Four students from the American University in Dubai’s Interior Design Department have been recognized in the fourth edition of Lighting the Future, iGuzzini Design Challenge 2025, an industry-academic initiative between the AUD Interior Design Department, AUDesign_lab, and iGuzzini Middle East exploring light as a tool for social innovation and urban regeneration.
Ola Alhazeem and Aisha Alsamt were jointly awarded first place for their ex-aequo projects OTW and Al-Roeya, followed by Cathlyn Nassif in second place for her project Pulse, and Jana El Rassy in third place for her work The Ignite. The first-place designs will soon be brought to life and printed locally on glass gobos for iGuzzini’s Palco InOut fittings. They will also all be showcased at Dubai Design Week 2025 in Dubai Design District (d3).
1st Place: Ola Alhazeem
1st Place: Aisha Alsamt
2nd Place: Cathlyn Nassif
3rd Place: Jana El Rassy
This year’s theme, “Innovation,” invited students to develop original lighting concepts that address the evolving needs of modern cities by placing light at the heart of human experience, storytelling, and social change. As part of the initiative, students also participated in a hands-on workshop led by iGuzzini ME Team, where they were introduced to the fundamentals of lighting design and explored the concept of light through both technical and conceptual lenses.
“Lighting the Future is more than a contest; it bridges imagination and impact between today’s students and tomorrow’s professionals. Seeing our students respond with such creativity and depth has been inspiring,” said Prof. Annamaria Lambri, Chair of the AUD Interior Design Department and Associate Professor, who mentored the students throughout the project along with Dr. Poupak Parvaresh, AUD Assistant Professor of Interior Design. The projects have been developed in IDES 392: Interior Design Studio VI – Smart Design.
The final presentation and awards ceremony at AUD were attended by students, faculty, and distinguished guests from the iGuzzini team:
Luca Savastano, Regional Director, iGuzzini Middle East & English-Speaking Africa; Saba Napoletano, Marketing Manager, iGuzzini Middle East & English-Speaking Africa; Nathalie Roumanos, Brand Specialist, iGuzzini Middle East & English-Speaking Africa; Mayar Younes, iGuzzini Interior Designer and proud AUD alumna who supported the students and shared insights from her own journey through the program.
The jury panel included Erin Denkovska, Senior Associate at Delta Lighting Design; Sergio Padula, iGuzzini Technical Director Middle East & English-Speaking Africa; Aneesha Rai, Identity Magazine Editor; all prominent figures in the design and lighting industry.
By transforming concepts into real installations, the students’ work extends beyond illuminating spaces to redefining how light interacts with the urban environment. Their designs position light as a functional element that shapes new narratives and drives social innovation within the evolving fabric of the city.
