AUS College of Architecture, Art and Design hosts Tasmeem Retrospective Exhibition

Bringing together three years of curated poster design from ICD Brookfield Place, featuring works by CAAD alumni, faculty and regional talents, alongside a thought-provoking panel discussion with past curators

The College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) hosted the Tasmeem Retrospective Exhibition on February 17–27, a vibrant showcase that brought together three years of graphic design innovation. For the first time, posters from the annual Tasmeem exhibitions at ICD Brookfield Place were exhibited collectively in a new venue, offering an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of design voices that have shaped the regional creative landscape.

Tasmeem is an annual graphic design and poster show based in Dubai, founded and managed by ICD Brookfield Place Arts. It aims to expand upon the discourse related to graphic design through the medium of posters while providing a platform for emerging and established talent in the region.

The exhibition featured 39 posters designed by CAAD alumni, faculty and talented creatives from across the region. What made this retrospective particularly meaningful was the story behind each edition—all curated by CAAD alumnae who infused their distinct perspectives into the exhibition’s narrative. The first edition was curated by Jenan Saleh, the second by Mariam AlZayani, and the third by Wafa AlFalah, representing the disciplines of multimedia design, visual communication and interior design, respectively. Adding to this strong alumni presence, the visual identities for all three editions were designed by CAAD alumnae Leen Albaz and Lama Kadri, whose bold typographic experimentation and use of Arabic lettering grounded each exhibition in a rich cultural context while embracing contemporary aesthetics.

"AUS was the ideal setting for the Tasmeem Retrospective, a place where design rigor and creative exploration are woven into the fabric of our community,” said Dr. Varkki Pallathucheril, Dean of CAAD. “Tasmeem reflects the spirit of CAAD—bold, experimental and rooted in cultural dialogue. Hosting the exhibition here brings the work of our alumni and faculty back to the environment that shaped their artistic journeys, creating new opportunities for reflection and inspiration."

CAAD’s involvement extended well beyond hosting the exhibition. A key highlight was the panel discussion that brought together curators Saleh, AlZayani and AlFalah in a candid conversation moderated by Albaz in which the speakers shared how they navigated their curatorial journeys, reflecting on the intersection of personal expression and collective storytelling. The panel explored the art of poster design, the curatorial process and how each edition’s theme was conceptualized and brought to life. 

Reflecting on her curatorial experience, AlZayani, who is Senior Graphic Designer at MAKE Abu Dhabi and a practicing artist, shared, “Curating Tasmeem was an opportunity to not only showcase design but to engage with it as a living, evolving dialogue. Each poster tells a story—of process, experimentation and the designers’ connection to the region’s visual culture. Seeing these works come together in this retrospective feels like witnessing a conversation between different creative minds across time, all rooted in a shared design language shaped by our experiences at CAAD.”

“We are so excited to host the first Tasmeem Retrospective at CAAD. Tasmeem holds a special place in our hearts as one of our most cherished projects each year. We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to collaborate with a vibrant community of young and exceptionally talented designers from across the Arab world and take great pride in the result of each show,” said Malak Abu Qaoud, Director of Arts and Events at ICD Brookfield Place.

CAAD is a leader in design education in the region, ranking among the top 200 universities globally for the subject areas of architecture and the built environment, and art and design (QS World University Rankings, 2024). With a dedication to cross-cultural partnerships, CAAD drives knowledge advancement and offers innovative solutions to challenges in architecture, design and urbanism. Find out more at www.aus.edu/CAAD.