A unique personal journey spanning from a third-generation textile merchant family in Japan to a thriving design studio in Beirut serves as the foundation for iconic designer Nada Debs’ universal message of collaboration. The intricate world of Levantine woodwork, the philosophy of repetitive geometry, and the complex balance between handmade craft and modern scaling highlight the depth of her artistic vision. This narrative of personal heritage and local production illustrates how design can become a powerful tool to restore civic pride and challenge traditional mindsets.
00:00 Introduction
01:35 A Message of Oneness & Overcoming Conflict
04:01 Roots Across the Silk Road
10:39 Post-War Devastation & the Surge of Homegrown Pride
18:25 Dismantling the Western Complex & Embracing Equality
20:05 Finding Acceptance in the Search for Personal Identity
24:33 Embracing the Warmth of Beirut & the Value of Antiques
29:21 The Path to Design
33:17 Shifting the Mindset on Local Production
38:24 The Genesis of "East and East" & Establishing a Studio
44:48 Reclaiming Pride in Lebanese Craft
46:46 Deciphering the Levantine Vernacular
53:13 Hand Craftsmanship vs. Modern Scaling
01:02:04 Expanding the Language of Harmony
Nada Debs is a Lebanese designer living and working in Beirut. Her work spans scale and discipline: from product and furniture design to one-off commissions across craft, art, fashion and interiors. What ties her work together is her ability to distil culture and craftsmanship to create pieces of emotional resonance. Nada grew up in Japan, studied design at the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States and has spent significant periods of time living and travelling the world, finding connections between different cultures. She calls her approach: handmade and heartmade. Her grandfather travelled the Silk Route to Japan; her own personal Silk Route led her back to Lebanon, where she founded her studio in 2002. Her 'East & East' philosophy fuses Islamic geometry with Far Eastern minimalism.
Connect with Nada Debs 👉 https://instagram.com/nadadebs
Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb
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