Master’s Degree in (Traditional) Furniture Design

In October 2025, the Master’s Degree in (Traditional) Furniture Design was launched as the result of a capacity-building collaboration between the Department of Design and The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (WRTH).

This innovative educational program aims to create a bridge between contemporary design innovation and the cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia, reflecting a shared commitment to promoting design as a driver of sustainable and culturally sensitive development. The course promotes an active dialogue between local Saudi heritage and contemporary design methodologies, creating a fertile ground for experimentation and cultural hybridization. In this perspective, tradition and innovation are considered complementary resources, capable of enriching each other and shaping a new design language.

The initiative is part of the Saudi Vision 2030 framework, aiming to valorize traditional Saudi craftsmanship while integrating it with contemporary approaches and perspectives on material culture.

The course was officially inaugurated this month at the WRTH campus in Riyadh, welcoming its first community of students and faculty, engaged in a journey of research and experimentation that intertwines tradition, craftsmanship, and innovation in contemporary design.

More information about the course is available on The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts website.