00:01Deeply studying it, practicing it in their modern work,
00:07this all will add a lot into the image of the people in this area.
00:13In a country where tradition and modernity closely intersect,
00:17design has become a way to connect the past with the present and future.
00:21Here at Qatar's Mesherib downtown Doha,
00:24traditional forms of design are finding new ways of expression.
00:31From architecture to ornament, patterns are all around us.
00:35But what happens when designs rooted in tradition are reimagined for the world of today?
00:41At the Doha Design District,
00:43a new exhibition explores how geometry and structure can shape the character of a place.
00:50Qatar and patterns represent 15 forms from Sherib's design.
00:57It takes us beyond their visual appearance to explore their references, geometry, and the thinking behind them.
01:07Qatar in patterns puts a spotlight on these signature patterns,
01:12which are not just decorative elements, but an extension of the way we experience spaces, buildings, and a city.
01:19They are integrated into the architecture and appear across different buildings and spaces.
01:26Each architect was able to bring an individual view while working within a common language.
01:34So, as you move through Mesherib, the details may change, but there is a clear sense of connection across the
01:43city.
01:44But design is also about the people, techniques, and decisions behind the outcome.
01:49For thousands of years, craftsmanship of ornament was born out of a need, but has evolved into a way to
01:56communicate culture, belonging, and artistic expression.
02:00The people were so basic, so practical about their residence.
02:06They just wanted a shelter where they can be protected from the wind, heat, rain.
02:15But adding an element of pattern of art, human touches, beautiful human touches into their houses, it was a luxury
02:27that it wasn't available for everyone.
02:31I noticed that they are all using almost the same pattern, which means that generation after generation, they are using
02:44that pattern and they are learning it from their predecessors.
02:49I want to increase the awareness about our culture, about our identity.
02:56Across Qatar, traditional forms of design are being adapted into new environments, from public spaces to commercial opportunities, like this
03:06new design exchange initiative launched by the British Council and luxury retail homeware firm Liberty.
03:13Design is a silent ambassador, a silent diplomat that actually translates all these distinct cultural stories to shared experience.
03:25This residency program starts here in Doha asking designers to look to Qatari culture and heritage in fresh eyes.
03:34I believe it's a historical moment because this residency will lead the way for one or two designers based in
03:43Qatar and will create a global pathway for their patterns to be part of Liberty Home Catalog in 2028.
03:52The tie-up between the UK and Qatar blends the old and new, familiar techniques but with fresh applications and
04:00a design identity that continues to develop.
04:02I like to express my culture through my artwork.
04:06I really like to work with florals and Qatar is, okay, it's a desert but it's really, really rich with
04:14its flowers and desert flowers.
04:17It doesn't get represented much.
04:20I really do want to learn how to incorporate art into patterns and how to actually create it and the
04:29process, how do we choose the colors, what will work, what will not work.
04:33And Liberty has a history of that, so I'm really excited to learn a lot from them.
04:40Masharab Downtown Doha has proven that creativity and design doesn't have to choose between preserving tradition and embracing change.
04:49Sometimes the way to keep tradition alive in a meaningful way is to give it space and a platform to
04:55evolve.
04:56So we have to keep our
04:56Lol!
04:56you
