially a “second skin�, affecting the rate at which heat is exchanged between the body and its surroundings, a concept garment was designed to improve thermal comfort. Applying knowledge of human physiology, low-tech, indigenous heat-management systems are combined with new technologies to create a two-layer suit that optimizes heat exchange mechanisms. The suit enhances radiation, convection, and evaporation with its snugfitting inner wicking layer and loose-cut outer shell, while using strategically placed vents, perforations, and Phase Change Material (PCM) packs. Using fiction as a medium of social commentar y and critical design, the concept suit borrows from the superhero aesthetic to present the migrant worker in a new light.

The suit denotes power, symbolizing the superhuman feat these workers perform and their true worth to the economy.

T H ES I S P ROJECT

193

A L HUS S EIN WANAS N a r r o w in g t h e G a p B e t we e n Im a gi n a r y & R e a l A r ti f a c ts : A Pr ocess for Making & F ilm in g D ie g e t ic Pr o t o t yp e s

Critical Design uses designed artifacts as a critique of consumer culture. However, the complex nature of these artifacts prompted designers to focus on the artifact and present it in an informative, but relatively isolated, fashion. The theoretical framework for this project is drawn from a similar, yet more recent, design criterion called Design Fiction.

The artifacts of Design Fiction are called diegetic prototypes: fictional prototypes that function in the social sphere of a film’s structure. This research develops a method for analyzing and creating artifacts, in reference to psychoanalysis theories on the human psyche and perception of objects. It then explores scenarios for presenting these ar tifacts as diegetic prototypes by exploring and integrating the disciplines of systems/ parametric design, digital fabrication, music, animation, and film. The scenarios function as micro-narratives. These micro-narratives created through the prototypes will inform the larger narrative structure of the film.

T H ES I S P ROJECT

195

M ARYA M AL-HOMAID Pe r s o n ifie d : O b je c t s w it h p e r so n a l i ti e s th a t i l l u s tra te a p p l i e d e m pat hy as a me c h a n ism t o d o c u m e n t Q a t a r ’s c h a n g i n g p h e n o m e n a

There is a design trend favoring objects that offer multi-layered experiences; they not only serve core functions, but also communicate information and emotions. These interactions nurture a give-and-take relationship between the user and the object, allowing for characteristic features, even personalities, to appear. Such interactions provide the possibility of empathic user-object relationships to form.

Empathy becomes the bond that gives a user the oppor tunity to view the world from the object’s perspective. It can create a sense of connection beyond functional expectations, and provide the basis for a more meaningful exchange. This project explores empathy as a powerful tool for communication. This tool might be used to learn a skill, recall a memor y, or display an accomplishment.

T H ES I S P ROJECT

197

ROBERT C ANAK

Hybrid G u lf: E x c ava t in g F u t u r e Id e nti ti e s

This project examines the coexistence of two cultures—in this case, the Gulf as host, and impor ted Western culture. Since objects are representatives and embodiments of one’s culture, the intention and interest of this project is to inspect how humans negotiate issues of identity through material culture, especially focusing on distribution, exchange, and consumption. Although Gulf societies are quite closed and protective of their cultural DNA, the region’s current material culture can be viewed as a hybrid “third” culture, a result of the first two cultures’ intermingling. Design is a discipline that looks ahead by creating, shaping, and proposing objects, while archaeology excavates objects and looks back.

Our culture is greatly defined by both disciplines: what do we want archaeologists of the future to conclude about our shared cultures and identities through the study of our objects?

T H ES I S P ROJECT

199

F O R M ORE INF ORMAT ION AB O U T T H E M FA IN DESIGN P RO G R AM V I S I T WW W.QATAR.VCU.E D U /M FA

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CREDITS © 2014 Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar EDITOR Meike Kaan COPYWRITER Lauren Maas

CREATIVE DIRECTION AND DESIGN Jordan Gushwa DESIGN ASSISTANCE AND PRODUCTION Haya Sayel Daher Moza Khalifa Al-Suwaidi PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHERS Markus Elblaus Sarah Lauck COPY EDITORS Patty Paine Gibbons Priya Lorraine Dominica D’Souza TRANSLATORS Adel Jamal Awad Nadia Abu Dayeh PRINTING Printec Solutions PAPER 100% recycled Conqueror CX22 120gsm Rives Design Bright White 250gsm This publication presents a general overview of VCUQatar. It is not intended to be definitive or all-inclusive, and all portions are subject to change without notice. More specific information regarding the curriculum, credit requirements and other matters is available online at www.qatar.vcu.edu.

The names of student artists are included wherever possible.