The Design Atelier, Student Design Challenge 2023, Season 5 competition was a successful collaboration between AUDesign Lab, AUD Interior Design Department and Rotana Hotels. The design atelier challenges a student’s creativity to envision an innovative design concept. The scope of the atelier is to analyze, study and develop the concept and the operational aspects focused of the Hotel Guestroom/Suite- System in the post-pandemic era. The challenge considers: flexible spaces that offer diversification, adaptability, well-being and sustainability.

The projects were developed in IDES374 _ Hospitality Design class with mentor and organizer Prof. Annamaria Lambri, AUD Associate Professor and Outreach Coordinator, Interior Design Department with the collaboration of the Rotana Hotels team.

The atelier also included workshops with Rotana Hotels, led by Najee N. Syriani, Corporate Vice President – Projects, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC and Nadim Jamous, Director of Projects, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC.

The Final Event and Awards Ceremony took place at AUD in the presence of the Rotana Team. The Jury members; Najee N. Syriani, Corporate Vice President, Projects, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC; Nadim Jamous, Director Of Projects, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC; Asmaa Said, Founder and Director, The Odd Duck Design Studio; and Astrid Hébert, Founder & Director, 3C Awards.

The winners included:

1^st place: Dalin Abubaker - project “Falls”

2^nd place: Naseehath Valappil - project “Phka”

3^rd place: Lina Hassan and Menatalla Mahmoud - project “The sweetness of Luxor” and Cud Kayali and Haneen Kilany - project “Thanagom”