Mayda Freije Makdessi / Co-Founder, Creative Direction, Design & Illustration
Mayda received a Master of Science degree in Communication from Pratt Institute in New York City. Mayda’s solid New York experience involved working with high-profile agencies such as Union Design, Pentagram and Futurebrand. She holds a diversity of talents including concept development, graphic design, illustration, and Arabic calligraphy. She has produced numerous award-winning projects and has been featured in several publications. Her art murals were also chosen for the ‘Building Dreams’ Children’s Playground Improvement Project in New York City.
In 1995 upon relocating to Beirut, Mayda established her own studio and has worked with a very diverse clientele. In 2010 she expanded her horizon and joined forces with Nadine Hajjar, a corporate branding specialist working in New York. With one, a very creative designer and artist, and the other, more structural and corporate minded, the two bring a wider range of services to the table. They work very closely together, if not side by side then via Skype on a daily basis.
Additionally, Mayda has taught at the American University of Beirut (AUB, for 18 years) and the American University of Science and Technology (AUST, for 20 years), and is still teaching at the Lebanese American University (LAU) and the Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (ALBA). She gives workshops on creativity and design at the Beirut chapter of Behance, a platform for creative professionals. She is a dynamic member of Assabil / The Friends of Public Libraries Association founded in Lebanon in 1997, promoting reading to the young through story telling and activities at various public libraries in Lebanon. She is an advocate of ‘inclusive’ designs and books for children with additional needs, initiating hands-on workshops on developing stories, choosing proper imagery and language, and engaging children in reading.