Saudi creative explores intersection of art and light

JEDDAH: When life dimmed unexpectedly for Saudi artist Nada Kayal in 2022, she turned to light.

What began as a personal refuge slowly transformed into Di Livings, a Saudi lighting concept that reimagines illumination not merely as function, but as emotion, atmosphere, and storytelling.

A serious illness brought uncertainty and forced moments of stillness, but also led the Jeddah-based designer back to her creative roots. 

In the quiet space between diagnosis and recovery, drawing became therapy, and light became language.

“In the midst of it all, creativity became my source of comfort and strength,” Kayal told Arab News. “I found myself returning to drawing, designing and exploring ideas as a way to process and heal.”

Today, through her brand Di, Kayal creates artistic lampshades that explore the intimate relationship between design and light, pieces that glow with both intention and personal narrative.

With more than 15 years of experience in design and visual arts, Kayal’s attraction to light was long in the making.

“My passion has always been rooted in art, and I’ve long been drawn to the presence of light,” she said. “Exploring the relationship between the two felt natural.”

Rather than approaching lampshades as decorative accessories, she treats them as sculptural forms in dialogue with illumination. 

Structure, fabric, and illustration are carefully considered to determine how light diffuses, softens, and settles into a space.

The result is lighting that feels less like an object and more like an atmosphere.

I see my work as redefining light beyond its functional role. It becomes something that deepens the connection between people and the spaces they inhabit.

Nada Kayal, Di Livings founder and artist

Kayal’s creative process begins by hand. Sketches flow freely before being refined digitally using Illustrator, where composition and precision come into play. The final designs are printed onto fabric and assembled into functional artworks.

“It’s a balance between intuition and precision,” she said.

Her inspiration often stems from quiet observation. Growing up in Jeddah, Kayal was captivated by the sculptural qualities of the city’s streets and roundabouts.

“The city feels like an open-air gallery,” she said.

Palms swaying against open skies, the coastline, desert tones, and even the presence of animals find their way into her illustrations. 

Saudi landmarks also hold deep personal meaning, grounding her work in a strong sense of identity. She has extended this exploration into a series of postcards inspired by local sites.

Currently, Kayal is developing a new collection inspired by regions across the Kingdom, including Najd, Al-Qassim, and Sharqiyah, while looking ahead to future international influences.

Through careful interplay of light, color and material, she seeks to evoke calm, warmth and quiet reflection.

Kayal, who has showcased her work during Diriyah Season, believes her creations contribute to a broader shift in how lighting is perceived in interior spaces, transforming it from a purely practical necessity into a defining artistic element.

“I see my work as redefining light beyond its functional role,” she said. “It becomes something that deepens the connection between people and the spaces they inhabit.”

For Kayal, the ultimate measure of success is not visual appeal, but emotional resonance.

“A lasting impression means the work stays with you beyond the moment,” she said. “It leaves a feeling or memory that continues to resonate.”

She often notices it in people’s reactions,  a sense of wonder at how something as simple as a lighting piece can evoke such depth. 

In those moments, she believes the design transcends “objecthood” and becomes experience.