Ibrahim Mohamad of LUXURIOUS INTERIOR DESIGN blends cultural, environmental, and societal influences to create exceptional spaces. Collaborating with clients and teams, he brings ideas to life while maintaining a signature touch of luxury and perfection.
At the heart of my design philosophy is the idea that form follows function, but with a heavy dose of creativity and empathy. I strive to design experiences, not just objects or spaces. I believe good design should be inclusive, innovative, and sustainable. I’m always looking for ways to improve the usability, accessibility, and impact of my designs, while staying true to the client’s vision and needs.
I take a holistic approach to design, considering the broader cultural, environmental, and societal contexts. I enjoy collaborating with clients and multidisciplinary teams to bring ideas to life and solve complex design challenges.
Ultimately, my goal is to make the world a more beautiful, functional, and inspiring place through the power of thoughtful design.
Becoming an interior designer was the natural extension of my lifelong love for creativity, problem-solving, and human-centered design. I chose this path because I wanted to make a real difference in how people experience the world around them.
Whether it's by creating environments that help people feel more productive, relaxed, or inspired, interior design gives me the opportunity to shape spaces that enhance daily living. And in a world that is increasingly focused on the experience of place, I knew interior design was the field where I could blend artistry with functionality in ways that had a lasting impact.
LUXURIOUS INTERIOR DESIGN:
From site feasibility studies and space planning to branding concepts, technical drawings, color schemes, finishes, lighting design, and furniture selection, we collaborate on a platform that connects owners and professionals.
Today, our extensive client base reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of perfection and exquisite interior design in every project we undertake. Beyond the three dimensions, our identity and luxurious touch are unmistakably present in the work we create.
In essence, design is about improving the world around us. It’s an intentional practice that blends creativity, problem-solving, functionality, and human emotion. It’s the art of shaping spaces, objects, and experiences in a way that enhances how we live, work, and interact with the world.
Whether you’re designing a room, a logo, or a user interface, every design is an opportunity to make a difference—to solve problems, to express ideas, and to connect people to their environments.
So, to me, design is more than just what you see—it’s about creating meaning and value through thoughtful and purposeful action. It’s about understanding both the human need and the creative solution, and balancing those elements in a way that elevates the everyday experience.
Neo-classical design, for me, represents a perfect blending of the past and present, where classical principles of symmetry, balance, and luxury are reinterpreted in a way that feels relevant to modern life.
It’s a style that values timeless beauty while embracing modernity—fusing history and innovation into spaces that are both luxurious and comfortable, intellectually stimulating and emotionally comforting.
Whether it’s in the clean lines of a modern neoclassical living room with sculptural furniture pieces, or the use of traditional columns paired with sleek contemporary fixtures, neo-classical design creates spaces that are elevating without feeling out of touch with the realities of modern living.
It’s about honoring the past while designing for the future, making it a truly dynamic and timeless approach to design.
A good design is holistic—it’s about balancing multiple factors (aesthetic appeal, functionality, sustainability, emotional impact, and innovation) to create something that feels complete and thoughtful.
It’s not just about how a design looks but how it works, how it makes people feel, and how it contributes to the world.
Good design should make life easier, more enjoyable, and more meaningful. It’s about meeting needs, evoking emotions, and leaving a lasting impact on the people it touches. At its best, design is a bridge between art and life—it transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Thank you so much! Winning the 2024 MUSE Design Awards is an incredible honor, and it’s deeply meaningful to us. This award represents not only recognition of creativity and innovation but also acknowledges the hard work and dedication of our entire team.
It’s a testament to our commitment to pushing boundaries in design and delivering exceptional experiences to our clients and audience.
For our team, this award fuels our passion to keep innovating and exploring new possibilities. It validates our collaborative efforts and reinforces the value of diverse perspectives in shaping impactful, meaningful designs.
Receiving this distinction motivates us to keep aiming higher, inspiring us to contribute even more to the design world. Thank you to the MUSE Design Awards for this incredible recognition—it's truly a milestone for us!
Certainly! Our winning entry for the 2024 MUSE Design Awards was a project we’re incredibly proud of. The design, titled 'CLASSIC FRENCH STYLE VILLA – SAUDI ARABIA' was a result of extensive research and a deep commitment to creating something that was not only visually stunning but also impactful and functional for its audience.
The concept centered around French Classic Interior Design , combining luxury classic style into the villa.
We chose to enter this project because it exemplifies our vision and our values as a team. It pushed us creatively and technically, and we felt it was a strong representation of what we strive for in our work—innovation, quality, and user-centered design.
The positive feedback we received during development made us believe it could resonate on a larger scale, and the MUSE Design Awards felt like the perfect platform to share our work. Winning this award is a tremendous honor, and we’re thrilled to see our dedication recognized in this way.
The biggest challenge with a classic interior design project often centers around maintaining a sense of timelessness while meeting modern needs.
Classic designs are rooted in traditional principles, rich details, and enduring materials, so the challenge becomes integrating these elements with the demands of contemporary life.
Some specific challenges include:
Blending the Old with the New: Classic interiors often rely on antique furniture, vintage textiles, or historical architectural features, but modern living spaces need updates for convenience, technology, and functionality.
Ensuring that these old-world elements blend seamlessly with modern upgrades—like smart home technology or more efficient lighting—can be tricky.
Space Planning and Proportions: Classic interiors tend to work best in larger, more stately rooms with high ceilings and grand architectural features. In modern homes, particularly urban spaces, you might not have that luxury.
Adapting classic design principles to work in more compact or open-plan spaces while maintaining a sense of grandeur and balance is a constant challenge.
Sourcing Materials: Many classic styles rely on high-quality, traditional materials—like marble, mahogany, or handwoven silk—that are both expensive and sometimes harder to find.
Ensuring these materials are both available and appropriate for the project while managing budget constraints can be difficult.
Personalizing without Compromising Style: Clients often want to bring their own personality into a classic design.
This could mean incorporating modern colors, patterns, or artwork, but doing so without overwhelming the classic sensibilities of the space is a delicate balancing act.
Maintaining Functionality: Classic design often focuses heavily on aesthetic, with ornate furnishings and more formal layouts. But today’s living is more casual and multifaceted.
Ensuring that the design is practical for day-to-day use while still adhering to classic principles can be challenging—whether that’s adding enough storage or ensuring comfortable seating.
Preserving Historical Integrity: If the space has historical significance (e.g., in a heritage building or a period home), there may be strict guidelines or restrictions regarding how much change is allowed.
Respecting the original design while incorporating modern updates that improve energy efficiency or functionality requires a careful balance.
Navigating these challenges requires a skilled designer who can respect the timeless qualities of classic design while adapting it to contemporary needs. It's a delicate mix of respecting history while staying in tune with the way people live today.
Winning an award in interior design can have a profound impact on both a designer's practice and their career trajectory. While I don’t have personal experience, I can describe the typical ways that receiving an award can help develop a designer's work and reputation:
Increased Recognition and Credibility:
Winning an award can immediately raise a designer's profile within the industry. It serves as third-party validation of their skills, creativity, and professionalism, helping them stand out in a competitive field.
It often leads to greater visibility in design publications, websites, and industry events, which can attract new clients, collaborators, and opportunities.
Client Confidence and Trust:
Awards add a level of prestige to a designer’s portfolio. Clients may feel more confident hiring a designer who has been recognized by peers or industry experts.
The credibility that comes with an award can be especially valuable for designers seeking high-end or discerning clients who are looking for exceptional work and proven expertise.
Expansion of Network:
Being recognized with an award often involves exposure at industry events, such as award ceremonies, gala dinners, or conferences. These settings allow designers to meet other influential professionals, such as architects, builders, manufacturers, and fellow designers.
A designer’s network grows, which can lead to new collaborations, partnerships, and business opportunities.
Higher-Profile Projects:
Award-winning designers may be invited to work on larger or more prestigious projects, such as high-profile commercial spaces, luxury residences, or celebrity-owned properties.
An award can signal to potential clients that the designer is capable of handling complex or ambitious projects.
Inspiration for Continued Innovation:
Winning an award can serve as a boost of motivation. It may encourage a designer to push their creative boundaries further, take risks, and explore new design concepts.
Recognition can act as a confirmation that their ideas resonate with the industry, sparking fresh ideas for future work and helping to develop a signature design style.
Enhanced Marketing Opportunities:
Being an award-winning designer gives you something to leverage in marketing materials. This recognition can be highlighted on a website, social media, and in press releases, which can be a powerful tool for attracting clients.
Many designers find that the attention generated by winning an award opens the door to more consistent press coverage and client inquiries.
Boost Team Morale and Growth:
If the designer is working with a team, winning an award can be a huge morale booster for everyone involved in the project.
It can create a sense of pride and accomplishment, motivating the team to continue striving for excellence. Additionally, it can help the practice grow by attracting talented professionals who want to be part of an award-winning team.
Increased Professional Development:
An award can serve as an indicator of excellence, which can open doors to speaking engagements, teaching opportunities, or panel discussions at industry events.
This allows designers to share their expertise and stay at the forefront of industry trends, which can fuel personal and professional development.
Greater Financial Opportunities:
Often, awards can lead to increased demand, allowing designers to justify higher fees for their services.
With greater visibility and recognition, designers may be able to command more premium rates, which in turn can boost the financial health of their practice.
In summary, winning an award can significantly elevate a designer’s career by increasing their visibility, credibility, and opportunities, while also fostering growth, innovation, and client trust. It’s not just about the recognition, but also about leveraging that recognition to propel further success.
While I don’t have personal preferences, I can tell you that, based on feedback from designers and professionals in the field, the top three favorite things about the award industry in interior design typically revolve around recognition, growth opportunities, and the sense of community.
Here’s a breakdown:
Recognition of Excellence:
One of the most rewarding aspects of the award industry is the validation it provides for creative work. Winning an award recognizes not just the aesthetic value of a design but also the thought, effort, and innovation behind it.
For many designers, being acknowledged by peers and experts feels like the culmination of hard work and a testament to their unique design vision. It affirms their skills and encourages them to continue pushing boundaries in their practice.
Networking and Collaboration Opportunities:
The award industry creates an ecosystem for designers to connect with other professionals in the field. Award ceremonies, gala events, and even judging panels bring together architects, designers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders.
This network becomes invaluable for learning, collaboration, and career growth. Designers can forge new relationships that lead to future projects, business opportunities, and creative partnerships.
Inspiration and Motivation for Growth:
Being part of the award process, whether as a nominee or winner, exposes designers to innovative ideas and projects. It’s inspiring to see what other talented professionals are doing, pushing the envelope in terms of design, sustainability, and technology.
This exposure encourages designers to evolve their own practices, think outside the box, and aim for new goals. Additionally, the competition aspect fosters personal motivation—pushing designers to refine their craft, elevate their work, and continually strive for excellence.
These three aspects—recognition, networking, and inspiration—are often cited as the most meaningful and impactful elements of the award industry, helping designers grow both professionally and personally.
Saudi Arabia is a fascinating and dynamic country, and its design industry is increasingly making a mark on the global stage. There are several factors that make Saudi Arabia particularly unique in the interior design and broader design industry:
Blend of Tradition and Modernity:
Saudi Arabia’s design landscape is a rich fusion of ancient traditions and cutting-edge contemporary styles.
The country’s architectural and interior design often draws inspiration from its cultural heritage, such as the intricate geometric patterns of Islamic art, traditional Najdi architecture, and the use of local materials like palm wood and stone.
These elements are frequently merged with modern design trends, creating spaces that are both timeless and forward-thinking. This blending of the old and new is one of Saudi Arabia’s unique strengths, especially in high-end residential, hospitality, and commercial design.
Example: The luxurious interiors of Riyadh's modern hotels or the new King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) blend traditional Arabic design with modern, futuristic architecture.
Cultural and Religious Significance:
As the birthplace of Islam and home to two of the holiest cities in the Muslim world—Mecca and Medina—Saudi Arabia’s cultural and religious significance deeply influences its design practices.
Religious spaces, such as mosques, often feature breathtaking examples of Islamic design principles, including calligraphy, intricate tile work, and ornate arches. The architecture of these spaces is intended to evoke a sense of spiritual serenity and reverence, influencing broader design trends in the country.
Example: The Grand Mosque in Mecca is an iconic architectural masterpiece that showcases the country’s commitment to both tradition and beauty.
The design and renovation of the mosque are continuously evolving to accommodate millions of visitors, reflecting the marriage of spirituality and cutting-edge design.
Vibrant Mega-Projects and Architectural Ambitions:
Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is dramatically reshaping the country’s economic and cultural landscape.
A cornerstone of this vision is the development of mega-projects, including urban developments like NEOM, a futuristic, sustainable city, and The Red Sea Project, which focuses on creating luxury resorts and leisure facilities along the Red Sea coast.
These projects demand bold and innovative design solutions that push the boundaries of architecture and interior design.
Saudi Arabia is now investing heavily in sustainable, smart city concepts, integrating cutting-edge technology with architectural vision. This forward-thinking approach places Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the global design scene.
Example: The design of NEOM will incorporate futuristic elements like floating cities, AI-driven architecture, and sustainable materials, positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in green and smart city design.
Rich Materials and Craftsmanship:
Saudi Arabia has a long tradition of craftsmanship, especially in areas like furniture making, weaving, and pottery. Local materials such as sandalwood, mother-of-pearl, and gold leaf are often incorporated into luxury designs, creating interiors that feel both authentic and opulent.
The country also celebrates a unique sense of hospitality, often reflected in the grandeur and welcoming nature of its interiors, particularly in high-end hotels and palatial homes.
The use of locally sourced materials is growing as part of the wider trend toward sustainability in design. This contributes to both the economic and cultural value of the country's design practices.
Luxury and Opulence:
Saudi Arabia is well-known for its ultra-luxurious design sensibilities, particularly in the high-end residential and hospitality sectors. The culture of hospitality and the country’s immense wealth have fostered a market for opulent, lavish interiors.
Luxurious finishes, expansive marble floors, golden accents, crystal chandeliers, and custom-designed furniture are common in Saudi design projects. This emphasis on luxury, combined with a love for intricate detail, creates striking, often jaw-dropping spaces.
Example: The Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, an iconic skyscraper, features stunning interiors that mix modern luxury with Arabian tradition, influencing both residential and commercial interior design trends in the country.
Rapid Urbanization and International Influence:
Saudi Arabia is experiencing rapid urbanization, which is transforming its cities. As the country becomes more integrated with global markets, international design trends and foreign expertise are increasingly influencing the local interior design scene.
International designers and architects from around the world are collaborating with Saudi firms, bringing in new materials, techniques, and design philosophies that enhance the local market.
Example: International firms have been involved in projects like the King Abdulaziz International Airport expansion, where modernity and international design practices meet local culture and heritage.
Embrace of Innovation and Technology:
The Saudi design industry is rapidly embracing technology in its architecture and interiors, from 3D printing to virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI).
Innovations in smart home technology, energy-efficient design, and sustainable building materials are helping to shape a more environmentally conscious future for Saudi cities.
Example: In the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, cutting-edge technology is integrated into both the building’s structure and its interior, featuring automated lighting, climate control, and innovative spatial layouts.
In summary, Saudi Arabia’s design industry is unique due to its deep connection to its cultural and religious roots, its embrace of modernity and technological innovation, and its global ambitions to lead in architectural and interior design.
The interplay of tradition and forward-thinking design makes it an exciting and dynamic market for both local and international designers.
The design industry over the next 5-10 years will be characterized by greater technological integration, environmental responsibility, and a focus on well-being and inclusivity.
As the demand for smart, sustainable, and personalized spaces grows, designers will need to be agile and creative, embracing new technologies while staying true to the human-centric principles that underpin great design.
Ultimately, the future of design will be about creating spaces that improve people's lives, while also considering the impact on the planet and society.
My advice to students entering the industry or aspiring MUSE Design Awards submitter is to stay grounded in the fundamentals of design, embrace the ever-evolving nature of the industry, and always push yourself to innovate.
Embrace storytelling, sustainability, and collaboration as part of your practice, and don’t be afraid to fail or pivot. Design is a journey of continuous learning, and staying open, curious, and passionate will help you not only succeed but stand out in the competitive world of design.
Improving your skills in the design industry involves a combination of education, practical experience, and continuous inspiration. By engaging with diverse learning platforms, staying active in the design community, and regularly challenging yourself with new projects, you'll position yourself as a versatile and well-rounded designer.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your expertise, the resources above offer valuable tools for your growth and success.
Zaha Hadid was a true trailblazer, breaking down barriers for women in architecture and forging new possibilities in design with her futuristic and fluid forms.
Her projects, such as the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku and the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympics, showcase her radical approach to geometry and her willingness to challenge conventional design practices. She redefined architecture as an art form, using cutting-edge technologies to bring her visionary ideas to life.
Zaha Hadid was unafraid to push boundaries and redefine what was possible in architecture. She exemplifies the importance of daring to dream big and embracing innovation.
She also emphasized the importance of women’s representation in the design industry, encouraging a more inclusive and diverse approach to creativity and leadership.
Design is not just a job—it’s a mindset, a way of seeing and understanding the world. It’s about creating solutions that shape the future, connect people, and solve real-world problems.
Always stay curious, keep experimenting, and never stop refining your craft. Above all, remember that your work has the potential to inspire, challenge, and impact the lives of others.
The journey to success in design is as much about the process as it is about the final product. Keep pushing forward, keep learning, and, most importantly, enjoy the ride.
Ibrahim Mohamad of LUXURIOUS INTERIOR DESIGN blends cultural, environmental, and societal influences to create exceptional spaces. Collaborating with clients and teams, he brings ideas to life while maintaining a signature touch of luxury and perfection.
Explore the journey of Yijia Xu and Zhimin Ma, the Silver Winners of the 2024 MUSE Design Awards. Landscape designers Yijia Xu and Zhimin Ma reimagined a mixed-use space within one of China’s largest active steel plants, repurposing materials to bridge industry and public engagement.