Khatt Chronicles in Conversation with Zeynab Izadyar episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 13, 2025 · 26 MIN

Khatt Chronicles in Conversation with Zeynab Izadyar

from Khatt Chronicles: Stories on Design from the Arab World · host afikra

Roshanak Keyghobadi interviews New York-based Iranian designer Zeynab Izadyar. They discuss her journey into the field of design and textile design; beginning with her education as graphic designer in Tehran, followed by her postgraduate studies at Yale University School of Art, then backtracking to her childhood.Zeynab candidly shares stories about her creative father and her collaboration with him on "making" things, from books and furniture for her dolls, to knitting, and drawing. The moment of a chance discovery of her mother's well-saved Iranian linen rice bags filled her with a sense of wonder and a recognition of their cultural value to her. This eventually led to the establishing her design studio, vvork vvork vvork (https://vvorkvvorkvvork.com) which specialises in clothing and textile design.The conversation then smoothly moves to gender issues in relation to her work as a textile designer. She shares her struggles in overcoming her initial rejection of — and later her pride in — the "feminine" label assigned to textile design and garment-making. The discussion then turns to the gender-biased perception of graphic design in Iran, where female designers are challenged to fight for recognition. Zeynab ends with this closing remark: "I learned to get rid of the idea of being perfect and right, […] leaving room for mistakes that provide [me with] a space to grow.” FOLLOW & RATE KHATT CHRONICLES:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/khatt-chronicles-stories-on-design-from-the-arab-world/id1472975206» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ATH0MwO1tIlBvQfahSLrB» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014374489THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5mMJ782dhW6yvfq0E0_HhAABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Roshanak Keyghobadi interviews New York-based Iranian designer Zeynab Izadyar. They discuss her journey into the field of design and textile design; beginning with her education as graphic designer in Tehran, followed by her postgraduate studies at Yale University School of Art, then backtracking to her childhood. Zeynab candidly shares stories about her creative father and her collaboration with him on "making" things, from books and furniture for her dolls, to knitting, and drawing. The moment of a chance discovery of her mother's well-saved Iranian linen rice bags filled her with a sense of wonder and a recognition of their cultural value to her. This eventually led to the establishing her design studio, vvork vvork vvork (https://vvorkvvorkvvork.com) which specialises in clothing and textile design. The conversation then smoothly moves to gender issues in relation to her work as a textile designer. She shares her struggles in overcoming her initial rejection of — and later her pride in — the "feminine" label assigned to textile design and garment-making. The discussion then turns to the gender-biased perception of graphic design in Iran, where female designers are challenged to fight for recognition. Zeynab ends with this closing remark: "I learned to get rid of the idea of being perfect and right, […] leaving room for mistakes that provide [me with] a space to grow.”

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Khatt Chronicles in Conversation with Zeynab Izadyar

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This episode is 26 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 13, 2025.

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Roshanak Keyghobadi interviews New York-based Iranian designer Zeynab Izadyar. They discuss her journey into the field of design and textile design; beginning with her education as graphic designer in Tehran, followed by her postgraduate studies at...

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