Exploring Packaging Innovation with Omar Almoteq Co-Founder of OSTUDIO

Thank you very much. I’m Omar Almoteq, Co-Founder and Creative Director at OSTUDIO. My journey with design began from a simple curiosity about details—how a single visual element can shift an entire impression. Design has always been a way for me to understand people and translate their ideas into visual experiences that create real impact.

This recognition represents a pivotal moment not only for me personally, but also for the entire OSTUDIO team. It confirms that the creative work coming from our region is capable of competing globally and leaving an impact.

The achievement has boosted the confidence of our current clients and opened doors for new strategic partnerships inside and outside Saudi Arabia. It also raised the bar for expectations within the team and reaffirmed the importance of continuous innovation in every project we undertake.

Experimentation is at the core of the creative process at OSTUDIO. For example, in the Midnight project, we didn’t start with designing the logo; we began by understanding “night hunger” as an emotional experience, and we experimented with expressing it visually through lighting, colors, and even the tone of the text.

Once, I drew design inspiration from a silent moment of waiting at an abandoned train station. That moment was rich with calm, solitude, and nostalgia, elements that later became the heart of the visual identity for Midnight.

Design is not just about “aesthetics”; it’s a strategic decision that requires research, understanding, and deep experimentation. Sometimes, the simplest lines carry the most complex messages.

Honest dialogue is key to this balance. I believe that explaining the intellectual background behind the design fosters deeper understanding with the client, creating common ground that allows creativity without compromise.

One of the challenges in Blanco was blending purity as a value with a commercial identity that has a sensory character. We overcame this by redefining the gradients and visually giving a tangible feel to the concept, allowing the audience to sense it before reading.

I step away from the office for a while to seek inspiration and connect with nature, spending time in simple places outside the city—sand, trees, a starry night—or even having a brief conversation. More importantly, I give myself space not to be “creative” for a while.

Being close to people, honest in expression, and deeply respectful of local culture, I believe good design touches the soul because it’s sincere, not just well crafted.

Don’t just chase trends. Understand the “why” before the “how.” Create work that expresses who you are, even if it seems simple. Authenticity is rare currency these days.

I would love to collaborate with Paul Rand because he didn’t just view design as art, but as a way to solve problems in an intelligent and humanistic manner.

When asked how to know if a design is successful, my answer is that it happens when the audience stops seeing it as a design and starts feeling it as part of their experience or memory.