Khatt Chronicles in Conversation with Zeynab Izadyar
Roshanak Keyghobadi interviews New York-based Iranian designer Zeynab Izadyar. They discuss her journey into the field of design and textile design; beginning with her education as graphic designer in Tehran, followed by her postgraduate studies at Yale University School of Art, then backtracking to her childhood.
Zeynab candidly shares stories about her creative father and their collaboration on ""making"" things, from books and furniture for her dolls, to knitting, and drawing. The moment of a chance discovery of her mother's well-saved Iranian linen rice bags filled her with a sense of wonder and a recognition of their cultural value to her. This eventually led to establishing her design studio vvork vvork vvork (https://vvorkvvorkvvork.com) which specializes in clothing and textile design.
The conversation then smoothly moves to gender issues in relation to her work as a textile designer. She shares her struggles in overcoming her initial rejection of — and later her pride in — the ""feminine"" label assigned to textile design and garment-making. The discussion then turns to the gender-biased perception of graphic design in Iran, where female designers are challenged to fight for recognition. Zeynab ends with this closing remark: "I learned to get rid of the idea of being perfect and right, […] leaving room for mistakes that provide [me with] a space to grow.”
Khatt Chronicles
Khatt Chronicles, in collaboration with afikra, features remarkable designers, illustrators, and researchers from the Arab World, in engaging conversations about their practice, vision, and aspirations. A podcast series that chronicles and introduces the latest explorations in Arab visual communication and material culture.
