Ariana Massouh is a true artist. Hailing from West Hartford CT, she graduated from Rhode Island School of Design where she was known for her skills in weaving and surface design. In 2012 she received her Master’s in Art Education from Columbia University. In 2016, she became the US Design & Brand Director for Tai Ping, A Hong Kong-based rug manufacturer known for its creative designs. Ariana leads the design development team and contributes to their collections using her vast knowledge of hand-knotting and hand-tufting. Get to know more about Ariana’s creative process in this Maker Monday.
Schoal I: This ethereal hand tufted rug is part of the Tides Collection. This dreamlike creation is inspired by the shape and patterns formed by water.
Andrew Joseph: Describe your design style as if you were explaining it to someone who cannot see.
Ariana Massouh: Tactile, intricate, unexpected.
AJ: What makes you angry?
AM: Careless drivers! I’m that person who yells at drivers who blow through stop signs.
Abalone I: The expertly crafted watercolor-esque rug imitates a sunset reflecting over the ocean, providing artistic tension and depth.
AJ: Are you a good cook? If so, what’s your specialty?
AM: My kids think that I am! My specialty is brunch – I love the mixture of savory and sweet foods. I enjoy making dishes like shakshuka, vegetable frittata, waffles, and Dutch baby (a puffy pancake).
AJ: What are your beauty secrets?
AM: Exercise and sleep – when I get adequate amounts of both I feel beautiful on the inside and out.
Willow I: From the Flourish Collection, the gradation effect of this design gives a sense of movement to a static medium.
AJ: Favorite app?
AM: I’m currently obsessed with The Pattern, an astrology app with a unique algorithm and personalized content. I use this app as a tool to reflect on my strengths and challenges and increase overall self-awareness. It’s self-care for the soul!
AJ: If you had one more hour in the day, what would you do with it?
AM: That’s a tie between sleep and exercise! I love and crave both, and during the busy working mom week it’s easy for me to sacrifice one or both with the business of life.
About The Designer | Ariana Massouh grew up literally surrounded by rugs. As a young girl in West Hartford CT, she could be found tracing the designs found on her family’s antique rugs — part of the Persian heritage her family brought to the U.S. – and creating her own patterns. Later, Massouh studied textiles at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where she was an honors student and honed her skills in fibers, weaving, fabric silkscreen, and surface design. Her senior thesis involved designing and weaving carpets for palatial theaters on computerized jacquard looms.
At Tai Ping and Edward Fields, Massouh leads the design development and marketing efforts for the U.S. division. She contributes her vast knowledge of hand-knotted and hand-tufted constructions to collections for both brands.
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