Desert Rose-Inspired National Museum of Qatar: A Design Masterpiece

Trade and Collector's Edition Books Echoing Nature's Phenomenon

The inspiration for the book design came from the museum’s architecture, which is modeled after the desert rose. The book, like the building, appears to be emerging from the earth, with a sandy colored cover material that evokes the Old Palace at the center of the site. The blind de-bossing replicates the cladding pattern of the discs on the new building, creating a tangible connection between the book and the museum.

What sets this design apart is the contrast between the subtle and calm exterior, inspired by the serenity of the desert, and the vivid inside pages. The interior pages mirror the museum journey, punctuated by subtle pauses of pullout quotes with no loud chapter announcements. Photos throughout the book are condensed into series of ‘picture wells’, with minimal interruption, creating a seamless visual experience.

The realization of the design involved offset printing, Smyth sewn binding, paper on board and leather on board hard cases, silk screen printing, varnish, and blind de-bossing. A significant amount of research went into finding the right material and techniques to realize the vision for the book. The technical specifications of the design are meticulously detailed, with the Collector's Edition Case measuring 300 x 360 x 60 mm, the Collector's Edition Book 280 x 340 x 40 mm, and the Trade Edition Book 250 x 305 x 35 mm.

The design project, which started in 2017 and finished in 2020, faced the challenge of creating a timeless yet contemporary publication. The books needed to capture the unique qualities of both the new museum and the historic palace, requiring a significant amount of research to find the appropriate materials. The result is a visual exploration of the National Museum of Qatar, inspired by the desert rose, that gives visitors the sense of taking a piece of the museum with them.

The design has been recognized with a Silver A' Print and Published Media Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.

In conclusion, Randa Takieddine's design for the National Museum of Qatar's book is a testament to the power of design to reflect and enhance the beauty of nature and architecture. By echoing the desert rose phenomenon in the book's design, Takieddine has created a unique, engaging, and award-winning publication that truly captures the essence of the museum.