The Story Behind the Design
When she first joined the team, she had no idea that one of her projects would become something she sees every day across campus.
Hayam Sayed, graphic design staff intern at the Office of Marketing Communication and Public Affairs who joined AUC as part of the People with Disabilities Employee Mentorship and Development program, had previously contributed to the campus decoration campaign through her work. This time, she was given full ownership of the creative design, which was then applied to flags, danglers, mockups, tripods and instant photo frames across campus.
"It’s very rewarding to see my designs all around campus.”
“It was like a gift for me,” she says. “I was entrusted with a big project, so I took it seriously and felt responsible for it. It’s very rewarding to see my designs all around campus.”
After extensive research, Sayed spent nearly two months developing ideas and exploring different directions. She refined concepts and explored multiple options to develop the final visual direction. She also incorporated additional visual elements to give the design more depth, while keeping it catchy and relatable for students.
“I wanted to create something colorful and simple, but also flexible enough to work across different applications throughout the year,” she said. “I wanted the campus decorations to stand out.”
Sayed’s path to design was far from conventional. She holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering and spent five years as a teaching and research assistant in Kuwait — an experience she describes as highly academic. When she moved to Egypt several years ago, she started freelancing as a graphic designer during COVID.
"Engineering taught me to think analytically and systematically, whereas design taught me to think creatively."
What began as remote work in digital marketing gradually opened the door to Sayed’s career in graphic design. At AUC, she found the environment to turn that interest into a profession.
“I learned so much from everyone I work with at AUC, and I’m so grateful for that,” she said. “I love math, but as a career, I love graphic design. Engineering taught me to think analytically and systematically, whereas design taught me to think creatively. Art is multifaceted; there are different ways of communicating a single message. Design can invite people in, communicate information, tell a story, or make someone stop and look. That’s what I enjoy the most about it.”
