Zain mustafa Interiors WON the first INDEX design competition for our unique and ground breaking vision of a ‘’contemporary majlis’’.
The 4 interior design firms that were invited to participate in this competition included a couple of the regions large and well respected design muscle: Hirsch Bedner Associates, Etcetera Living and (the not as established newcomers to the industry) House of Zunn.
Thanks to the jury for selecting us for this prestigious award: Chuck Wood (Rockwell Group), Lena Moosa (Inside-Out), Hadia Said (Sayidaty), Victoria Redshaw (Scarlet Opus) and Dennis Jarrett (Gulf Interiors)
As the accolades keep flowing in from as far as Santa Fe (New Mexico, USA), New York, London, Beirut and Bangladesh and the celebrations start rolling out over the next few weeks, we wanted to take this opportunity to look back at the journey we made from the first invitation phone call from Richard Lewis at DMG World Media to the moment we received the award.
It has been an incredibly educational, character building and enlightening journey to bring us here today. We are very proud of our achievement but are also very aware of the fact that it could not have happened had we not been supported by some true visionaries, role models and unsung heroes in the industry.
First of all I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks on behalf of myself and my team of designers to Mohannad Sweid, Chairman DEPA and Muna Al Gurg for believing in me and supporting our work always.
Thanks to Mr Sweid, the uber-efficient and professional team at DECO was mobilized, very last minute – Hugh Bigley, Paul Martin, Jason Hastings and his team at DECO along with the installation team rose elegantly to the occasion to deliver a slick product to us, effortlessly and on schedule. We can’t thank you all enough for this kind of support.
In a similar vein, Muna Al Gurg mobilized her team with Ajai Dayal to involve DULUX’s expertise through Sunil Gudur, Murtaza Challawala and painter Nasir’s team on site to create the Rothko-like wall gradation and OFIS products through Rehan Khan and his troops that laid a tri-colour parquet floor with a precision to the geometric design that was surgically accurate.
Thank you James Davies-Yandle for a timely introduction to another well respected established icon in her own industry, Jayne Reader, Prolab Digital, who along with Daniel supported our design by providing us with the coolest wall vinyl.
The team that rolled up their sleeves with me, got into the blood, sweat and tears element of the production, no questions asked, just to support us in creating the new direction for design, in raising the bar, in bringing a breath of fresh air into the interior design industry are unsung, behind-the-scenes heroes like Yolanda Ramos of Mainline Interiors who provided us with the recycled fabrics, John Joel Peter of Milad furniture who stitched it all together, Vinod at Nabeel Printing Press for the beautifully printed flyers and cards and Gassan Farra of Gustronomy for the sensitively prepared, layered date cake cubes.
Those who are curious as to what the two 7 foot tall architectural monsters were, thanks to Gautum Duseja at AVL and my Gallo Speakers at home, we were kindly lent these beauties for the event – Nina Simone, Maria Callas and Billie Holiday couldn’t have sounded better amidst the open air hum drum of the exhibition hall.
A very special set of thanks must also go to my dear friend David Gardiner (working with FINO on the Armani Hotel, Burj Dubai) who has supported all my design ideas, proposals, endeavours and madnesses with the utmost trust, belief and faith in my imagination, regardless of scale of project – be it a hotel development in Panama, or an art installation. We couldn’t ask for a more unconditional believer in our work, who put in more time and effort in helping with the production of this project than anyone else. Dave, we owe you big time!!
Another unsung bundle of silent but driven energy who loves the chaos and intensity of such projects is Christopher Purslove (aka Chippy). Thanks a million Chippy for being there for me and for us throughout and for taking the beautiful photos of all our work.
For all the visitors that received our unique, recycled,’’ trinket’’ giveaways, thanks to the calm, ever-smiling, beautiful Ulricke Hocke and her award winning housekeeping team at Qamardeen/Al Manzil Hotels, Southern Sun, Dubai who collected the items for us to tag and pass on to the world coming through our majlis.
Lest one forgets, thanks to the fired up team at DMG World that gave us this platform to display our talents, bring change to INDEX and the interior design industry and in turn allow us this opportunity to win the award – Bernard Walsh, Richard Lewis, Lu Buchanan, Julia Juettner and the lovely Fifth ring team - Beth Lewis and Camellia Bojtor .
Martin Dufresne (U&A International) thanks for your supportive architectural proposal for The Caisson Project’s arm to this project and of course our branding guru Craig Stott (Progress Creative) for ensuring all the branding for the majlis was perfectly aligned!
Last but not least, thank you to my design team – Sabah Khan and Enez Alemao who never give up. I could not ask for a more devoted team. Creative, organized, passionate about their own work and the company’s brand philosophy, they rarely get their due credit but Zain mustafa Interiors would not be here today without them. Thank you girls for keeping alive our signature spirit of a young, talented, solid, grounded, earthed and edgy, non pretentious environment. I look forward to years of growth together!!
Finally, I thank God, my mother, aunt, grandmother my Dubai family and friends and of course our friends worldwide for your blessings, love and endless support.
We look forward to this being the first step in other such successes as we grow as a company and a region in the world of international interior design.
