Founded in 2006, Fikra — an Arabic word meaning idea or concept, or more accurately translated as the idea after the processes of cerebration — is a multi-disciplinary design studio that specializes in providing bilingual — Arabic and English — design solutions in print and new media. As a natural response to the influx of foreign cultures and economic globalization, the United Arab Emirates speci
fically, and the Arab world in general is undergoing a dramatic change that is both cultural and visual. Fikra’s work addresses both aspects of the change through the lens of design. Using design as the primary language, we define narratives and communicate experiences that are honest to our Arabic culture and Islamic values. Our studio has worked with a wide range of local and international clients including startups, multinational organizations, and government institutions. Fikra works in print and new media, which includes: branding and identity creation, book design, data-visualizations, environmental graphics, type design, web and app design. Our team consists of designers and developers based in the United Arab Emirates and New York. Afkar is the plural form of Fikra, and Afkar Fikra literally translates into “the ideas of Fikra”, or “the ideas of the idea”. Afkar Fikra was created as a platform that allows for the production and initiation of independent projects to research, investigate, and explore current regional topics through design.
