Open Design Lab
Design Research & Workshop Participation
I participated in the first edition of Open Design Lab, a five-week design research workshop at BUDA::lab in Kortrijk, centered on open design methodologies and textile-based experimentation using free and open-source tools. The program emphasized collaborative learning and hands-on exploration with digital fabrication technologies, including laser cutting, embroidery machines, and microcontrollers, within a framework connected to the textile heritage of the Kortrijk region.
During the workshop, I designed and developed two conceptual projects—Evacuation Flip-Flops and The Heal-Hope Scarf—which explore themes of displacement, care, and resilience through material and form. Both works were presented as part of the Wonder Festival exhibition, reflecting an approach to design as research, storytelling, and critical engagement.
Ibrahim Muhtadi, Brussels, 2025
Production
Prototypes
Evacuation Flip-Flop
Evacuation Flip-Flops, is a conceptual design in process, inspired by the ongoing displacement in Gaza. The undersides are engraved with the recurring question “Where do we go?” / “وين نروح؟” , capturing the words so often spoken by Gazans during forced evacuations. With every step, the flip-flops imprint this unanswered call onto the ground. A ban symbol reinforces the sense of blocked paths and being trapped with nowhere to escape. This simple wearable becomes a powerful statement on loss, displacement, and the struggle for survival.
Heal-Hope Scarf
Inspired by Gaza’s most used textile today, medical bandages, essential in caring for the wounded amid ongoing hardship. The fabric gauze carries deeper meaning, as its name originates from Gaza, once a key center for producing this soft, white cloth. Blending gauze with patches of the traditional Palestinian keffiyeh. The scarf wraps the wearer in a gentle embrace, offering warmth, protection, and a quiet message of enduring care and hope.