Hala habibi (or habibti!), we need to talk.
If you're an Emirati creative, an illustrator, a designer, a doodler, a maker of beautiful things, this post is for you. Pull up a chair, grab a karak and listen closely, because Little Majlis is looking for you.
We've been telling the story of the UAE through design since 2012. Our products have found their way into the Burj Al Arab boutique, Bloomingdale's Middle East, Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. They've been carried in suitcases to London, Lagos and Los Angeles. They've made people smile, spark conversations and feel a little closer to home.
And behind every single one of them is an Emirati creative with a story to tell.
What is the Little Majlis Creative Community?
We collaborate with Emirati designers, illustrators and creatives to develop graphics that bring Khaleeji culture to life; on postcards, notebooks, tea towels, ceramic tiles, leather charms, greeting cards and more. You get to do the fun part, the designing, the illustrating, the storytelling. We do the rest — product development, manufacturing, packaging, retail and distribution.
Your name goes on the product. Your artwork reaches people all over the world. And you become part of a growing community of Emirati creatives who are putting Gulf culture on the global map,one beautifully designed gift at a time.
Meet some of our collaborators
Amna Al Saleh whose warm, playful illustrations bring our Emirati characters, marine life, ceramic art tiles and cotton ornaments to life. Amna's work is stocked in cultural institutions across the UAE and loved by recipients worldwide.
Alia Al Hammadi whose stunning botanical illustrations of UAE indigenous plants feature on our emirate-specific postcard range. Alia's work celebrates the natural heritage of the Gulf with extraordinary delicacy and detail.
These are exactly the kinds of collaborations we're looking for more of. Authentic, joyful, rooted in Khaleeji culture and presented through a contemporary lens.
What are we looking for?
Emirati Creatives. You do not need a design degree or a formal background. You just need talent, a love of sharing Khaleeji culture and the ability to communicate and collaborate. Whether you're a student, a hobbyist or a working professional. If you make things that celebrate the UAE, we want to hear from you.
A fun, playful and simple aesthetic. Our style is warm, colourful and accessible. Think bold illustrations, playful characters and cultural references that resonate across generations and demographics. If this doesn't sound exactly like your style, apply anyway! Our corporate clients are looking for variation, and we'll add you to our directory and wait for the perfect project match.
A love of our brand. This one is non-negotiable. We work collaboratively and your name will be credited on every product that features your artwork. So it's important that you jump for joy when you see Little Majlis products on shelves, because we want you to be as proud of what we make together as we are.
Frequently asked questions
Is it full-time or part-time? It's entirely flexible — we work project by project, so you can be as involved as your schedule allows.
Do I need design experience? Not at all. You just need talent, passion and a portfolio or social media page that shows us what you can do.
Is this paid work? Yes. We will agree on terms on a project by project basis, before any work is done.
Can I work remotely? Absolutely. We collaborate digitally so you can work from anywhere.
Will I be credited? We want to showcase your talent far and wide. Where ever possible you will be credited on product packaging for our retail collection. We encourage our corporate partners to do the same, and most value this (often Little Majlis branding is removed and the designers credit retained!).
Who owns the artwork? The brief will define this, but typically any artwork created and paid for under the scope of work will be owned and used exclusively by Little Majlis, and their corporate clients, for use on products, packaging and will form part of the Little Majlis brand assets. For some projects exclusivity may not be necessary, but this will always be determined at the outset of the project.
Will the process be fun? We really hope so! Life is short and we like to be open and honest with our creative partners so we can all enjoy the creative process. We would love to showcase more Arabic language and Emirati storytelling elements on our products. So while some design projects will be quite defined, others will be more open, allowing you a much broader range of creative freedom. Little Majlis will be available throughout the design process to guide the designer and provide feedback as and when required.
How to apply
Yalla, don't be shy! Head to our Creative Directory page and fill in the form. Include:
- Your name
- Company name if applicable
- A link to your portfolio, social media or file sharing account where we can see some of your work
We review every application personally and will be in touch if we think there's a match — or we'll add you to our directory for future projects.
The bottom line
The UAE has extraordinary creative talent. We see it every day, in art galleries, on Instagram, in the souks, in the universities. And we genuinely believe that the best gifts from the UAE should be designed by the people who know it best.
That's you, habibi.
Yallah — let's make something the Gulf will love.