Profession: Architect, PhD candidate
City: Rome
Country: Italy

What inspired you to want a life in Architecture and the creative industries?:
It started with my fascination with 3D modeling software and my interest in buildings with impressive and distinctive designs, including high-rises. I had no prior understanding of the true value of architecture beyond it being the sculpting and design of beautiful forms. As I progressed through my early years studying this major, my interest quickly shifted from form to content, and from unrestricted design to seeking solutions to problems. After my passion was spending long hours in front of 3D modeling software, sculpting aesthetically pleasing masses, I became more inclined to observe the interaction of people within their cities and buildings.

Who inspired you in finding your path to Architecture/Film and the creative industries?:
The story didn’t begin with inspiration from a specific person, but it quickly evolved over time to the point where the city of Damascus, with its successive civilizations and diverse society, became a source of inspiration and a guide for ideas. Moreover, the long years of war in Syria cannot be overlooked for their fundamental role in the development of my professional career, honing my skills, and changing my perspective on architecture and how to approach it.

How you unlock obstacles and overcome bias in your work?:
Relying on actions rather than words. Your words may help you build temporary relationships, but for lasting relationships and building social and professional networks in your work, it is your actions that, in the long run, earn you the trust of those around you and correct the image they have drawn of you in their minds based on your appearance, ethnicity, religion, or origin.

What improvements do you feel are required to promote effective change in the academic and working environment?:
With modest experience in engineering and architectural work in the humanitarian field during the Syrian war, I believe it is important to increase the interconnectedness and interaction between social studies and architectural studies in academic life and translate them into practice by activating a broader role for the community in the urban and architectural field and involving them in decision-making. Especially after the technological development and the spread of artificial intelligence applications that facilitate a better understanding of the views of community members.