Designer utilises sand art to create practical items

AMMAN — Seeking to reinvent the local tradition of sand art, Jordanian designer Sahar Mdanat is working on a project that will incorporate it into everyday tools.

Samples of her work will be showcased during the nine-day Amman Design Week, which opens on Thursday. 

Mdanat, whose work ranges from medical design to new concept furniture, uses sand to design items such as lamps and chandeliers.

She told The Jordan Times in an interview on Tuesday that she prepared for her project for almost a year, learning the techniques of sand art and finding ways to incorporate it into different items.

“It is a profession that exists in the country but it is given little attention, with artists ending up selling sand art bottles to tourists. So I thought about making it a more ubiquitous product that can be used at homes,” the Jordanian artist added.  

Mdanat, who has over a decade of experience in design, is also showcasing another design at the event’s Hangar Exhibition, taking on a medical issue this time. 

She has designed wearable technology that can be used at home by people who have no experience in first aid to mitigate the impact of heart attacks until paramedics arrive.

“My idea is to help face the state of panic they go through. It also supports making video calls to emergency teams,” said Mdanat.

The designer added that she has obtained a patent for the product in the US and it will be tested further at an institute in Chicago.

Commenting on the importance of the design week, Mdanat said it is important to have an event that presents design as a tool that adds value, and solves problems rather than simply being about appearance.

The designer has won several international design awards, including the Red Dot, IDEA, Spark and Green Dot, according to the design week’s organisers.