The Evolution of Design Culture in the Region | Fahad Al Obaidly

How do you shift a national identity from oil reliance toward a knowledge-based economy through local materials and the ancestral art of making? Fahad Al Obaidly, the director of Design Doha, discusses how functional design can elevate regional craftsmanship to international stages. From the architectural innovations of Bricklab using glass and concrete to a Moroccan glassmaker’s nine-month collaboration with a master artisan, Fahad reflects on bridging local craftsmanship with modern, ethical design practices across SWANA and South Asia. Al Obaidly also explores the upcoming 2026 Design Doha biennial, which will transform the historic village of Freej Al Asmakh into a vibrant urban canvas for regional talent. 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Defining Design and the Knowledge Economy 04:40 Promoting a Culture of Design 07:56 Recapping the First Edition 12:55 Empowering Regional Talent and Institutions 15:05 Scouting Ideas Across the Region 19:03 Regional Production and National Identity 23:01 Elevating Craftsmanship and Ethical Design Practices 27:19 Key Learnings and Enhancements for 2026 35:01 Re-Evaluating the Region’s Design Industry 41:15 Design Initiatives to Explore in the Region 44:09 Key Highlights of the 2026 Edition 52:30 Q&A: Preserving Unique Regional Identities Connect directly with Fahad Al Obaidly 👉 https://instagram.com/fahadalobaidly Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu FOLLOW & RATE THE EVOLUTION NATION / VOICES PODCAST - QATAR CREATES X AFIKRA: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolution-nation-voices-podcast-qatar-creates-x-afikra/id1896901593 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033vkyVIsiPhCehnMGimlO » Anghami: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolution-nation-voices-podcast-qatar-creates-x-afikra/id1896901593 THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl567JlbbYp2DXVlABxmRVqU ABOUT AFIKRA afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. 📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters 🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts ⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_ 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official 🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra