Ziad Yamani: Designer with an edge

Ziad Yamani is a young designer who studied art, painting and sculpture. His passion for design made him carve out a niche for himself in this field. His work is characterized by intimacy, courage, flexibility and tranquility, just like his personal nature.
Arab News met the creative designer and found out his secret to success:

Who is Ziad?
I am an interior designer. I love painting and sculpting. I got interested in this hobby since childhood at the age of ten, and found encouragement from my teachers and family. The greatest encouragement came from my mother because she also loves decor and colors. When I entered high school, I learned more about myself and my capabilities, and I realized that I should work on this talent. After I completed high school, I went to Norway, where my uncle lives, and there I studied Fine Arts. I had the opportunity to visit the art galleries, especially those dealing with interior design. Then, I went back to Saudi Arabia and studied interior design at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. After graduation, I began to attend specialized courses at the Fine Arts Institute of the Ministry of Youth to develop myself. I then opened my own office, followed by my own place to showcase my designs.

What inspires you? And how do you get your ideas?
Everything around me is the source of my inspiration. I adore nature and colors and its charm is what made me take the first step. But more importantly, doing house decor, for it is the real challenge in terms of selection and coordination. Then, I give myself freedom within limits, so you find most of those who I dealt with are art lovers and young people, who believe in the slogan ‘life is about comfort and simplicity,’ which is also something that gives me comfort.

What do you think about the taste of Saudi women in decor?
The Saudi woman enjoys a culture of good decor. She loves her house, and is always seeking renewal and excellence. Through my dealings with Saudi women, I found that they have ideas and visions in design selection, and quite often debate with me on what I have chosen for them.

What is required from a good designer to excel in this field?
He must first believe in his abilities, take advantage of his skills and be confident. The most important thing is never to give up. He should know his way to beauty through simplicity.

Women are known to make hasty decisions when it comes to buying stuff for decor. Is this a good habit?
Of course, I totally reject it. Women must be fully aware of their needs; they should know what needs to be purchased and should not place anything in the wrong place. A smart woman should know how to create homogeneity with the minimum number of pieces.

What kind of relationship do you have with your customers?
The house is a visual symbol and a place that determines the identity of its occupants. I believe in the principle of interaction between the designer and the owner of the house. So before I proceed to design, I like to understand the customer first and his lifestyle and needs. I sit with him/her and discuss, and if we find there is a conflict between us, I try to explain to him/her that what works for someone does not fit anyone else. If he/she insists, I refuse to complete the project as this will damage his decor and my name as a designer who has the confidence of his customers.
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