Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation Celebrates Class of 2025; 17 Nationalities, One Powerful Message
Dubai, UAE, 27 May 2025: In a celebration of creativity, resilience, and global innovation, the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) proudly graduated the Class of 2025 under the unifying theme Connected by Design.The cohort represents 17 nationalities and a diverse range of cutting-edge design projects that span from AI-integrated fashion to sustainable biomaterials, inclusive technology, and cultural preservation.
This year’s ceremony was not just a milestone for the graduates—it was a testament to DIDI’s mission to cultivate multidisciplinary designers who anticipate trends, solve real-world problems, and drive purposeful change.
“At DIDI, we believe design is more than a discipline—it is a universal language that connects people, solves problems, and drives meaningful change,” said Mohammad Abdullah, President of DIDI. “Our Class of 2025 has proven that creativity, empathy, and innovation can bridge the gap between ambition and action. From AI-powered safety tools to garments born from food waste, these graduates are ready to shape the UAE’s future-facing vision.”
Designing the Future: Student Highlights
Abduldayan Ahmed – Oasis explores adaptive architecture inspired by desert ecology, proposing self-cooling shelters that use natural materials and passive ventilation to create sustainable, livable environments in arid climates.
Abdulla Sufyan Al-Muhaisen – The Memory of Space examines how physical environments can store and evoke emotional memories, blending architectural design with storytelling to create immersive spatial experiences.
Amarah Majid Alimahomed – Bloom Buddy is a toolkit for children that helps them identify and regulate emotions through play. Using plush toys, visual cues, and interactive prompts, it promotes emotional literacy in early development.
Asma Ibrahim Alhajeri – Sukoon is a sensory garment designed to comfort individuals with anxiety. Drawing from UAE craft and wellness practices, it incorporates aromatherapy and gentle pressure for therapeutic relief.
Hala Alturk – Through My Eyes is a fashion collection that visualizes the emotional contrast between anxiety and happiness through texture, movement, and silhouette—offering a powerful lens into mental health.
Hana Nailah Jalal – HALO introduces smart jewelry that detects signs of burnout and stress, using biometric sensors to support mental wellness and early intervention.
Josefine Caroline Bentzen – The Colour of Luxury challenges consumerism by redefining luxury through minimalism, material honesty, and sustainability in fashion and interiors.
Juzer Murtaza Ghadiyali – ILUMINA is a smart lighting system that adjusts color and intensity based on user mood, fostering emotional wellbeing in everyday spaces.
Leen Omar Ghosheh – Sleep Analysis for Early Diagnosis uses biometric data and wearable design to monitor sleep as a diagnostic tool, aiming for early intervention in neurological conditions.
Lma Saeed Shaibani – Redefining Food Waste transforms discarded fruits and vegetables into garment textiles. In collaboration with Barakat, the project promotes circular fashion and sustainable production.
Maryam Omar Alfalasi – A Dialogue Between Eras modernizes the traditional Emirati craft of Talli through an educational, user-centered toolkit made from sustainable materials and rooted in heritage.
Meera Murshed Alshehhi – Echo Bridge is an interactive installation that captures environmental sounds and community stories, fostering a shared sense of place and memory.
Meera Khalid Alsuwaidi – Rumaileh Living is a multifunctional bench inspired by Bedouin adaptability. Using biomaterials made from sand and date seed waste, it merges traditional weaving with modern modular living.
Mia Belle Andoniou – From Screen to Storefront explores how digital-first brands can maintain identity in physical retail. A strategy and prototype are proposed to guide cohesive omnichannel branding.
Nour Nihad Alhmmawi – Serene is a fashion-tech line that responds to stress in real time. With garments that guide breathing or apply comforting pressure, the collection reimagines clothing as emotional support.
Philippe Irani – BioFrame is a modular air filtration system made from natural fibers. Designed for indoor health and sustainability, it integrates local materials with low-energy fabrication.
Rutvi Sunil Bapat – GUTSY creates wearable experiences to improve gut health awareness. It gamifies dietary tracking and digestion patterns through fashion-tech.
Sara Readh Alkindi – Soul Horse merges equine therapy with design. The project develops adaptive riding gear and digital tools to make therapeutic riding more inclusive and accessible.
Sheikha Futaim Al-Maktoum – Seerah is a Quranic learning platform that blends AI and Islamic scholarship. It features Tajweed correction, gamification, and community tools to make spiritual learning more accessible and engaging.
Sif Yousef Zidan – Triple S (Smart SoundScapes) is a responsive interior system that uses sound and light to enhance cognitive focus in shared spaces.
Vaishno Reddy Regatte – Zaria is a design system for female-first emergency planning. It rethinks safety tools and signage in public spaces to better protect and empower women.
Yalda Zaminpaima – Barayé transforms tea waste into biodegradable materials for fashion, interiors, and packaging—challenging throwaway culture and introducing a sensorial, circular design philosophy.
Zoe Grace Salcedo Concepcion – The Warning Network! is a speculative design game that visualizes climate risk. It uses satire and interactivity to raise awareness about future ecological challenges.
From health tech and emotional wellbeing to environmental sustainability and cultural heritage, the graduates' work pushes the boundaries of what design can do.
A Legacy of Impact and Innovation
Throughout their journey, the Class of 2025 made headlines—representing DIDI at Dubai Design Week, exhibiting at Al Serkal Avenue, and being one of just four global universities selected by King Charles III’s Sustainable Markets Initiative for the Terra Carta competition.
While the ceremony marked the end of their academic chapter, the Connected by Design theme reinforces a lifelong bond among students, alumni, and the DIDI community.
“These students don’t just graduate with a degree,” added Mohammad. “They leave with a global mindset, a future-proof skillset, and a creative spirit that will influence industries, policies, and lives.”
As the UAE advances its Future of Education in the Creative Economy strategy, DIDI actively contributes by nurturing talent equipped with the critical, creative, and technological fluency needed to thrive in tomorrow’s industries. The Class of 2025 stands as a bold testament to what design-driven education can achieve—for the region and beyond.