id50 2025 – Karim+Elias

Can you let us know about the latest exciting projects that you are working on?

As our studio continues to explore rammed earth and desert sand, we’re currently developing a series of collectible product pieces. This year marks the launch of an exciting series named ‘The Desert Drops’, which explores the gestural form of ‘droplets’ through sand and melted glass. Over the next two quarters of 2025, our material will become more accessible to stylists, designers and curators.

In parallel, multiple architectural projects are underway designed for large scale spaces; in both the public and private sectors.

It’s exciting for us to see our artistic trademark translate into objects and spatial experiences.

Please mention some of your latest collabs /products you’ve developed recently

Very recently, we debuted ‘The Desert Relics’, a grand-scale permanent land art installation celebrating the craft of Mleiha’s artefacts, made of and from desert sand.

Renowned for its archaeological significance within the Arab region, Mleiha fosters a broad collection of the region’s artefactual heritage in Sharjah. ‘The Desert Relics’ draw inspiration from a selection of Mleiha’s ancient relics, visually expressing the “unearthing of an artefact” through a variety of vessel-like geometries.

Twelve modular totems rise to monumental heights against the mountain backdrop — in the symbolic form of stacked vessel vases, a grand bejeweled necklace, or a set of ancient stones. Each piece is unique in color and form, and like all ancient crafts, is fully handmade of and from the earth.

The work was unveiled at the 2024 Tanweer Festival, and designed as a contribution to Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi’s inspiring vision to timelessly celebrate Mleiha’s cultural heritage and rich desertscapes.

Also, the first collectible piece from the mentioned ‘Desert Drop’ series was showcased at this year’s Maison Et Objet fair as part of the ‘UAE Design Oasis’ stand, hosted by the Dubai Cultural Grants Program, enabling us and 14 other designers to showcase our work within the international community.

The piece explores the organic relationship between two synonymous materials, glass and sand, drawing aesthetic inspiration from the desertscape. The work captures the gestural forms of sand “droplets”, and the fluid-like characteristics of oasis waters. Every custom-made part of this piece is proudly produced within the UAE.

Can you talk about a type of project that you would like to take on in 2025 that would interest you to pursue (dream project that you would like to manifest)?

As architects working with a ‘material of meaning’, we’ve always envisioned our contextual work translating into spaces of spirituality or prayer.

Across nearly every culture, the journey to spiritual enlightenment has often been rooted in nature; whether within a cave or amidst a natural wonder. Experiencing our work in profound spatial settings would introduce new meaning to our craft — as a reminder of our intrinsic connection to the earth.

Our work is born from a narrative that honors the past and the primal significance of geo heritage.

How would you describe your design philosophy?

Essentially, our studio’s work bridges two narratives together; one of adopting a local material with meaning — desert sand, and one of preserving an ancient artisanal technique — rammed earth.

Conceived and based in the UAE since 2022, our studio’s vision was inspired by the immediate context and geography of the Arab region; specifically landscapes of desert sands. Sand has existed timelessly and, in many ways, paints a meaningful picture of the region’s history, culture and identity. Instinctively, we saw this as an opportunity worth celebrating while asking ourselves — “how can we use the most abundantly found local material as a cultural ode to the larger region? What tangibly bridges the boundaries between these neighboring lands?”

Through creative exploration, we developed a personalized approach towards rammed earth in an effort to preserve the ancient art of “sculpting with sand”. Much like the preserved artistry of sculpting marble, or carving wood, we consider ourselves revivalists of a traditional craft now reimagined through a contemporary lens.

Our mixes also preserve traditional techniques. A proportionate mix of local earth, clay and water is packed in sedimentary layers within custom-made moulds to craft the bodies of work; be it an object, a sculpture, or an architectural wall. All our materials are locally sourced, and naturally pigmented in an array of earthen tones.

We began with pieces of Dubai, on a mission to craft earthen works and spatial experiences from landscapes of the country. Today, our work is finding its place amongst the neighboring Arab countries and beyond.

As this is the power issue, what empowers you and your team?

Narratives inspired by our context — be it the rich and timeless landscapes, or the vernacular traditions worth reimagining through contemporary culture.

View the full id50 list here.