Start-up of the Week: The duo designing peoples dreams

“Since I was a young girl, I was more into arranging the Barbie house and changing its interior than actually playing with the dolls,” said Al-Freihi.
Her comments are echoed by her business partner. “It is like a dream come true, as it was my dream since I was a kid,” explained Al-Drees.
The women met when they were studying at Prince Sultan University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they took their undergraduate degrees. Both then studied abroad for master’s degrees in interior design before returning to Saudi Arabia and setting up a design practice together in the same year. Their company ANDESIGN, which incorporates both their initials, was set up in March 2016.
Always the busy bees, they have full-time jobs; Al-Drees is an interior design lecturer at Prince Sultan University, while Al-Freihi works for an international company based in New York “Retail Access,” designing displays for some of the most famous fashion houses in the US.
From corporate designs to residential homes, they try their hands at different projects.
“In the beginning, we got small residential projects, but now we are getting more corporate spaces to design.
“I think we are trying to shift away to corporate business because we like building an experience around a brand. It is a satisfying challenge that does not limit you to the taste of the individual,” Al-Freihi explained.
“The beginning and the completion of every project is the most fun, it is the middle part that is most challenging,” Al-Drees said.
When they started out they faced an uphill task to prove themselves, as Al-Freihi explained: “We had to earn the construction workers’ respect and (show them that) we were not only young women but thriving designers. We wanted our voices to be heard.”
Now after two years of working in the field, not only have they earned the respect of the workers, but they have built up a database of contacts.
They discussed the huge sense of satisfaction they get when each project has been completed. “We finally see our ideas have touched ground and have been translated into a reality.”
Their favorite project was designing a corporate space. “We had creative freedom, and this allowed us to do our best and most enjoyable work. As it was a new experience for us working around a brand rather than an individual taste, the challenge was both refreshing and inspiring,” said Al-Drees.
Residential designs pose different challenges as homeowners can have exacting standards in their determination to see their vision realized. They were surprised to discover that men were more exacting clients.
“Husbands are usually the most difficult. People usually think women are, but the opposite has proven true, as they typically want their home to be specific to their needs. Women are easier to please,” said Al-Drees, laughing.
When asked about their aspirations, Al-Freihi replied: “To focus more on corporate space and understand the implementation of a brand throughout a space.”
Al-Drees added: “We also aspire to build a trusted ground of reputation in the design field locally and then expand internationally.”
“There are a lot of Saudi interior designers and competition is good, but there’s room for everyone to shine their own light,” said Al-Freihi.