“The Semiotics of Beauty” at Ar-Rasheed Smart University: Interior Design Students Transform Space into Story, and Aesthetics into a Living Identity
At Ar-Rasheed Smart University, education transcends the classroom—becoming a journey of creativity, consciousness, and expression. In a remarkable seminar titled “The Semiotics of Beauty”, fourth-year Interior Design students transformed academic theory into living art, under the supervision of Dr. Samira Al-Shawesh, course instructor and Head of Architecture Department. The event took place in the university’s great hall, embodying the spirit of innovation and intellectual elegance.
The seminar opened with a solemn recitation of Al-Fatiha, followed by the stirring notes of the national anthem, filling the space with pride and belonging.
Distinguished guests graced the occasion, including Mr. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Wazir, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Dr. Yasser Al-Rubaidi, Dean of Faculty of Dentistry; Dr. Issam Haidar, Head of the Interior Design Department; and Mr. Khaled Ali Al-Khadr, Secretary General of the University—alongside a select group of academics and students from both the Interior Design and Architecture departments.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Samira Al-Shawesh expressed deep pride in her students, describing them as living models of designers who reshape beauty with mature thought and creative identity.
She emphasized that aesthetics is no longer a theoretical concept confined to lecture halls—it is a tool of awareness, a way of life, and a spiritual-intellectual practice that restores meaning to space and humanity to design.
Throughout the seminar, students showcased a high-level scientific and practical presentation, exploring beauty as a system of symbols, psychological depth, and cultural resonance. They ventured beyond surface aesthetics, delving into the human dimension of design—where color becomes language, form becomes emotion, light becomes rhythm, and balance becomes a mirror of inner harmony.
Among the seminar’s highlights was the activity “How to Discover Yourself?”—a personal journey linking self-awareness to design identity, proving that design is not just what we see, but how we express who we are.
The “Architectural Photography Corner” brilliantly illustrated the harmony between artistic precision and engineering logic, with modern design-inspired backdrops telling the story of a designer who balances creativity with reason.
In the closing moments, Mr. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Wazir shared his admiration for the students’ exceptional intellectual and artistic presentation, stating:
"What we witnessed today was not merely an academic showcase—it was a heartfelt statement from a generation of designers who think, feel, and create through the language of beauty. At Ar-Rasheed Smart University, we believe education is complete only when it shapes individuals capable of impact, innovation, and transformation. We strive to graduate students who possess not just skills, but vision and purpose. This is the beauty we aspire to—and this is the future of design in our region."
These words encapsulated the university’s philosophy, reaffirming that “The Semiotics of Beauty” was not just a seminar—it was a journey of awareness and identity, a moment of reflection on design as a human tool that reshapes life and breathes soul into space.
On this day, Ar-Rasheed’s students proved that beauty is not appearance—it is meaning. And when design is sincere, it becomes a message that builds the human before it builds the place.
