The desire to be more circular, like nature itself, challenges us as designers and innovators to rethink the systems we build and occupy.

Join Gülin Ölçer (ATÖLYE) in conversation with Arthi Balasubramanian (CEBRA Architecture), Nikita Patel (Oasis Greens) and Aya Riad (Shift + Space Design & Research) as they shared case studies of nature-inspired solutions in the fields of business, architecture, virtual reality and vertical farming.

The panel explored how design, science and technology became vehicles that brought us closer to nature, and how circular thinking paved the way towards a more sustainable and innovative economy in the UAE and beyond.

Registrations are now closed.


About the speakers:

Gülin Ölçer (ATÖLYE)
Gülin is the Business Design Senior Lead at ATÖLYE where her work focuses on helping organizations solve business challenges through the lenses of human centered design and systems thinking. With a social science degree in Psychology from Koç University and entrepreneurship degree in Innovation Management from Tufts University, she brings new perspectives to the organization’s sustainable and circular innovation practices and is the Community Lead for Cirkyular, a microcommunity on circular economy.

Arthi Balasubramanian (CEBRA Architecture)
Born in Chennai, India, Arthi studied Architecture at Anna University before moving to the UK to complete her studies at the University of Sheffield in 2005. With over 15 years’ experience in architectural practice, she has worked for a number of renowned architectural studios in the UK, leading several prestigious and award-winning projects during that time. Arthi joined Danish architectural practice CEBRA in 2016, and was appointed as Head of the Abu Dhabi branch office in 2019. In this role she oversees the design and delivery of all projects from the local office and is also responsible for consolidating CEBRA’s presence in the region by leading the local strategic and business development.

Nikita Patel (Oasis Greens)
Nikita is a social entrepreneur based in Dubai. A graduate from The Wharton School in 2014, Nikita is the third generation of her UAE-based family business. In 2019 she founded Oasis Greens, one of the UAE’s first indoor hydroponic vertical farms where pesticide-free fresh leafy greens and herbs are grown.

Aya Riad (Shift + Space Design & Research)
Aya Riad is a computational architect, design researcher, and an educator. She is currently a Doctorate of Design (D.Des) candidate at the Florida International University and has a masters in architecture (M.Arch) from the Design Research Lab at the renowned Architectural Association School of Architecture in London.She is the co-founder and chief architect of Shift + Space Design & Research, a Lecturer of Advanced Computational Design at the Ajman University (AU) in the UAE, and the Middle East Regional Manager at DigitalFUTURES.


Image Courtesy: Erol Ahmed