Recent AUS graduate Sara Bokr a trailblazing regional designer

Only one year after graduating from American University of Sharjah (AUS) with a Bachelor of Architecture, Palestinian designer Sara Bokr is recognized as one of the region’s cultural trailblazers, being featured by leading regional fashion and design platforms such as Hypebeast, Identity Magazine Middle East and a recent collaboration between GQ Middle East and Adidas Originals.

Born and raised in Sharjah, Bokr describes herself as a designer who sees architecture as “a dreamy, playful and emotionally resonant practice.” Her approach to architecture extends beyond the world of towers and high-rise buildings to immersive and experiential temporary structures, bespoke furniture and cultural festivals, all while leaning into opportunities to work locally in the communities in which she grew up.

“As a Sharjah kid, I felt a deep sense of belonging and a desire to continue where I started. I knew that by choosing AUS, being very well-known in the region for its architecture program, I would have the opportunity to learn about and directly impact the development of the city I loved,” Bokr said.

In only a short timeframe, Bokr’s career has expanded into a blend of collaborative projects, architectural work and transformative experiences. Starting her career as a full-time architect and designer of residential housing, she quickly began branching out into other projects, including designing pop-up spaces at lifestyle and street-culture festival Sole DXB. This led to commissioning permanent spaces in Dubai, such as the highly popular Rascal's Deli, Blu Matcha Cafe, Ziina Booth, Precious Trust and Zaza Slice Bar. 

“While providing stability, designing residential projects did not always satisfy my creative drive. The turning point came when I joined the Athath Fellowship (a 15-week professional furniture design course offered by MakerSpace in Abu Dhabi in collaboration with AUS) leading to the creation of the Omooma Chair, which was showcased in Identity Magazine Middle East and Hypebeast, propelling my work into the spotlight,” she said.

This success provided Bokr the platform to develop and curate the inaugural Grazing Dinner with Architecture event held at Dubai’s landmark cultural destination Alserkal Avenue. The event aimed to bridge the gap between architects and other creatives, including photographers, filmmakers, musicians, fashion designers and artists, and featured work by foundation students from AUS’ College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD).

“One of my passions is to really highlight the versatility of architects. The premise of learning architecture is essentially learning about how we can shape our world and our interactions. I do not think any other field in the world is as comprehensive and practical but also as poetic and detailed,” she said.

“With architecture, you learn how to shape a city, but you also learn how to shape a chair. I always thought of architecture as everything around me and if architecture is a spatial practice, then anything related to our physical environment could be architecture. Thinking that way about my work allows me to diversify and expand within other disciplines without necessarily labeling it under a certain category but more importantly focusing on the experience it provides,” said Bokr.

Reflecting on her time as a CAAD student, Bokr said courses in rendering and illustration, as well as the award-winning design-build program which allows students to create full-scale models and prototypes of their designs, played a key role in shaping her into the designer she is today.

“If I could go back to my time as an architecture student at CAAD, I would seek more opportunities to collaborate with students from different majors. I think interacting with students in other areas could have led to exciting projects and a broader perspective on the way I saw the world of design. I would have also spent more time in the CAAD labs experimenting with 3D printing, digital art and fabrication tools, not just for academic projects but also for my personal exploration,” she said.

Looking ahead, UAE audiences can expect to see Bokr’s work in the design and architecture of Sole DXB in December 2023, as well as the interior of Dubai-based tech company Sukoun, and collaborations with friends on bespoke furniture pieces.

“I’m enjoying having a diverse mix of projects that allow me to continuously learn, experiment and push the boundaries of architecture,” said Bokr.

For more information about the College of Architecture, Art and Design at American University of Sharjah, and its outstanding students, faculty and alumni, visit www.aus.edu/caad.