Ihab El Riz

Person

Ihab El Riz was born in Lebanon and moved to Lüneburg, Germany, at the age of four, where he grew up with his parents and five siblings. Living between two cultures gave him the ability to think outside the box and empathize with diverse people and lifestyles. These multiple perspectives and backgrounds motivate Ihab to seek connections and create functional and emotional solutions based on common ground.

With over a decade of experience, Ihab specializes in creating sustainable, durable, and visually captivating objects by rejuvenating old materials such as glass, stone, and aluminium. He combines new technologies with traditional craftsmanship. His collaboration with renowned designer Tobias Grau and his degree in industrial design from the Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts in Kiel reflect his dedication to balancing aesthetic finesse with ecological responsibility. Ihab’s goal is to design products that are not only functional and beautiful but also environmentally conscious to meet evolving societal demands.

Work

New technological, economic and ecological conditions and changing social values require us not only to react to today’s needs, but to proactively go beyond them. Ihab’s goal is to create durable products with clear functionality and aesthetic depth that creates emotional value. He dedicatedly follows this path leading to pure design and sustainable solutions. Ihab’s concepts are based on intercultural and interdisciplinary approaches to bridge user and object and facilitate bridges between people.

Vita

From 01/2016

Freelance industrial designer, Hamburg, GER.

01/2016

Co-founder and art director at MOE`S Shisha GmbH & Co.KG, Lüneburg, GER.

09/2012 – 12/2016

Industrial designer & product developer at Tobias Grau GmbH, Rellingen (Hamburg), GER

09/2008 – 03/2012

B.A. Industrial Design, Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts, Kiel, GER.

03/2011 – 07/2011

Internship as industrial designer at PSLAB. Lighting Design, Beirut, LBN.

10/2007 – 07/2008

Architecture studies, HafenCity University, Hamburg, GER.

Press & Publication

08/2024

BUTTERFLY Table series. Digital luxury interiors advertising campaign in British Vogue, September 2024, GBR

08/2024

DANS Lighting series. Print luxury interiors advertising campaign in British Vogue, August 2024, GBR

07/2024

DANS Lighting series. Digital luxury interiors advertising campaign in British Vogue, August 2024, GBR

06/2024

Article at tocco.earth. „Vintage Marble, Recycled Aluminium, Modern Design: Ihab El Riz's creations“ , FRA

04/2024

Fuorisalone. "Natural materials!" Milan Design Week, ITA

04/2024

Designwanted.com. This Future is Currently Unavailable: Isola 2024 Highlights „Is One Life Enough“,ITA

04/2024

Salone del mobile, Milano. Isola Design Week „Is One Life Enough“, ITA

05/2012

Article in the newspaper, Lüneburg „Der Glücksfänger“, GER

03/2012

Article in the Kieler Nachrichten newspaper „Glückskugeln und ...“, GER

2010

Medical Design Blog: ann-o, autarke Wasserstelle, GER