We got to chat with -ing Founder, Ramy Alawssy after the conference chaos this year about how he fell into design, the amazing team scattered across the world, and using your knowledge and skills for social good.
When did you fall in love with design and how did you get started?
I fell in love with design, truly, when I realized it’s full potential. It was at the KL Design Week in 2010, Stefan Sagmeister was there, I didn’t even know who he was at that time. I came to that conference thinking I would be inspired, I left feeling like I can do anything, the world of possibilities felt limitless. Seeing Designers doing things I only dreamt to do, that’s incredible, and believing you can do great things is what makes you fall in love.
Give us the elevator pitch on what you do.
I am a Graphic Designer, designing a Creative Festival yearly based in Dubai, called -ing. The reason of -ing is to go from ideas to creation, hence the -ing. We love to help bring the world’s best creatives to Dubai to help build the next generation of local makers.
Whats your take on internships? (do you take interns now?)
It’s incredible, it changes lives, it shows you what the real world looks like in a glimpse, internship is what will be the beginning of your career, take it very seriously.
And yes we are taking interns in design and marketing, visit our website www.ingcreatives.com and go to “Our Story”.
Who’s on the team, what are their roles and why do you love them?
Currently the team is diverse, here are the names:
Lindsey Alba, our Creative Project Manager, Dubai
Ana Maria Cara, our Creative Content Manager, Berlin
Hoda Moawad, our Creative Assistant, Dubai
Jiani Lu, our Creative Design Lead, Tornoto
Ryan Romanes, our Creative Director, Melbourne
Yev Baluyeva, our Creative Marketing Manager
Dragana Ivcevska, our Creative Marketing Coordinator
I love my team because I can’t imagine what we do without them, they make the world a better place, they’re passionate and truly believe in what we do, and that goes night and day.
When I was 16, all I dreamt was being independent and successful, and I imagined money was the solution to that. Yes money is important, but far from everything we need.
What career advice would you give your 16yr old self?
When I was 16, all I dreamt was being independent and successful, and I imagined money was the solution to that. I mean how can you not think that, looking at everything in the world today. Yes money is important, but far from everything we need. My advice to my 16 year old self, do what gets you excited, and don’t over think, just keep trying and get up when you fall and fail, don’t sweat it, it will make you stronger and help you be smarter. As my dad tells me “You never know till you try”. As I write this, it’s making me reflect on what I do now, it’s helpful to me even today. Anyhow, what you read is great, but you need to act again and again and again to truly learn.
What do you think the design community could do more of to give back?
I love this question, because I meet a lot of young people, and I feel their number 1 goal in life is getting a job. That was mine too, and it is important, but while looking for work, you realize you’re a very smart and capable person, yes you are!! And what should you do with that brain? Help people, NGOs, friends with their businesses, the community, whatever you feel passionate about. Get to work, that will help you to start your learning right away, never ever sit ideal waiting for change, it is within you to bring change to your life.
2018 for you in a sentence.
It is a year of less, less talk, less clutter, less desires, only in having less do you get more out of life.
