< PreviousGauthier Guillaume CEO & creative director Gauthier Guillaume is the CEO and creative director of award- winning interior design studio GG&Grace International. Gauthier Guillaume, the pioneering founder of GG&Grace International, boasts a remarkable two-decade career in designing over 30 unique hotel projects across four continents and 17 countries. His design philosophy is deeply rooted in an intimate understanding of brands and consumers, resulting in designs that are not only captivating but also culturally signifi cant. Emphasizing innovation and technology, Guillaume’s latest venture, Grace Virtual Reality, showcases his dedication to incorporating technology in creating unforgettable mixed-reality experiences for guests. His portfolio in hospitality design is diverse and global, with notable projects in the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean and other highly sought-after locations. The signature Club Med Resort in Seychelles and the Kwanza Boutique Hotel in Zanzibar have garnered numerous design accolades, standing out among these. In Egypt, his team executed the full renovation of the iconic Steigenberger Golf Resort in El Gouna, a project that redefi ned luxury on the Egyptian Red Sea and the Crowne Plaza West Cairo Hotel, which seamlessly blends modern design with the region’s rich cultural heritage. In a momentous achievement, GG&Grace International marked the design of its 10,000th room in 2023, signifying a monumental milestone in its journey. We spoke to the infl uencial hospitality designer about his design highlights, where he fi ndes inspiration, and what we can expect to see in the year ahead. What have been your biggest design highlights of 2023? In 2023, we set a new standard in sustainable barefoot luxury at the Kwanza Resort in Zanzibar, showcasing our dedication to eco-friendly elegance. We also led the way in integrating technology in hospitality by developing the sector’s fi rst virtual housekeeping game, marking a signifi cant step in operational effi ciency, and enhancing guest interaction. Where do you look for design inspiration when you begin new projects? With projects spanning over 17 countries, our design inspiration comes from the rich tapestry of global cultures and the natural world’s beauty. This is exemplifi ed in our projects in Benin or Nairobi, where we blend local heritage with modern sustainability. Concurrently, we delve into technological advancements, like in our recent project in the Caribbean, where augmented reality tools are being developed to redefi ne guest experiences, blending traditional design with cutting-edge technology. What will be the driving trends in design across the region in 2024? For 2024, we anticipate a strong push towards sustainable and regenerative design, evident in our eco-conscious hotel design with Kasada and Accor in Senegal. We’re also preparing for a rise in the fusion of virtual and physical experiences, as showcased by our innovative projects in Saudi Arabia, where we’re using advanced technology to offer immersive and unique guest encounters. DECEMBER 2023 commercialinteriordesign.com 30 POWER 5031 commercialinteriordesign.com DECEMBER 2023 POWER 50Hany Saad Founder, Hany Saad Innovations Since founding Hany Saad Innovations in 2003, the Egyptian architect and interior designer has worked on more than 300 projects across Africa and the Middle East. Saad is renowned for this signature ultra-luxurious aesthetic and his innovative use of mixed materials. With headquarters in Katameya, Cairo, Saad and his fi rm has participated in the completion of more than $97 million in commercial planning. The award-winning designer leads a team of 270 full time employees, despite humble beginnings 25 years ago as a one-man show. Hasan and Husain Roomi Founders H2R Design Brothers Hasan and Husain Roomi are the founders of H2R Design. With offi ces in Dubai and London, H2R is a multi-award-winning interior design company, with a focus on designing spaces that stand out. The Roomi brothers have a particular focus and skill set in designing hospitality, F&B, and retail projects. In the past twelve months, they have delivered impressive projects across the GCC, while expanding across the wider MENA region with F&B venues such as Falla in Riyadh. Harshil Pancholi Creative director, Sanat Interiors Harshil Pancholi joined Sanat Interiors as an FF&E designer, and in three short years has worked his way up to become the fi rm’s creative director. Pancholi was behind a number of landmark projects for the fi rm in 2023, including Vanguard (GCC’s largest diamond cutting and polishing centre), and the Transatlantic Gems Auction House, spanning over 5900 sq. ft. located in Al Mas Tower, JLT – this is one of the biggest diamond tendering facilities in the GCC. Most recently, Pancholi’s work has secured contracts for the 2024 Qatar Jewellery exhibition, solidifying his fi rm’s reputation as an industry leader in the sector. DECEMBER 2023 commercialinteriordesign.com 32 POWER 50Joe Chamberlain Regional director, 1508 London As the Regional Director of the Middle East for 1508 London, Joe Chamberlain has played a pivotal role in the studio’s expansion and the successful execution of some of the most exciting projects in the region. Chamberlain leads an impressive portfolio that includes iconic projects such as the refurbishment of At.mosphere Restaurant in the Burj Khalifa and the Armani Hotel & Residences Riyadh. The year ahead looks bright for Chamberlain and 1508 London, as the fi rm’s next icon, the Baccarat Hotel and Residences, comes to life having already set new sales records. Joakim De Rham CEO & co-founder, Swiss Bureau Interior Design As the CEO and co-founder of Swiss Bureau Interior Design, Joakim De Rham takes on many roles. He’s known for his dedication to design and a hands-on approach, which has shaped the success of the fi rm. Under his leadership, SBID has delivered 200+ projects and served 3.5 million sqft of creative spaces while achieving impressive organic international growth throughout UAE, GCC, and parts of Europe. This year, De Rham has helped to deliver a wide variety of large-scale projects, including Galadari Brothers’ offi ce space and the striking lobby interiors for Khaleej Times, as well as the British American Tobacco offi ces and the complex design and build of EgonZehner’s headquarters. He also played a crucial role in developing the unique campus for the University of Europe in One Central. Indu Varanasi Founder & design director, IR Design Veteran architect and interior designer Indu Varanasi is the founder and design director of IR Design (IRD), a full-service interior architecture studio in Dubai. She began her career in 1998 at the Design Division of The Engineering Offi ce of the UAE, later joining LW Design before opening her own studio in 2004. In 2023, Varanasi delivered an innovative yet practical design for Kavak HUB, a pre-owned car showroom, with a design that optimizes intuitive user experience, with a sustainable focus. 33 commercialinteriordesign.com DECEMBER 2023 POWER 50Jonathan Ashmore Founding principal, ANARCHITECT Jonathan Ashmore is a Founding Principal of ANARCHITECT, an award-winning, internationally RIBA-Chartered boutique design practice based in Dubai and London. His unique work ranges from luxe desert lodges through urban contemporary villas to high- end modernist hotels. His greatest strength is in creating authentic project narratives that create an extra layer of depth to his work. The past year saw an expansion of Ashmore’s fi rm in the geographical spread of the projects, with live site works underway across three continents; Africa, Europe and the Middle East, including a hill-side coastal UAE retreat. Karma Zahran Design director & partner Forsite Creative As the design director and partner at Forsite Creative, Karma Zahran has a primary focus on overseeing the interior design process of all projects. While guiding the fi rm’s design team to deliver operationally sound yet creatively driven F&B projects, Zahran also takes charge of business development, budgets, addressing HR needs, and fostering client retention and client satisfaction. This year, Zahran and her team successfully delivered a number of projects across the GCC including Nozomi Riyadh, Robata Riyadh which was shortlisted at the CID awards. She’s currently in the fi nal stages of handover for Kuuru Riyadh and Siddharta Lounge Jeddah,further solidifying Foresite’s commitment to design excellence. Justin Wells CEO & founder, Wells International Widely recognised across the industry, Justin Wells is the the CEO and founder of Wells International where oversees the design and strategic direction of the company. In the past year, Wells has overseen a 9% revenue growth, 300% profi tability increase and 35% jump in quoted projects. As the designer behind one of Saudi’s fi rst beach clubs at the Red See, he continues to make his mark on the across the Kingdom, as well as the UAE - watch this space for exciting new announcements. DECEMBER 2023 commercialinteriordesign.com 34 POWER 50Kristina Zanic CEO & founder, Kristina Zanic Consultants Kristina Zanic is one of the most prominent names in the Middle East design industry, and beyond. As the founder and CEO of Kristina Zanic Consultants, her leadership and innovation extends across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia. H aving lived in fi ve countries and managed projects spanning 25 nations, Zanic is undoubtedly an internationally-minded designer and often draws design inspiration from diverse cultures and the beauty of nature. The designer’s extensive portfolio of prestigious projects includes luxury resorts, fi rst-of-their-kind hotels and eco-lodges as well as high-end F&B and wellness. Zanic has played a pivotal role in shaping this region’s perception of luxury hospitality. Under her leadership, her design studio has experienced substantial growth. In 2023 alone, the staff head count grew from 120 to 200, representing 28 nationalities. Throughout the past year, she has focused on expanding the teams in Riyadh and Philippines, while emphasizing enhanced collaboration among all offi ces. As a staunch advocate for the wider design community, Zanic often dedicates time to industry events and initiatives, with creative installations this year at Index Saudi Arabia and Dubai Design Week. Her involvement in mentoring and delivering design workshops to university students demonstrates her dedictaion to the next generation of designers. Zanic’s leadership and creative vision are behind her studio’s achievements and accolades. In addition, with her unwavering commitment to quality, Zanic was the driving force behind her studio’s achievement of ISO 9001 certifi cation in Dubai, Riyadh, and the Philippines offi ces. Her commitment to lifelong learning is evident through her establishment of a culture that promotes monthly educational and creative sessions for her teams. Her goal to expand to Europe was recently achieved with the establishment of a branch in London, serving as an extension for design, business development, and post- contract teams with a focus on the European market. 35 commercialinteriordesign.com DECEMBER 2023 POWER 50Laila Al-Yousuf Design director, SAY Studio Laila Al-Yousuf is the design director of SAY Studio, and a dedicated humanitarian. Not only has she led her team to delivering prestigious projects such as PwC, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google, she is a LEED AP and passionate about sustainability and wellness in design. Al-Yousuf is also the mind behind the Surge for Water design competition, which attracts and encourages other designers to design for a cause. This year, the it celebrates its 10-year anniversary having brought access to clean water to over 1 million people in 11 countries. In 2023, SAY Studio marked the opening of a new offi ce in Riyadh, KSA representing her commitment to growth in the region. Lulie Fisher Design director & founder, Lulie Disher Design Studio An interior designer with over 33 years of experience in the fi eld of architecture and interior design, Lulie Fisher leads her own eponymous studio where she is responsible for the overall creative output, client liaison and winning new projects. She has grown the studio from a start-up of two in 2016 to a team of15 talented designers and technicians. In the past twelve months, Fisher and her team have delivered eight hospitality projects in the fi rms most prolifi c year yet, all while working on another fi ve live sites. Fisher’s studio was also named the CID Awards: MENA Boutique Interior Design Firm of the Year for a second year running. Leali Ezzat Design director & founder, ELE Interior Design Leali Ezzat is the design director, and founder of ELE Interior Design, where she has consistently delivered high-end projects across the residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors. Beauty and wellness destination Harklinniken and Fern Flower Shop are just two of her latest commercial accomplishments, joining a line-up of luxury residences. Ezzat’s company is focused on diversifying its portfolio by taking on more commercial and hospitality projects, while maintaining a strong presence in the high-end luxury villa segment. The studio’s expansion plans including growing markets such as KSA and other GCC countries. DECEMBER 2023 commercialinteriordesign.com 36 POWER 50Mihir Sanganee Founder & creative director, Designsmith Co-founder and creative director of Designsmith, Mihir Sanganee stands out in the regional design landscape with his unique blend of artistic vision and strategic growth leadership. M ore than just setting the artistic direction, Sanganee is pivotal in charting the company’s growth trajectory. His strategic foresight has not only earned him a spot on the CID Power 50 List for 2023 but has also been instrumental in expanding Designsmith’s infl uence across India, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia. Under Sanganee’s leadership, Designsmith has refi ned its project selection approach, emphasising quality and client relationships over volume. This strategy has yielded signifi cant success, as evidenced by the fi rm’s impressive achievements in the past year. The studio has completed over 125 select design and build projects including Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia at Jumeirah Al Qasr, DFSA’s corporate offi ce in DIFC, Kawasaki’s fi rst boutique showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road, multiple projects with Taj Hospitality’s chain of hotels along with numerous residential architectural and design projects in Palm Jumeirah & Dubai Hills. Designsmith has also garnered multiple accolades in 2023, including ‘Best Hospitality Project Design,’ ‘Highly Commended Retail Project of the Year,’ and ‘Highly Commended Interior Design Firm of the Year’ at the DME Awards. They also received recognition for ‘Best F&B Concept Design’ and ‘Highly Commended Hotel Lobby, Room, and Spa’ at the CID Hospitality Awards. Additionally, they recently achieved ‘Highly Commended Outdoor Design of the Year’ at the CID Awards. All in all, his work creates great visibility for the studio and its clients. Beyond design: A broader infl uence Sanganee’s infl uence transcends his role at Designsmith. He actively contributes to the wider design community, participating in panels and leading discussions at major events like INDEX across Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. His latest initiative along with Chris Barnes, a studio- collaborative internship program, aims to revolutionise industry access and training, bringing together Designsmith and two other powerhouses to offer unparalleled opportunities for aspiring designers. Expanding horizons With Sanganee at the helm, Designsmith’s footprint has grown signifi cantly. The fi rm’s foray into India, and strategic alliances in Kenya and Saudi Arabia mark new chapters in its expansion. Handling a diverse portfolio with over 2 million square feet in residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, Sanganee demonstrates his aptitude for managing large-scale, impactful projects. Looking ahead, Sanganee’s vision and proven track record position him as a catalyst for continued innovation and progress in changing the way the design industry will evolve in the coming years. 37 commercialinteriordesign.com DECEMBER 2023 POWER 50Mohammed Adib Founder, Intercon & chief design offi cer, Dewan Arrchitects + Engineers Mohammed Adib is both the founder of Intercon and the chief design offi cer at Dewan Architects + Engineers. With more than 30 years of experience under his belt, he has worked on a range of projects in the GCC, such as The Avenue Hotel, Shaza Mecca Hotel, a four-star hotel in Cultural Village, Cayan Cantara Towers, Zaharam Apartments, Shatt Al Arab Hotel. While his design fi rm Intercon is based in Barcelona, 70% of Adib’s work is focused in Saudi, UAE, Egypt and Kazakhstan. Under his design and management guidance, the fi rm has completed over 180 projects in 15 countries. He joined Dewan in 2018, and during this time has worked on Dewan’s offi ce in d3 and steered the fi rm’s Asian expansion. Nasser Al Himali Founder, Nexus Design Nasser Al Himali is the founder of Omani design fi rm Nexus Design, and the resident architect and interior designer. He co-founded the fi rm alongside architect and urban planner Manal Al Hajari in 2017 and has completed more than 100 projects including the popular Batch Bakery near Muscat. Monica Arango Founder, C’est Ici A lawyer turned designer, Monica Arango founded inter-disciplinary fi rm C’est Ici in 2017. Under her creative direction, the studio has since completed over 50 luxury residential, commercial and hospitality projects in the region including a prestigious large-scale residential development for Nakheel unveiled this year. In the last year, Arango has lead a team to deliver more than 15 projects, and has developed great plans to further expand the portfolio. DECEMBER 2023 commercialinteriordesign.com 38 POWER 50Nikki Bisiker Founder & creative director, Nikki Bisiker Interior Design As the creative director and founder at Nikki Bisiker Interior Design, Bisiker is at the helm of a rapidly growing fi rm with a presence across the Middle East, Africa and Europe. A self- taught designer with more than two decades of experience, her portfolio varies across the F&B, luxury residential and hospitality sectors. This year, she has welcomed two new interior designers to her team while delivering a number of luxury homes and apartments, as well as the EL&N London café in Abu Dhabi. Pallavi Dean Founder & creative director, Roar Pallavi Dean is the founder and creative director of Roar, an interior design and architecture studio in Dubai that is consistently ranked as one of the top studios in the Middle East. The portfolio spans commercial, residential, hospitality and education. This year, Dean has led the design of wide range of impressive projects including offi ces for the law fi rm White & Case, and residences for members of the Forbes Billionaires List. Her work on the new offi ces for DMCC and the Jaipur Rugs showroom have graced the covers of CID and earned numerous accolades. A fi erce advocate for the region’s design industry, Dean has spoken at conferences in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Amsterdam and Washington DC and beyond. Omar Nakkash Founder, Nakkash Design Studio Omar Nakkash founded multidisciplinary architecture and design practice Nakkash Design Studio in 2015, where he has delivered across both residential and commercial sectors. Recent highlights include Villa 85, a 6-bedroom luxury residence in Al Khawaneej and the Dubai Mall pop-in-shop for Compartés, California’s trendiest artisanal chocolate – both projects were short listed in the CID Awards 2023: MENA. Currently, Nakkash is developing projects including the redesign of a Dubai Government offi ce building, and a new confi dential F&B outlet. 39 commercialinteriordesign.com DECEMBER 2023 POWER 50Next >