We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Seyedali Miri ("SM").
Seyedali Miri is an architect and multidisciplinary designer whose work bridges architecture, interior spaces, and product design with a refined sense of materiality and cultural depth. With a foundation in architectural theory and spatial storytelling, his creations reflect a commitment to both functionality and emotional resonance. His portfolio spans residential, commercial, and object-scale projects, each marked by thoughtful detailing and contextual sensitivity. Miri’s work contributes to a more human-centered design landscape, where spaces and objects are tailored to enrich everyday experiences. His ongoing exploration of form, tradition, and innovation positions him as a compelling voice in contemporary design.
Seyedali Miri Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Seyedali Miri.
Seyedali Miri Design - Aurum Versatile Lighting Fixture
Designer Interview of Seyedali Miri:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
SM : Although I come from a background in civil engineering and Architectural studies, I’ve always been fascinated by the way structures and objects shape our experiences. I was born and raised in Iran, and that rich cultural heritage has deeply influenced me. While working in hospitality industry in Oman, I became even more attuned to how design affects atmosphere, mood, and behavior. Design wasn’t something I chased ,it found me through my love for craftsmanship, storytelling, and human experience.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
SM : I currently operate independently, blending my work in hospitality management with my passion for design. While I don’t yet have a formal studio name, I approach each project like a design atelier—deeply intentional, collaborative, and rooted in purpose. My goal is to eventually create a multidisciplinary design space that merges heritage, hospitality, and innovation. There is a company in Oman ICD which they are helping for providing space or they have orders to be built.
DI: What is "design" for you?
SM : Design is the invisible language that connects people, place, and memory. It's where emotion meets logic where even a small object can create a deep impact. For me, design is about telling silent stories through form, material, and interaction.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
SM : I love designing objects that are both intimate and transformative. Lighting is especially meaningful to me it can completely shift the mood of a space with elegance and subtlety. Coming from a hospitality background, I see how the smallest design details can deeply affect someone’s experience. I’m also drawn to modular designs, pieces that respond to changing human needs while carrying cultural depth.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
SM : Aurum is the closest to my heart. It began as a reflection on traditional oil lamps from my Iranian heritage and evolved into a modern modular lighting piece. The transformation between table and pendant lamp is seamless, requiring no tools. It captures everything I stand for respect for the past, functionality for the present, and elegance for the future.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
SM : The first piece I created professionally was a lighting fixture for a boutique hotel lobby. Working in hospitality, I knew firsthand how lighting affects mood and guest experience. That project sparked my obsession with light as both utility and poetry.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
SM : Technologically, I’m inspired by subtle LED integrations that don’t compete with the material but enhance it quietly. working on iPad would be good but always feel that my platform for first lines is a paper and pen!
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
SM : I feel most creative when I step away from routine, traveling, observing details in everyday life, or even listening to classical Persian music. Often, inspiration comes at night, when the world is quiet and ideas can breathe.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
SM : I focus most on how the design feels, its emotional tone and the quality of interaction it invites. I care about how it transforms, how it transitions between states, and how materials age and respond to light. Proportions, tactile feedback, and ease of use are central to my process. I want every piece to feel both intuitive and poetic.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
SM : A blend of reverence, curiosity, and at times, tension. I feel connected to something older than me, yet completely present. Designing often feels like listening to a story that wants to be told.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
SM : Gratitude and quiet fulfillment. Seeing others engage with something I created, whether through light, space, or details, is a deeply human joy. It's like offering part of your soul to the world and watching it resonate.
DI: What makes a design successful?
SM : A design should feel inevitable, like it has always belonged. When it serves its purpose, evokes a feeling, and respects both material and user, I consider it successful.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
SM : I always look at the intention behind it first. Was the designer honest and thoughtful? Then I pay attention to how seamlessly form and function work together. I believe good design should feel inevitable, like it belongs, like it was meant to exist in exactly that way. Material choice and sensitivity to context are also key.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
SM : Designers are caretakers of culture and stewards of the future. We have the responsibility to minimize waste, honor craftsmanship, and design objects that age with dignity rather than fade with trends.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
SM : I believe we are shifting from excess to essence. The future of design is deeply human, it’s about adaptability, sustainability, and emotional resonance. Storytelling and cultural memory will become central pillars.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
SM : I have my project Aurum exhibited on A Design Awards which I am thankful for all publishing and supports. for next step I would like to consider opportunities by mentioned platform. But if you mean in person exhibition I would like to be in Dubai or New York for that.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
SM : inspired by historical artifacts, traditional crafts, architecture, and everyday rituals. Being Iranian, I carry centuries of culture within me, and living in Oman helps me slow down and observe details more deeply. I feed my creativity through silence, travel, and tactile experiences.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
SM : My style is poetic minimalism. It’s quiet, deliberate, and emotionally rooted. I believe in doing more with less, letting form, material, and light speak without noise. My approach begins with understanding the cultural and emotional role of the object.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
SM : I live in Oman but I’m originally from Iran. The heritage I carry is full of stories, symbolism, and craft. It’s a source of pride and influence. Living in Oman gives me peace and clarity, but access to niche materials or high-end manufacturing can sometimes be limited.
DI: How do you work with companies?
SM : I take time to understand their brand values and user needs. Whether through design or hospitality, I believe the best outcomes come from co-creation and trust.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
SM : Look for someone who listens more than they speak. Someone who asks the right questions before offering solutions. A good designer isn’t just creative, they’re empathetic, adaptive, and thoughtful.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
SM : My process begins with a question. Then comes searching and reading, sketching, testing, exploring materials. I build physical prototypes and also simulate digitally. I let ideas breathe, returning with fresh eyes until it feels right.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
SM : The Balcony Lamp which is reminding me shell, Living room lamp shade which made of glassy stand, candle holder which I made myself in pottery, craft L shape sofa and Persian carpet.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
SM : My mornings start with specialty hot coffee and sketching. Midday is spent either managing operations at the Plaza or finding new materials, correspondence. Evenings are for reading, reflection, and sometimes photography. Weekends are for creative deep work. every day doing an exciting sport has role in addition whenever I find a time happy to explore new designs.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
SM : Trust your voice, even when it’s quiet. Learn to edit, not everything needs to be loud. Study history. Honor where you come from, and let your roots grow into new directions.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
SM : The joy is creating things that live beyond you. The challenge is staying true to your values in a fast world. But if you keep designing from a place of honesty, the work will always feel worthwhile.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
SM : Design with intention, and never forget the human at the center.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
SM : Empathy, attention to detail, historical awareness, storytelling, and the ability to work across disciplines, especially in today’s interconnected world.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
SM : I use iPad, physical models, and mood boards. Books on Persian art, eastern minimalism, and material science are always within reach. My iPad and notebooks travel with me everywhere.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
SM : Time is managed through rhythm. I dedicate undisturbed time blocks to creative work and reserve operational tasks for specific hours. Balance is key, rest is part of the design process too, it will let you to see your design clearly.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
SM : It varies. Aurum took several months, especially due to prototyping and testing locking mechanisms. Some ideas form fast, others need slow refinement. I never rush meaning.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
SM : People often ask, “How did you think of this?” And the truth is, it’s less about thinking and more about observing, feeling, remembering.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
SM : Hospitality management in Middle East, in Oman and Iran gave me great experience that I can use it for the fuel to reach to the best function in design project by me. having the chance to work face to face with guest in hospitality industry specially in rich culture gives you so many opportunity to find best ideas to grow and design.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
SM : Currently, I focus on self-initiated projects and select collaborations. I hope to work with design-forward hospitality brands in the near future.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
SM : I love designing lighting and intimate furniture, things that quietly change how a space feels. Because I come from hospitality, I know the smallest details create the biggest impact.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
SM : I’m exploring a new collection inspired by nomadic architecture and its adaptability. I also plan to formalize my design practice and integrate it more closely with hospitality.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
SM : I develop the core ideas independently—through sketches, material studies, and prototypes. But I collaborate with engineers, craftsmen, and sometimes even hotel staff to refine execution.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
SM : Yes, I’m working on a lighting system that responds to natural light patterns in desert regions. It’s both an homage to ancient desert living and a nod to sustainable, location-sensitive design. I am thinking to attach this idea to be used widely in hospitality industry in the region.
DI: How can people contact you?
SM : My direct email address is alimiri200@gmail.com
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
SM : Thanks to all team members in A design that they are doing all the best for this platform.