Nanu Al-Hamad was born in Kuwait and raised in California. Now, he divides his time between Kuwait and New York City. As founder and Director of Design at Al-Hamad Design, he designs and creates objects that inspire surprise while maintaining multiple functionalities. He strives to allow pieces a depth in which the user can journey. He has, for instance, designed the Ghost Pendant Lamp which is a spherical 360 view mirror by day and a floating light bulb by night, or whenever you want through the flick of a switch.

BLEND\ What’s the most important thing to know about you?

Nanu: I’m excited, and you should be too. The future is coming soon.

B\ Why did you decide to study Architectural Acoustics and how did you end up as a designer instead?

N: Architectural Acoustics attracted me because it seemed so mysterious and such a specific field. I wanted to control the intangible, which I think is one of the greatest challenges. Acoustic phenomena, as much as they are explained and as much as you understand them, still seem magical. I like that.

I found myself designing a bit by accident. After I graduated, the markets were not looking so good and no one was hiring. Generally, acousticians are one of the first bumped off a budget for a project.  o no acoustics firms were hiring. I was offered an internship at an amazing architecture firm in Kuwait, Atelier Aziz Alqatami. There I began designing for Aziz. I somehow was commissioned to do a set of custom office furniture for a client at an investment firm. That led to more private commissions. Designing didn’t only come naturally, it was gushing out of me. That is when I decided to start Al-Hamad Design.

B\ What is your design philosophy?

N: My design philosophy is definitely not set in stone. It is constantly evolving. The foundation of it is focused on bringing all new visions to the world, trying to redefine, reinvent, and most importantly evoke emotion. Looking beyond tomorrow. I also believe in having a very collaborative, open, and fearless attitude. Design can create connections on multiple levels, it can surprise, it can open up new perspectives, it can become a phenomenon. My purpose is to actualize what it can do, not what it always does.

B\Your designs are often multi-functional, how do you feel about multi-functionality?

N: I like multi-functionality. Though Multi-functionality is not necessarily important to me as it is obvious. It is not always the best decision to include many functions into one object. However, if it’s done well and it’s well hidden, why not? With today’s living spaces getting smaller, it becomes convenient. The more the merrier. I also enjoy it as in my mind multi-functionality is futuristic. The end goal is to have your bed turn into your transportation device and that change into your office. We have to start somewhere.  

B\You recently launched your New York studio, what are the plans with this?

N: I did, on the Greenpoint waterfront. This studio is the main hub for Al-Hamad Design (and whatever I happen to be working on). A lot of the new products coming out are smaller, and generally more accessible to a wider market. They are targeted, though not necessarily, to an apartment lifestyle. New pieces like Ghost and the Belly series are definitely fit for contemporary life in New York. Getting into designing spaces will hopefully follow, here and internationally.

B\How different are the Kuwait and New York markets?

N: They are quite different. Just from an outside perspective you can see how they would be. Kuwait has a small population with a very similar economic class, all of whom live in rather large, rural homes. New York has a huge population with varying economic classes, all of whom live in rather small, urban apartments. The types of furniture one would buy, and can afford, are completely different. Though when you are dealing in a high-end market, they can be extremely similar. I am trying to create new products that are more accessible, as well as doing larger high-end work.

B\ What was your first exhibition like?

N: My first exhibition was at the CAP warehouse space in Kuwait, January 2012. It was the perfect space to exhibit. It was large with high ceilings, which lent itself to the sort of fantastic whimsy of the furniture. The show was called ‘Furniture is the Servant of Fantasy’. Outside you had these black rooms, which you could only view from the windows inside, which housed the glow in the dark pieces. Then you had the Cradle (one of the glow pieces) you could try out. And of course, the Chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Which was so fun to watch people sitting, or rather swinging, on it.  Each reaction was priceless, just oozing smiles. The Embarakiya lamps were lit up in some corners, frightening people every now and then. Everything looked fantastic all together, very complimentary and well placed.       

B\ What comes first – the materials or the design idea?

N: Both. It entirely depends on the piece. Some come from an idea and others come from the material. If I discover a material that I love I will definitely design around it. The best example of this is Gibbous. This piece originated when I found the glow in the dark material. I wanted to create a glow in the dark piece of furniture, but I wanted to really utilize the abnormality of this material. So I imagined what would look best glowing at night, and being obsessed with the moon, I thought of a sphere. Finally, Gibbous was created and it ended up winning the 2012 A’ Design Award in Furniture.  

B\ How do you choose your materials?

N: Again, it depends on the piece. I definitely am straying from materials I used in the past.  I am trying to push the limits of what can be used. I like taking materials out of context and placing them in foreign use.

B\ What part of the process excites you the most?

N: The most exciting part of the process is usually seeing the first mock up and experiencing it. Sitting on something you’ve been drawing and seeing your mind for months is a beautiful feeling, very emotional. Also, having the bright idea moments when you get that first concept is exciting. That happens way more. Until you realize it has been done, or it’s not a great idea the next morning (especially after a couple), or its too expensive to make, or you just get bored of it. Most ideas don’t make it into reality. It’s like sperm hurdling toward to the uterus, they are all strong, but only the champion gets created.    

B\ What makes you different/unique from other furniture makers?

N: I have a bold simplicity that a lot of people don’t seem to execute. My perspective to design is very specific and is not as structured as many others. This allows for a different sense of creativity. Honestly though, I don’t know. I’m surprised when I get an idea that no one has thought of yet.

B\ What do you regard as your greatest success in your career to date?

N: My greatest success is being able to churn out so much work in the past 2 years. My work ethic is hyper and insistent. The fact that I have too much to make and not enough resource is a my favorite success.

B\ From all your pieces which is your favourite and why?

N: My favorite piece right now is something that is coming very soon. So I can’t mention it, but be excited. Chandelier is most definitely up there. Not only aesthetically, but the feeling and emotion you attain from swinging on this piece is wonderful. Metropolis, Ghost, and of course what I am sitting at right now, the Command Center (photo above), are all battling for the top spot.

B\ What do you enjoy doing apart from designing?

N: I am working on a few other things. Al-Wear is a project I am working on with clothing designer Ashley Johnson. We are introducing this line in the fall. It will be the world’s first glow in the dark swimwear. Soon we will be expanding into clothing.

I am currently working on a show of one-of-a-kind conceptual furniture pieces with New York Based artist/designer Mega Max (a.k.a. MEGA.DOPE.POP.). These will be exhibited in January 2014 at Kuwait’s Sultan Gallery. We are also collaborating on a super secret project which I can’t talk about, but is very exciting.

There is also a collective that just formed in the (Arabian) Gulf, which I am a part of. We will be having our first show in the fall. I can’t divulge too much about that either.  (Also, be excited).

When I am not working on stuff… I love to eat, play records (I used to DJ disco heavily), watch films, read, and drink my way through the streets of New York. When I can, traveling is my favorite activity. And meeting strangers. Strangers are the best (and cheapest) form of therapy.

http://www.alhamaddesign.com