Hala A.Malak is design critic, branding consultant and Middle East expert who has her own particular view of the world. Born in Beirut during the civil war, she grew up, worked and studied all over the world – Lebanon, USA, Canada, Dubai, Holland, Morocco and Paris. Her multicultural background is reflected in Hala’s versatile approach and continuous interest in design, identity and social change.
Hala holds an MFA in Design Criticism from the School of Visual Arts in New York and has studied at HEC Paris. She also holds an undergraduate Bachelors degree in Economics from the American University of Beirut. Her experience in the communication field was mostly as a Brand Planner, leading strategic decisions and heading new business pitches, she has worked on award winning campaigns for blue-chip clients like P&G, Audi, GSK, MasterFoods, and Visa within others.
Hala was an instructor at the American University in Dubai, also giving seminars and workshops in different countries and schools. Furthermore, she headed and led a small creative agency boutique in Dubai before starting to consult with design shops, particularly with Tarek Atrissi Design in the Netherlands, where she is editor of Arabictypography.com. Hala is also co-founder of a new foundation, KAFLAB promoting design and arts from the Arab World. She has also done extensive research and work on Arab Identity and design, more closely about deconstructing the Kafiye, uncovering a powerful Arab icon. Currently heading her own design consultancy studio, Hala writes, curates and does a variety of other projects all over the world.
Hala currently resides and works between Beirut and New York.
