Listen "Handmade, Heartmade: Crafting Identity with Nada Debs"
Episode Synopsis
Send us a textWhat does it mean to truly belong, and can design help us find our way home?In this episode of Forward_Moves, hosts Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad sit down with pioneering designer Nada Debs, whose work blends heritage and modernity, craft and culture, East and East.Born in Lebanon, raised in Japan, and shaped by a global perspective, Nada opens up about her journey of reconciling identity and how it shaped her powerful design philosophy—handmade & heartmade. She shares how her deep love for craft became a vehicle for storytelling, spiritual connection, and healing.🔍 Inside the episode:- The story behind her signature design language East and East- Why sacred geometry and craftsmanship are meditative acts- How design became a way to reclaim cultural pride- Navigating duality and staying authentic in a globalised world- Why belonging, intuition, and community are central to her work📌 Watch now to explore how Nada Debs transformed personal struggles into a global design philosophy.🎧 Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.#Forward_Moves #NadaDebs #CulturalDesign #CraftAndStorytelling #EastAndEast #ContemporaryArabDesign #SacredGeometry #DesignWithSoul #MiddleEastCreatives #LebanonDesign #LebanonDesigner #UAEDesign Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forward_moves/ X: https://x.com/forward_moovz Lina’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lina_movements/ Raja’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/octoraj/ Follow Nada:https://www.instagram.com/nadadebs/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/studionadadebs/?hl=enchapters:00:00 Music Picks01:43 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest03:18 Nada's Journey: From Japan to the Arab World08:29 Discovering and Reviving Middle Eastern Craftsmanship16:57 Creating a Modern Arab Identity Through Design22:37 Pride in Cultural Heritage22:42 East and East: A New Design Philosophy23:01 Balancing Opposites in Design23:32 The Designer's Intuition and DNA24:18 Storytelling Through Furniture25:15 Craftsmanship as Meditation27:12 Embracing Duality and Identity31:45 The Role of Community and Belonging35:38 Navigating the Competitive Design World36:52 Trusting Intuition and Staying Grounded40:11 Final ThoughtsSupport the show