Visiting The Design Studio By Azza Fahmy

As we wandered into the peculiar Al Fakhareen area of Old Cairo, an aesthetic collection of antique-ish looking pottery caught our eye and then we noticed the sign that read The Design Studio by Azza Fahmy. You could literally sense the Bohemian ambience of the place the moment you step out the car. Needless to say, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

Greeted with warm smiles and friendly faces, we sat down with the Design Studio family to learn more about the leading jewelry design teaching institute. Founded by Azza Fahmy in 2013, the studio is the only specialized school in the Middle East that provides an international quality education level, where programs are developed in very close collaboration with a team of international teachers and consultants with extensive experience in the field.

You can sign up for a variety of courses and workshops that cater to all levels starting from beginners to advanced experts. Combining theoretical knowledge and practice in regards to jewelry design and metal-smith work, students find their individuality in making pieces with their hands from scratch. We would know… they let us play around with the hammers, mandrels, wax and pliers. You can spend a whole day losing yourself in this experience. It can be that much fun when you’re doing it yourself. They actually warned us. They said most people don’t know this is something they will love unless they try it.

Another highlight of our time at the Design Studio was sitting with Azza Fahmy as she shared her daughter’s journey of determination in pursuing art school. Fahmy also talked about how the Egyptian people are now increasingly choosing to take more creative paths rather than sticking to the status quo careers. It was a privilege to sit with the mastermind behind the glamorous jewelry empire. We loved her pure passion for art and her humble heart.

We also got the chance to sit with Doris Maninger, the Senior Technical Consultant at the Design Studio. She explained to us the prerequisite for artists to discover and establish their personal identity before they can start making any art. This is how they can make something original instead of parroting other people’s work, even subconsciously. For example, the students are literally required to look at themselves in the mirror for thirty days and each day, draw a self-portrait even if they don’t know how to draw, and then, they pick an item that they feel is like a piece of them, and so on. The more we listened, the more we realized that the school was way more about making wearable art and having fun than producing commercial products.

If you decide to give them a visit and venture outside of the mediocre city lifestyle, we’re sure you’ll fall in love with the Design Studio just like we did. Whether you want to sign up for their two-year program or only a few courses, make sure to contact them at applicants@azzafahmy.com

By Sarah Guirguis