Designing Her Own Experience

Exploration is the focus for Naeema Mohammed Sageer, Class of 2022, as she pursues her Master of Fine Arts at the Parsons School of Design in New York City.

“I haven't tried to focus on one medium media exclusively. I like designing experiences,” Sageer explains. “I’ve worked on a physical art installation, I’ve worked on an app. I have classes in game design, 3D modeling, and Unity, which is a game engine. It’s a good mix of having the space to ideate and learn specific skills.”

Finding her niche has been an exciting process. The best part of working with new and emerging media, compared to traditional film, is “the flexibility of being able to adjust the medium to the idea instead of the idea to the medium,” she says.

Feeling comfortable trying out different things started in her undergraduate years at NYU Abu Dhabi. From the moment she stepped on the Saadiyat campus, Sageer says she never stopped exploring.

Major: Film and New Media, Philosophy
Home Country: India
Current: Master of Fine Arts, Parsons School of Design, New York, US

“It was easy to do there, that’s what was great about it. I took a lot of different classes. I could take my time and settle on something I really liked.” 

That “something” turned out to be two things: film and new media as a career option and the study of philosophy for personal growth, which still inspires her.

“I never intended to major in philosophy,” she recalls.” I walked out of every class feeling really fulfilled. Even if I don’t continue to pursue it academically, it’s important to me. I did it for myself, as a person. 

NYUAD is different from what people are used to with traditional universities and that’s what’s unique about it. The location, the classes. I mention the core classes and they always want to know more! We have something very special to offer.

Naeema Mohammed Sageer, Class of 2022

Sageer’s goal after graduate school is to design experiences for the entertainment sector, ideally at streaming services or movie studios. If previous interviews are any indication, her chances of landing a gig are quite good. Interviewers, she says, love to talk about NYUAD.

"NYUAD is different from what people are used to with traditional universities and that’s what’s unique about it. The location, the classes. I mention the core classes I've taken and they always want to know more! We have something very special to offer."