Alanood Bukhammas
Adjunct Lecturer
Affiliation: NYU Abu Dhabi
Education: MA Goldsmiths, University of London
Research Areas: Graphic Design, Design Education, Visual Culture, Archival Documentation, National Identity
Alanood Bukhammas is a Graphic Design Instructor in the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University in Dubai, UAE. She holds a master’s degree in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship in Design from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Her research focuses on the visual culture of the Gulf, with a particular interest in how historical and contemporary visual narratives shape expressions of nationhood. Her ongoing research project, “Visual Narratives of Nationhood,” examines rudimentary visual narratives and explores their integration into regional design education. Alanood has participated in leading creative conferences, summits, and panels, contributing to discussions on design research and education both locally and internationally.
Following her corporate background, Alanood has prioritized fostering collaborations between academia and industry by establishing partnerships that bring together government entities, private organizations, and students through industry-led projects. These initiatives have facilitated meaningful and organic collaborations between students and industry leaders in the region, contributing to the cultivation of design talent and strengthening connections between educational institutions and professional practice.
Summary of Research
Research Grant: Visual Narratives of Nationhood: Unearthing the Sovereign Graphics of the GCC's Pioneer Graphic Designers
This project explores the largely unrecognized contributions of self-taught graphic designers in the UAE, KSA, and Kuwait from the 1970s to the 1990s. These designers played a pivotal role in shaping the visual identity of their nations through work on key government and public sector projects, including national emblems, currency, and public branding. Despite their significant impact, there has been little academic focus on their work, and much of the material exists only in private collections or informal archives.
The project began from a growing need to address Eurocentric biases in graphic design education, particularly in the UAE, where Western design principles often dominate curricula. Recognizing the gap between what is taught and the rich design heritage of the region, I began researching these underrepresented designers in 2021-2022 through the newly introduced Special Topic class “Visual Representation of the UAE” at the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises, in ZU.
Bukhammas aims to finalize three teaching modules— (UAE, KSA, Kuwait) — that will be integrated into existing graphic design curricula. These modules will include interviews, visual analyses, and historical context, giving students a more comprehensive and regionally relevant understanding of design history. Ultimately, this work will offer a new perspective on graphic design in the Gulf, while contributing to the development of a more culturally responsive design curriculum at Zayed University and potentially across the region.