Jumana Taha is an interior designer, product designer, and independent researcher. Based in the UAE, her furniture and lighting designs have gained her a formidable reputation in the Middle East. After completing the Tanween Design Programme in 2016, she launched a furniture studio alongside her partner Mentalla Said, called Studio MUJU. She speaks to MOJEH about this, as well as her current role as project coordinator of Make Works UAE, which is an online directory of regional material suppliers.
Photographed by Borna Ahadi for MOJEH Issue 52
Tell us about Studio MUJU.
Mentalla Said and I launched our furniture design studio, Studio MUJU, approximately two years ago. We came together due to our shared design aesthetic which was based on bold and exciting colours, handcrafted materials and textures, as well as playful exaggerated forms. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and neither do our furniture pieces! We like to have fun and inject a sense of playfulness and spirit into our work.
Tell us about your professional role models.
I have always deeply admired Sir David Adjaye so I was super excited about attending his talk [at Dubai Design Week]. I was a bit star-struck as he was one of my favourite architects growing up!
Tell us about your artwork that was displayed this year at Dubai Design Week?
I launched a very exciting website called Make Works UAE during Dubai Design Week 2017. Make Works UAE is an online directory of fabricators, material suppliers, workshops, and craftspeople located within the UAE. This non-profit, open-access library will provide an interactive platform where creative minds can search and connect with skilled makers, encouraging local manufacturing and supporting the Made in UAE movement. This has been a passion project of mine, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to launch the pilot of this important website that will hopefully become a valuable asset to the local design community.
What can we expect from you over the next year?
I intend to continue my research for the Make Works UAE website directory by travelling throughout the country to meet and document various fabricators. With new fabricators added to the directory periodically, the website will continue to grow over the coming years to become an essential resource. Studio MUJU will also be launching a new furniture collection, which we can’t wait to reveal – so stay tuned for new and exciting things to come!
