Recognised designer and artist, award-winning photographer, skilled horsewoman, entrepreneur and multidisciplinary thinker, Maryam al-Semaitt is indeed a woman of several accomplishments. Hidden behind the permanent smile on her face, is a steely determination which has steered the talented young lady to success, despite the many obstacles that have come her way. 


Maryam al-Semaitt with her father and sister during her graduation in London.

Al-Semaitt was recently invited to join the Artist in Residence programme at the Doha Fire Station for the year 2016-2017 to further explore her interest in Islamic art with a twist of technology. Her latest achievement includes winning an award at the GCC Entrepreneurs Forum in Bahrain, for the startup idea of her business ‘Makery’, a service design consultancy, which is currently being incubated at the Qatar Business Incubation Center. The multifaceted young lady shares with Community her interests, dreams, challenges and what it is that keeps her going ...
Tell us about your academic background and how do you mix entrepreneurship with art and other interests …


Al-Semaitt’s business startup idea won an award at the recent GCC Entrepreneurs forum in Bahrain.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in architecture from CMU-Q in Qatar, and a Master’s in Service Design from the Royal College of Art in London. During this period, I also acquired a diploma in traditional Islamic arts from Prince’s School of Traditional Arts. 


One of al-Semaitt’s award-winning photos.

As an explorer I enjoy trying different things and stepping outside my comfort zone. Some people might argue that it’s called a “comfort zone” for a reason; however, I think great opportunities lie beyond what we’re familiar and comfortable with. This interest in exploration is what got me on the path of a multidisciplinary thinker who is able to speak and understand many languages, linguistically and academically. Besides Arabic and English I speak Spanish and basic German. Academically, in addition to business, service design and arts, my experience of working with people from various backgrounds got me to understand the thinking and terminology used in other disciplines.  


Share with us your interest in art
My family has been the inspiration behind my art. They taught me the meaning of love, passion and the importance of pursuing dreams regardless of circumstances. I believe being a fighter is something that runs in our family blood.
My mother Shaikha al-Sulaiti was the first in her family to graduate from primary, middle and secondary school back in the ’60s. She kept reading and learning and became a poet. Even during her toughest times when she was fighting cancer for eight years, she still managed to find the perfect words to describe her feelings. She passed away in 2009 leaving behind the most beautiful memories and poetry that still touch my heart every time I read it. 
Another major inspiration was my oldest sister Wafa al-Hamad, also an artist with a PhD in Fine Arts. Unfortunately we lost her to cancer too, four years ago. But living with cancer for five years never stopped her from pursuing her dreams or doing what she loved. I acquired this passion and love for art, from her style and approach to local and traditional art, and her sense of belonging to Qatar and the Islamic, Arabic world. She always had a passion for Islamic art which is my current focus. 
I prefer working with nature and natural form using the four components of life: earth, water, fire and air. In Islamic traditional art, it is important to build that connection with nature by using brushes, paint and canvas that are derived from natural materials to add a natural touch of beauty to the art. 
Islamic art promotes the philosophical connection between the artwork and the symbolisms that lie behind; it allows the artists to think deeply about the meanings behind every stroke and element of the artwork. 


Tell us about your foray into entrepreneurship ...
My educational background motivated and pushed me to start my own business in something unique and with value to Qatar and its people. In 2015 I co-founded ‘Makery’, a creative services with my partner Nawar. 
Makery is a service design consultancy that utilises modern technology in prototyping experiences. Today’s market consists of 80% services, however, only the products are designed and services just happen to be a coincidence of many factors. Service design is the process of designing holistic experiences for users going through any service to help make the transition between different stops as effortless and seamless as possible. When a service is designed around the needs and requirements of the end-user, it delivers great value and impact on the business and its customers. 


Share with us your love for horse riding and adventure sports
I’ve always had this undeniable love for animals, especially horses. What I love most about horse riding is the connection the rider builds with a horse. While riding a horse, the rider has to feel the power and authority to be able to communicate effectively. While I thoroughly enjoy the physical activity behind riding, it’s the mental challenge that’s got me hooked to this sport. 
On completing my master’s in London, I wanted to do something that I hadn’t tried before. The first and most extreme thing that came to mind was jumping off a plane. The same day, my friend Nawar and I set off to the beautiful city of Surrey where we had the option of jumping from either 10,000ft or 15,000ft. Having travelled all the way for just this purpose, we decided to take the plunge all the way from 15,000ft. It was one of the most exciting and memorable experiences of my life, and I will definitely do it again!
My bucket list includes climbing one of the mountain peaks. Hopefully, one day, I will have the courage and power to achieve it and stand on top of the world. 


What are your other hobbies and interests?
When I was in primary school, my sister gifted me with a camera that I used to carry everywhere and take all kinds of funny pictures of friends and family, creating beautiful memories. This got me interested in photography and I started pursuing the interest on my own. I got my first digital camera at the age of 13 and it offered me the opportunity to explore this world from a different perspective. 
When I graduated from high school, I participated in a photography competition at the American Arts Festival and won the grand prize. I had the honour of receiving the award from Steven McCurry (photographer of the famous Afghan girl portrait); other awards followed. This greatly motivated me to keep this hobby alive. Today, I use Instagram as an album to capture moments and places that pass through in my life. They can be viewed at Maryam_o. 


Who is your hero? 
As typical as this sounds my heroes are my parents. My father was a fighter; he left Kuwait, married my mother and moved to Doha to start a family. He was an entrepreneur who started his own business from home in the 60s; today his company is one of the most reputable in its field. 
My mother managed to finish all of high school in one year with two babies. No family pressure or babies stopped her from becoming our hero in education. She always pushed us to be the best we could be, by motivating us and providing the right encouragement, as well as delicious food. Although she got sick when I was in middle school, her illness could not take away her spirit to the moment she passed away. 


What is your dream?
I believe giving is more rewarding than taking, so I want to give back to my country and community through my business, the art I do and being the person I am. 


How would you describe your life right now?
Alhamdulillah, I am at a very exciting time of my life now, where I’ve just launched my own business and am in the process of exploring other areas that I’ve always wanted to delve into. My typical day is very long and exhausting, as it is very challenging to juggle family, a full-time job, business, art and horse riding. However, I find it extremely rewarding to get home and think about what I have achieved each day. 


Lessons learnt from life …
As the youngest in my family, I did get a lot of support growing up, not only from my parents but also from my siblings. Losing a parent was the most difficult thing I went through, however it didn’t stop me from living life and being who I really am.