Nawaf N. Al-Nassar: Designing Interiors Through People and Place
Explore the work and impact of Saudi interior designer Nawaf N. Al-Nassar and his studio 3N Jeddah, where space, culture, and lived experience shape design.
Artists Spotlight
“When I enter a space, the walls speak to me. The ceiling speaks. The door speaks. I learned to befriend them.”
From an early age, space was never silent for Nawaf N. Al-Nassar. Rooms had voices. Corners carried moods. Doors offered invitations. What began as an intimate childhood sensitivity grew into a life spent listening deeply to places and translating what they say into form, material, and feeling. Today, Nawaf’s work sits at the intersection of interior design, cultural storytelling, and human connection, an approach rooted in Saudi Arabia yet open to the world.
Creative Point of View and Design Signatures
Nawaf’s creative signature is not defined by a single style, but by a consistent philosophy. Interiors, to him, are psychological landscapes. They should reflect the character of those who inhabit them. If a space does not mirror its people, he believes, it cannot truly serve them.
His process often involves breaking architecture down into human-scale fragments. A wall becomes a pattern. A structural rhythm transforms into furniture. Materials are chosen not for trend, but for meaning. Heritage is translated into a contemporary language. Never copied, always reinterpreted.
How Place Becomes the First Brief
For Nawaf, creativity cannot exist in isolation. It must be tethered to place. “If a design has no relationship to where it lives,” he says, “it cannot be honest.” Before drawing a line or choosing a material, he immerses himself in the rhythms of a region. How people move, gather, greet one another, and inhabit their daily lives. Language may evolve, aesthetics may shift, but identity, he believes, is revealed through lived experience.
3N Jeddah: Interior Design as a Way of Living
3N Jeddah is Nawaf N. Al-Nassar’s interior design boutique located in Jeddah, created to deepen the relationship between space and the people who inhabit it. The studio approaches design as a way of living, shaping environments that feel personal, intuitive, and closely aligned with each client’s character. Its work spans new and renovated buildings, balancing functional and aesthetic goals through interiors that respond to how people move, live, and feel within a space.
Beyond built environments, 3N Jeddah also extends its practice through curated trips and experiential journeys, designed to expose clients and creatives to places, materials, and cultural references that inform the studio’s work. Nawaf’s role within the studio encompasses the design of interior spaces through both permanent architectural details and temporary elements, alongside research, sourcing furnishings and fittings, and building long-term relationships with individual and corporate clients. Together, these layers position 3N Jeddah as a boutique practice where interiors, experiences, and ways of living are thoughtfully connected.
Projects That Shaped His Path
Over the years, Nawaf has worked across global cities such as London, Paris, and New York, absorbing diverse design languages and perspectives. Yet the projects he speaks about with the most pride are those rooted closest to home.
Among them is his work on Harvey Nichols in AlUla. Set against a backdrop of layered civilizations, the project drew from the area’s historical depth. Friends later told him, “Your personality is here.” They felt it without needing explanation. For Nawaf, that emotional recognition rather than visual is the truest measure of success.
Tasmeem Fair and His Role in Saudi Design Ecosystems
Tasmeem Fair stands as one of Nawaf’s most impact-driven contributions to the Saudi design scene. Launched in 2017, the fair was created as a platform for young designers to present their work and build visibility within a growing creative ecosystem. The first edition attracted around 9,000 visitors in its opening week, a milestone Nawaf has described as one of the most meaningful projects of his career. He served as head coordinator of Tasmeem Fair, shaping both its vision and execution at a formative moment for contemporary Saudi design.
Speaking, Teaching, and Public Programs
Nawaf’s practice extends beyond the studio into public dialogue, education, and mentorship. He has spoken with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation in Jeddah on design etiquette, focusing on culturally respectful design choices, material selection, color psychology, and identity in interiors. He has also spoken at Ithra, where he is recognized as the founder of 3N Jeddah, the founder of Tasmeem, and a contributor to the first Saudi design magazine, Design KSA.
In 2022, he took part in a public conversation at Hafez Gallery with artist Ola Hejazi, reflecting on his education, studio practice, and role in building design platforms. His professional work is also connected to academia through 3N Jeddah’s inclusion in internship programs, formalizing the link between education and industry.
Institutions, Affiliations, and Cultural Commitment
Alongside his design and public work, Nawaf is engaged in cultural advocacy and education. He serves as an ambassador with Barakat Trust, supporting initiatives that raise appreciation for Saudi cultural and architectural heritage. His involvement also includes participation with the Saudi Art Council and the 21 39 educational committee (Jeddah-based contemporary art initiative), reinforcing a long-term commitment to cultural development and creative exchange.
Forever a Student, Learning Across Generations
Despite decades of experience, Nawaf insists he is still learning. He looks to pioneers with reverence, honoring what they built before him. At the same time, he draws inspiration from the rising generation, particularly university students, whose questions and perspectives push him to evolve. Growth, for him, lies in remaining open, respecting what exists, completing it, and adapting it to the era we live in.
A Family Story that Ties Everything Together
At the emotional core of Nawaf’s philosophy is a family story. His family created an eleven-book project documenting his father’s life. A Jeddawi merchant, a desert traveler, a man whose son dreamed of flight. That dream led him to study aviation in Britain and later to Cairo, where he learned during a pivotal historical moment. One of the most moving details for Nawaf is that his father was taught to fly by Aziza Ibrahim, the first Arab Egyptian female pilot. It is a story of courage, movement, and possibility. His father’s advice remains with him:
"You are a guest in this world. Respect every moment and every place."
It is a sentence that quietly underpins everything Nawaf designs.
The Lasting Impact of Nawaf's Work
In a time when speed often replaces depth, Nawaf’s work offers an alternative. It asks us to slow down. To listen. To treat spaces as living companions rather than empty containers. His interiors speak softly, carrying memory, care, and intention. Design, in his hands, becomes an act of respect. For people, for place, and for the stories that connect them. And in that quiet conversation between walls and lives, something enduring is formed.
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