Saja Muzaini first developed an interest in historic Arab inventions while a student, eventually leading her to found Qirtas, a startup that "aspires to revive the position of Arabic culture" by transforming these Arab inventions into toys and souvenirs.
"The idea first sparked when I was in the university and I was introduced to the elephant clock created by Al-Jazari some 800 years ago," the Riyadh-based designer told StepFeed. "The combination of its sophisticated mechanics, appealing crafted aesthetics and conceptual message of unifying several world cultures in a harmonious device were very much inspiring for me."
Continuing, she explained how having such fascinating inventions in history should inspire young Arabs today but few are aware of them. "The reality that it is lost and only few of us know about it is tragic. From that moment, I decided to start spreading the news about such magnificent inventions by designing interactive toys from them," she said.
Now, with Qirtas established and a developed product, The Elephant Clock, Muzaini is working to do exactly what she set out to do.
"It is extremely important to be aware of your history, as the more we know about our positive history the better we perceive ourselves, and the more we are inspired to create ourselves just like our ancestors did," she explained.
While Qirtas is currently developing its mass production design and searching for the most suitable manufacturer, it also plans on expanding its product line to include toys and souvenirs of other historic Arab and Muslim inventions.
Already, Qirtas has been well received by those who have discovered its unique concept.
"People have been extremely excited about our products," Muzaini said. "The feedback and interaction that we are getting from everyone we interact with exceeded our expectations greatly and it is a great motivation that keeps us dedicated."
As Qirtas moves forward with production and expansion, it's sure to inspire Arabs, young and old, to take greater pride in their rich history.