There has been a movement towards the digital realm within the interior design world. Styling remotely, working with clients over Zoom and sending PDFs back and forth are all part of this new age of design.
The advantages are obvious and aplenty. Living anywhere in the world becomes more accessible, working with an internationally acclaimed designer is a distinct possibility and having your home redone by giving the designer a virtual walkaround is completely doable.
The Expert by Jake Arnold and Leo Seigal
This is what led international celebrity designer Jake Arnold and tech entrepreneur Leo Seigal to develop The Expert during the pandemic. The virtual platform, which launched in February, connects clients directly to interior designers around the globe via one-on-one video consultations, thus making the most prolific creatives instantly accessible to house-proud masses the world over.
"The idea for The Expert was born during lockdown, while I was in a 'bubble' with my best friend, Leo," Arnold tells The National. "I was getting hundreds of direct messages on Instagram with followers asking me to Zoom or Skype and help them with their homes. We tested a few sessions, spoke to my peers and friends in the industry, quickly got them on board, and launched with immediate interest and success."
The Expert launched with 75 global design talents including Arnold himself. The Los Angeles heavy hitter has curated spaces for Rashida Jones, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, and Dan Levy. Other names you can access include Leanne Ford (Pittsburgh), Brigette Romanek (LA), Amber Lewis (CA), Robert Stilin (New York), Martin Brudnizki (London) and Danielle Siggerud (Copenhagen).
The USP of The Expert, and indeed remote interior design as a whole, is the versatility on offer, thanks to the varying aesthetics and budgets to suit multiple requirements.
Arnold, who is more used to dealing with household names and open-ended bank accounts, says about working with “real people” with smaller budgets: “It's amazing to be able to connect with a greater clientele geographically, and those with varying scopes of work.
We're saving on travel time, we're able to apply years of experience into a 55-minute session, we're able to work with all budgets, and we're able to put our touch on so many more homes
"One thing that’s common among all customers of The Expert is that they are super-engaged, as they've most likely been following my or our other designers' works for some time. They're taking meticulous notes and taking the process seriously. We're starting to see results from our sessions, and that’s always rewarding.”
Sessions can be booked in 25 or 55-minute increments directly via a calendar on TheExpert.com. These range from $150 to $2,500, and can be as simple as needing advice on sourcing the last few furniture pieces to make a room come together.
Of course, working remotely has its challenges, as not being able to see a home and not forging that instant connection can all affect a designer’s ability to be creative or meet a brief. It’s why Arnold says the first trick is to “break the virtual barrier” and immediately make new clients feel at home, as it were.
“Getting a glimpse into someone's home and environment is personal; but making them feel comfortable comes naturally to a lot of designers, having worked one-on-one with various types of clients. The benefits outweigh the challenges," he says.
"We're saving on travel time, we're able to apply years of experience into a 55-minute session, we're able to work with all scopes and budgets, and we're able to put our touch on so many more homes.”
Arnold’s advice for designers who are considering moving to an online offering is to have the client lay out their goals for the virtual consultation at the outset.
“That way, when we naturally go off on tangents, I can always steer things back on track and make sure the clock doesn’t run out without the client having achieved their goals for the session.”
Kuky Design by Valentina Piscopo
Unlike Arnold, UAE designer Valentina Piscopo always knew she wanted to deal with a virtual platform, even pre-pandemic. Kuky Design, which is known for its “Cali-cool aesthetic”, launched in 2019.
While the company does offer traditional face-to-face interior design services, 90 per cent of its business is run as an e-design platform, in the UAE as well as for projects in the UK, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia.
Clients who opt for an e-design service have a knack for DIY or want to put things together themselves and be house-proud of what they've accomplished
A huge advocate for going digital from the get-go, Piscopo, however, found people were not 100 per cent sure if the concept was “for them”, she says.
“It was a no-brainer for me to start an online business because I did not want to be restricted geographically; both where I could physically work and which city I could design homes in were important to me. But, admittedly, despite e-designs being offered in the region by other prominent designers, the concept was still new in 2019 and I had to invest time in educating customers before seeing the rewards.”
Then the pandemic struck, and Kuky Design was “flooded” with work. Suddenly everyone was spending a lot more time in their homes and noticing everything they wanted to change, but wanting to keep safe.
An online platform helmed by a local designer to help them realise their space’s full potential was an easy fit for many people in the UAE.
Piscopo found one of the great advantages of an online interior design project is that people’s own DIY abilities come to the fore. “Clients who opt for this service all have a knack for DIY or want to put things together themselves and be house-proud of what they’ve accomplished. E-design offers them the flexibility to style the way they want and to be creative.
“I am a lot stricter with my non-e-design clients when it comes to how much input they have, I feel more responsibility to deliver the look that I promised, that I was hired to do, but that rigidity is not for everyone.”
Kuky Design offers an online quiz to aid designers, both enthusiastic and professional, in assessing what works for their (or their client’s) style. It’s a lighthearted way of getting information without having to fill in forms, send endless emails and have long chats. Piscopo and her team can then get everything a person needs and send back the design, shopping list and visuals.
“Taking an engaging quiz with beautifully curated images is, if anything, a lot of fun. On a more serious note, we use this tool to gather important information such as style preferences and budget.”
Despite all these avenues and opportunities, Piscopo says she still faces some resistance from other designers, who simply “don’t believe in designing online".
“The launch of The Expert, and the approachability and affordability of their e-designs, have opened up the consumer market to the masses, but I don’t believe it to be a substitute just yet for face-to-face," she says.
"I do see eventually a rise in faster processes, wider reach and digital accessibility, which should never mean a devaluation of one’s designs but rather a new way of branding oneself and communicating through a different channel. It’s about adaptability. Designers should be excited about it, not fighting it. The possibilities are endless.”
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
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Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
