Chapter Studio
Chapter Studio is a multidisciplinary design practice founded by Iranian-born designer and architect Shima Samaei and based in the United Arab Emirates. Working across collectible design, interiors, and architecture, the studio explores the dialogue between cultural heritage and contemporary design.
Drawing inspiration from the artistic traditions of the Middle East and North Africa, Chapter Studio creates furniture, objects, and spaces distinguished by their architectural presence, refined craftsmanship, and sculptural forms. Its work combines historical references with a restrained contemporary language, balancing materiality, narrative, and function.
Through a research-driven approach, the studio develops projects that reflect a deep interest in storytelling, memory, and cultural identity, creating works where tradition and contemporary life converge.
Interview
I was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. I moved to Dubai with my family over 20 years ago to pursue a better education and upbringing.
In 2018, I finally decided to leave the corporate world. I launched the practice Chapter Studio, creating a bespoke design piece rooted in Middle Eastern culture. I have also just completed a master’s degree in Interior Architecture and design, and recently graduated. I have always been eager to continue learning in every aspect.
I am also happily married to my dearest husband, who has been supporting my project since the start, and just become a mother to my beautiful son.
I am deeply connected to my origins with a respectful eye for traditions. I grew up fascinated by Persian art (with school classes in calligraphy, pottery & art), and I naturally look back to what I have learnt and experienced. There is satisfaction for a designer in achieving a connection between such Art and the functionality of contemporary furniture.
No, I pursued a career in corporate finance since the inception of my university to financially support my educational fees. I graduated in 2013 and worked in various corporations.
Over the years, as I grew older, I turned back to design with envy, which is when I decided to dedicate time, for a year, to my design project while working full-time. The opportunity of being able to travel and see different cultures and being exposed to design and architecture gave me the driving force to share my ideas and turn them into reality.
I always struggled to find what I wanted or liked out there. I felt a huge gap between beautiful things and pieces that you could place in your home, or if I found them, the cost was too high to afford. So, I decided to create some pieces first, out of curiosity and necessity, thinking about what could add value to your space while remaining a statement piece. Thanks to the conversations and support of my husband and a few close friends, I decided to take a leap and start Chapter. Creating what I want to see within a space and creating a space where we want to live.
I hand sketch almost every day, then I question myself whether I would want this in my house. Questioning needs and wants then leads me to decide whether I want to go ahead with this design or not. It is very personal, but it’s a constant challenge. I don’t follow trends or think of creating a piece that responds to people’s expectations; most of my inspiration is in relation to history and my culture.
I then take it to the workshop and build mock-ups to picture the materiality of the piece. When I can, I bring them to my living room, seeking an emotional response with the décor and space, and imagine the same response could reach people.
I start my day with a session of Yoga and a cup of coffee (can’t function without it). I usually prefer to head to the factory early in the morning to avoid the midday heat in Dubai and to oversee the production up close and personal. I also spend time discussing upcoming projects and ideas with our Maitre d’Heure at the factory. This usually takes up my mornings.
Once I am done, I head back to get my hands on my laptop, where I attend to my emails and try to wrap up pending work as much as possible. I try to be in touch as much as I can with the partners I work with and who represent my brand. I believe even businesses can be built on a friendly note, and I try to be as close as I can.
Since COVID, I mostly work from home, which allows me to be close to my son and attend to my work at the same time. By late afternoon, I might have a sketch or two or an idea that I either note down or try to sketch. I do this so I don’t forget the idea if I ever decide to turn it into a collection (noting things down always helps me get back to it later and remember). I am pretty old-fashioned and still prefer noting things using a pen and my notebook.
By around 7:00 pm, I am almost done with my day as I prepare to spend time with my son before he goes to sleep. I keep my weekdays relaxed, so I usually enjoy cooking dinner and spending quality time with my husband while catching up on the day’s events or binging on some new series.
Attention to detail, I am a perfectionist and can easily make the same piece over and over again until I get the detail that I want. It has put me in trouble before, I must admit, but I believe if you create something, do it once with great attention.
We are the sum of our experiences. In the course of life, we
never cease to transform ourselves. Throughout each chapter,
We welcome new perspectives and write new memories.
If I chose one word, it would be Tradition.
Surround yourself with people who support and believe in you, and remain patient.
I would say a combination of Memphis (1981-1988) and Modernism (1924-1945).
For Memphis, I would say creating designs that break the rules of traditional designs, but still have a sense of functionality of a traditional design. Using stones with different colors can be a representation of playful patterns, which can either be loved or hated by the public. And as for Modernism, the simplicity and easy function designs are developed through the product.
Many, but to name a couple of main ones
Bauhaus’s designers
Axel Vervoordt.
Jean Nouvel- Abu Dhabi Louvre
Gaetano Pesce – UP5 Chair designed for b&b Italia
Charlotte Kingsnorth – Squishy Thonet II
Jeff Koons sculpture,
Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian
I also very much find the work of an Iranian sculptor, Behdad Lahooti, interesting.
“Most of my inspiration is rooted in history and my culture.”
The Questions
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust.
Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde,
Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)
If this was last year, I would say work hard then happiness comes in later, but now it is my beautiful family, my husband and my son on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
Failure to be successful at something before I die.
I tend to overthink things, and can say I am a tad bit short-tempered. I like things to be planned, and if they are not, I feel lost.
Ignorance, feeling entitled, and lack of confrontation, I don’t see many people confronting one another these days, instead they start hating each other. Wouldn’t we all be in a better place if we were all honest with each other and spoke the truth once in a while?
Ordinary people, creating extraordinary lives for themselves and becoming an inspiration to others.
My semi-professional Rocket Coffee machine, never been happier to smell fresh coffee in my house every morning.
Chaotic and grateful – managing life, work, motherhood, all can be chaotic, and at the same I know this is where I need to be right now, so I am grateful.
Self-esteem, having too much of it can be problematic.
Humor and one who appreciates the capabilities of a woman.
Their ability to multitask!
I will dominate it.
To be a better presenter and a salesperson, watching a true presenter is truly inspiring, and that is not me.
I guess I wouldn’t mind mastering my French and Italian.
Definitely not knowing how to run a design business but to finally being able to meet & work closely with the wonderful people and the galleries who have been my inspiration to start Chapter in the first place.
An excellent comedian.
Tough one, I like city hustle and bustle and also appreciate nature, so if I could choose, I would love to live half a year in the south of Italy and the remaining half in a busy city, is it too much to ask? 😊
My vintage Heuer watch, gifted by my husband, Julien, during Christmas last year.
Not believing in something or having a goal.
In another world I would have loved being a musician playing cello for an orchestra!
At some point, everyone opens up to me, so I guess I am a good listener and good at keeping secrets.
To have that kind of friendship with someone where you don’t see each other for a long time but when you do see them its like it was yesterday or have the comfort to call each other and stay on the phone without speaking with each other for hours. Comfortable friendship.
There are so many, but to name a few Gregory David Roberts – writer of Shantaram Murakami – Men without women Abolqasem Ferdowsi – Shahname Shahrnush Parsipur, tr. Faridoun Farrokh – Women Without Men
Viola Davis from how to get away with murder. Incredible character of a woman, opinionated, fearless, manipulative but also a rebel, determined and loyal.
I wouldn’t be able to say I identify to anyone, really, I am just an ordinary person living an ordinary life. Historical figures have left the world with things that we learn from today, so being high on that note, I should say it’s incomparable.
People who adopt and help the ones in need.
Camissares (my sons name), Eham, Darius, Aysan, Talayeh, Diba.
Being Fake.
Not knowing much about Bitcoin or NFTs.
Either asleep or flying, never in water!
I can do it, I’m almost there.
“We are the sum of our experiences. Throughout each chapter, we welcome new perspectives and write new memories.”
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