ArtsMatch

Reem Makkawi
Founder,
Creative Director

Reem Makkawi is an award-winning designer, entrepreneur, and cultural strategist working across architecture, interiors, and experiential design. Her global practice spans cultural, hospitality, workplace, and residential projects across four continents, with work alongside Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Rafael Viñoly Architects, Perkins&Will, and Anderson Anderson Architecture. Reem earned her B.A. in Architecture at University of California, Berkeley and Master of Architecture from Columbia University and continues to serve as design critic and mentor with academic & cultural institutions in New York City and internationally.

Philip Li
Design Director

Philip Li is a designer and architect with experience in high end residential, offices, mixed-use, and commercial spaces. Originally from California, he brings over a decade of professional expertise. Philip earned his Bachelors of Arts degree from UC Berkeley and Master of Architecture at UCLA. His career includes experience with renowned firms such as Rafael Viñoly Architects, Foster + Partners, and SOM, where he worked on landmark projects and shaped his approach to designing transformative spaces. When not at the drawing board, Philip finds inspiration in exploring the cultural and urban fabric of the cities, visiting museums, running, hiking and photographing landscapes.

Farida Mokhtar
Artistic Director

Farida Mokhtar is an interdisciplinary creative director with a focus on fashion, interiors, and visual storytelling. Her work blends global aesthetics with curatorial precision, crafting immersive experiences across editorial, commercial, and spatial platforms. With a background in fashion design, art direction, textile development, and interior styling, Farida brings a strong cultural lens to every collaboration. She is currently working on a range of projects that center design as a tool for narrative, identity, and community. Born in Cairo and based in New York, Farida earned her Bachelor of Art in Fashion Design from the Academy of Arts in San Francisco, is a CFDA designer, and continues to draw from diasporic influences to shape work that is both refined and resonant.

Ayman Haidamous
Branding Strategist

Ayman Haidamous is a brand strategist and consumer psychologist with over seven years of experience helping organizations build smarter, more behaviorally grounded communication. With a foundation in scientific rigor and a sharp eye for human insight, he develops strategies that connect deeply and perform consistently. Ayman’s work spans North America, the Mediterranean, the Gulf, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He has led strategic efforts for some of the world’s most iconic brands. Whether working with global businesses or mission-driven organizations, Ayman brings sharp focus, global perspective, and a commitment to making ideas matter.

SiaMak Saadati
Project Designer & Senior Project Manager

SiaMak is an architect whose work bridges large-scale developments and adaptive reuse, with a portfolio spanning residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects across the United States. As an Associate at S9 Architecture, he has led design and coordination from concept through development on complex, multi-building sites, and has contributed to award-winning adaptive reuse initiatives. Drawing on over a decade of experience in both U.S. and international contexts, SiaMak approaches each project with a deep understanding of urban fabric, cultural nuance, and design detail — crafting spaces that balance function, identity, and enduring appeal.

Omar Abdelhadi
Music & Acoustics Director

Omar Abdelhadi is a Brooklyn-based musician and composer. His work merges ambient textures, field recordings, and improvisation to create emotionally charged sonic environments. With a background spanning live performance, music production, and sound experimentation, he has collaborated with a diverse range of artists across New York City’s independent music scene. Omar’s compositions bring an immersive, sensory layer to spatial experiences, blurring the boundaries between sound, atmosphere, and design.

Karen Bouchard
Senior Interior Designer

Karen Bouchard is a New York–based interior designer whose work spans corporate interiors, residential projects, and brand-driven spaces. She brings a thoughtful, human-centered approach to every project, balancing aesthetics with inclusion and empathy to create environments that resonate. In addition to her professional practice, Karen is deeply involved in the design community. She serves on the Catalyst Committee of the International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter and volunteers with A Room to Heal, creating comforting home environments for children facing serious medical conditions. She has also held leadership roles in design organizations, championing arts, culture, and mentorship. Karen holds an MFA in Interior Design from Pratt Institute and a BFA in Studio Art from Binghamton University (SUNY), with a concentration in painting.

Estefanía Serrano
User Experience Director

Nia Serrano is a multi-disciplinary designer with a background in architecture and a passion for visual storytelling. Trained in designing buildings from concept to construction, she now merges her expertise in research-driven, human-centered design with skills in UX/UI, 3D modeling, and animation to create digital and visual experiences that are both beautiful and functional. Her work bridges architecture, product design, and the arts, always aiming to evoke emotion, tell compelling stories, and improve how people connect with the world around them.

Thu Tran
Graphic Designer

Thu is a Graphic Designer from Saigon, Vietnam, based in New York City, with a love for creating thoughtful, brand-driven work across print and digital. Since 2021, she has worked at NBCUniversal’s in-house advertising creative agency, partnering with marketing, strategy, and creative teams on campaigns for Peacock and NBC’s Advertising & Partnerships.
With a background in fashion merchandising, Thu brings a refined eye for detail, strong visual storytelling, and a collaborative approach to every project. She enjoys translating ideas into clear, polished design systems that feel both intentional and engaging, helping brands connect meaningfully with their audiences

Dua Disha
Designer

Disha Dua is an architect and designer based between Barcelona and New York, with a growing passion for sustainable, human-centred environments. Dua is driven by the belief that creativity and responsibility can coexist beautifully in the built environment and to design places that feel meaningful, functional, and environmentally responsive. Outside design and architecture, Dua enjoys travelling, reading, and spending time with friends in experiences that continually inspire and inform her design approach. Dua is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Urban Design for Healthier Cities, where she explore how thoughtful planning, resilient infrastructure, and community-focused design can shape more livable urban futures.