Summer design internships growing Qatar's intellectual capital

Managing Director of grow, Anthony Ryman said: "We're helping the design industry and seeding the future leaders of Qatari designers by offering young people internships so that might go on to setting up as an entrepreneur with their own fashion or design studio or shop.

"For the last 5 years, grow has opened its doors to VCU Qatar students during the Summer, so that they can work with us and apply their academic learning to a real-time busy studio environment. It's great for them and for us," says Mr. Ryman. "By giving back to the design industry in this way, we're also helping Qatar on its path to ensure there is not only a transfer of knowledge to young Qataris, but helping to build a long term sustainable legacy of intellectual capital. This is the only renewable resource and Qatar needs to invest in it by buying design from local Qatari-born design agencies, so we can continue to invest and nurture local talent."

Qatari designer Sara Al-Saffar said: "It's great! I'm always working on new projects. It's a bit stressful sometimes, but there's so much to do, and learn and it's a great atmosphere at grow".

Grow Executive Creative Director David Omi said: "In all my years at Landor UK, The Brand Union, New York and Siegel & Gale Los Angeles, we always had interns. In Qatar it's different because the interns are not after a job, they're eager for experience, to learn and grow. And that's what we do here at grow - growing brands that grow business. I see every Qatari intern from VCU-Q as a brand for the future of Qatar".