In pictures: Tamer Khalifa’s quirky design studio in Sharjah

After his degree, Tamer Khalifa returned to Saudi Arabia, but there was limited scope for him to further develop his passion for photography until he moved to Dubai nine years ago. By then, his focus had shifted from fashion to interior photography, which, in turn, inspired him to explore ways of combining photography with furniture design.

He began designing cushions, which were quickly picked up by O’de Rose, and then moved onto throws, bean bags, poufs and larger, more substantial furniture items. Today, his portfolio includes everything from Umm Kulthum cushions and ­Marvel-inspired stools to wooden side tables and weekender bags made from neoprene (the material used for diving suits).

The common theme across Khalifa’s creations is a sense of simplicity and nostalgia. And for all the “stuff” in his workspace, one thing is notable in its absence: the amount of technology used. There is a simple PC in the corner of the room — no Mac, no big screens, no fuss.

Umm Kulthum, one of Khalifa’s heroes, makes a star appearance in that thinking — on cushions, stools and various other surfaces — as do other Arab stars of old, including Shadia, Sabah, Lobna Abdel Aziz and Omar Sharif.

Tamer Khalifa sets himself apart by not being entirely restricted by this Arabian-inspired aesthetic — his products are as likely to feature Elvis Presley, King Kong, comic-book heroes or elephants (the latter photographed by Khalifa while on safari in Kenya).

Tamer Khalifa is a Saudi-Egyptian designer living in the UAE. The freelance designer, whose day job is as an aircraft engineer, typically works with bright prints originating from photos. Frequent themes include superheroes and pop icons. All photos by Clint McLean for The National.