Founder Of VSHD Design Rania Hamed On How To Achieve Creative Clarity

The founder and creative director of VSHD Design, on why intermittent fasting boosts her mental clarity and how music sparks her imagination

6:30am The first thing I do is meditate for 10 minutes, followed by a short spiritual reading. That quiet time is essential. It grounds me before the pace of the day begins and strengthens my intuition, something I rely heavily on in design. I believe the best creative decisions come from clarity, not noise. That early stillness sharpens how I see proportions, balance and materiality later in the day. After that, I have a large glass of water and an Americano with no sugar or milk. Clean and simple.

7:00am I train most mornings in the gym – combining strength training with cardio to build stamina. Discipline in the body reflects discipline in the studio. Leading a studio requires endurance, resilience and mental clarity and I approach fitness the same way I approach design, with structure, consistency and intention. The gym is also where I discover new music, and I often explore different genres and emerging artists. Music opens the door to creativity for me. Creativity begins with feeling, and music helps me access that.

8:00am After my workout, I shower and follow a consistent skincare routine using the Sunday Riley Vitamin C regimen – clean, effective and uncomplicated. I practice intermittent fasting, so I skip breakfast but drink coffee, herbal teas and water. I value the mental sharpness that comes with fasting and mornings are my most strategic hours for creative thinking and decision making. Getting dressed is intuitive – I follow the feeling I wake up with. Fashion is a constant source of inspiration for me. Some mornings it is effortless, other days it takes longer because I enjoy experimenting and trying different combinations until something feels right. Lately, I have been drawn to vintage pieces, which I mix with modern architectural clean line items. I love the dialogue between past and present because it mirrors how I approach design. I love Maison Margiela, Tibi and Massimo Dutti. For jewellery, I usually wear one statement piece, as I believe in restraint, often from Begum Khan.

9:00am Before heading to the office, I spend 30 minutes planning and reviewing my social media. Building my brand under my name requires intention, so I like starting the day that narrative clearly and strategically.

9:30am Once at the studio, I do a walk through to see what’s on everyone’s desks or pinned to the walls. Our studio is tactile and material driven: stone slabs, wood finishes, metal samples and glass prototypes. I need to see and touch materials daily – it keeps the work grounded in reality.

10:00am After aligning with my team, time is dedicated purely to design. This is my most creative window, so I protect it carefully. We work on concept development, refining spatial narratives, review samples and challenge initial directions until they feel intellectually and emotionally strong.

1:00pm I have my first meal of the day. After fasting all morning, I’m conscious of how I break it, usually with something light that sustains my energy without slowing me down, such as a salad and bone broth. Food is fuel, it supports clarity and clarity supports creativity.

2:00pm I shift into operational mode. This is the part of the day dedicated to management, coordination and execution. I handle Zoom meetings with contractors and clients, review drawings, timelines, budgets and technical details. Some days are reserved for site visits – which are crucial, because you can observe proportions, ceilings heights, and lighting placement. Details matter. So the afternoon is about ensuring that the creative vision shaped in the morning is translated accurately into reality.

7:00pm It’s time to head home for dinner with my family. No matter how busy the day has been, that transition is important to me. It restores balance. Dinner is simple and healthy, like grilled fish and vegetables. I’ll usually go for a walk after dinner to process and decompress from the day. I listen to an audiobook, usually something related to business, creativity or personal growth. Often, solutions to design challenges come to me unexpectedly during those quiet moments.

9:00pm I begin winding down. I massage my face with a cleansing balm, apply a cream-based, anti-ageing formula specifically created for me. I believe in consistency and investing in quality, both in design and self-care.

9:30pm I’m in bed, as sleep is a nonnegotiable. I read for 15 minutes, usually something centred on creativity or growth, such as to Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy and The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman and Kaley Warner Klemp. I’ll then finish with a short sleep meditation. Ending the day with intention is just as important as starting the day with it.

Rania founded VSHD Design, an award-winning boutique firm based in Dubai and Montreal, in 2007. Known for her innovative interiors, Rania’s projects span commercial and residential, from penthouses and spas to concept stores and coffee shops, with a vision to transform and re-purpose spaces by breathing new life into them. “With each project, we combine modesty with elegance, to reach elements of calm, beauty and subtle luxury,” she tells us.

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Images Supplied

From Harper’s Bazaar Interior Spring 2026 Issue