For Hibah Albakree ’97, co-founder of Dubai-based Designlab Experience, the key to creating large-scale installations is not the individual elements, as impressive as they may be—15,000 light sticks! 65,000 Swarovski crystals! 4,000 paper cranes! a full orchestra!—or the palatial venues where her company creates its interactive immersive experiences. The real secret to Designlab’s success is putting storytelling at the forefront, then backing it up with meticulous research and testing. “For every new project we take on, our aim is to challenge ourselves and add more layers—to elevate the experience. What sets us apart is our risk-taking and originality. We like challenges and the unexpected,” Albakree (right) recently told Interior Design magazine. “People love mystery and illusion. When they don’t understand how it comes together, they are drawn to it.” — Rachael Hanley Hagerstrom ’02
Designlab Experience
Hibah Albakree ’97
