Today we’d like to introduce you to Zahra Mevaa.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It’s an honor to be part of a platform that gives voices to such a diverse range of profiles in Savannah. Being included means a lot to me, and I’m grateful to contribute to this rich mosaic of stories.
I was born and raised in Paris, France, but my roots trace back to Cameroon. Both of my parents are Cameroonian and moved to France when they were in their late teens, bringing with them a deep cultural heritage that has been an important part of my life. Growing up in a multicultural household sparked my curiosity—not just about identity, but about how culture shapes the world around us.
Living in a melting-pot city such as Paris has only deepened my curiosity to analyze how culture impacts design and spaces. I have also had the chance to travel extensively—visiting over 20 countries—which has enriched my perspective even further. One thing I always noticed during my travels was how the smallest details in interiors reflected the identity and traditions of each place.
Whether it was staying in a traditional hotel in the mountains of Kyoto with serene baths, walking through a fully gilded hotel in Dubai, admiring the white stone architecture in Santorini, or sleeping under woven palm tree roofs in Zanzibar — I realized I was deeply compelled by how both cultures and the natural environment around them influence hospitality design. Each experience made me more certain that I wanted to contribute my own impact to this field.
With that growing passion, I applied to SCAD and landed in Savannah just a few days after my 18th birthday.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey definitely had its challenges, especially in the beginning. I came from a French private Catholic middle and high school where the arts were not a major focus. My education was much more academic and structured, so when I arrived at SCAD, I had to completely shift my mindset. I had to learn to deconstruct that very academic approach and allow myself to experiment, take creative risks, and understand that art and design don’t always have to be perfectly accurate or “correct.” It was about exploring, expressing, and trusting the process — which was very new to me.
At the same time, adjusting to studying fully in English for the first time was another big hurdle. Being in an environment where I was listening, speaking, and taking all my classes in English 24/7 was definitely overwhelming at first. With my strong French accent, there were times when people couldn’t always understand me, which was frustrating and sometimes discouraging.
But I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my friends, professors, and the SCAD community. They created such a welcoming and understanding environment that made these transitions so much smoother. Looking back, all these challenges helped me grow not only as a designer but also as a person — learning to be adaptable, open, and confident in my own voice.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an Interior Design major with a minor in Furniture Design. My passion lies in hospitality design — specifically creating hotels that feel like an extension of the country or city you’re visiting. My goal is for guests to feel immersed in the culture and energy of the location even while inside the hotel. The space itself should help you appreciate where you are — through the design, materials, and stories it tells — rather than feeling like a generic, international hotel that could exist anywhere.
A large part of my vision is to highlight and collaborate with local artisans and designers, especially from Africa. I believe luxury doesn’t always have to follow Western or European standards. True luxury can come from the land, traditions, and craftsmanship of the community itself. For example, during my trip to Cameroon in 2022, I visited Maroua, in the Extreme North region, where I met designers creating beautiful furniture using recycled tires as the structure for sofas, layered with vibrant traditional textiles. That kind of resourceful creativity and cultural expression inspires me deeply and continues to shape my design approach.
While I’m still in the early stages of my journey — currently a sophomore — I am using every class, project, and opportunity to refine my vision and skills. I’m very fortunate to have been interning at the renowned Roche Bobois in their Paris offices for two summers in a row. This experience is giving me valuable hands-on knowledge of high-end design and helping me understand how to create luxurious spaces for real clients — from Parisian apartments to international projects like the Ivory Coast Embassy in Denmark.
What sets me apart is my mission to blend cultural identity, sustainability, and luxury into thoughtful, elevated designs that tell meaningful stories. I want my work to honor where it comes from, create beautiful experiences for people, and bring greater visibility to the richness of African design on an international stage.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest are once-in-a-lifetime experiences — those moments where I get to discover new cultures, meet new people, and see the world from a different perspective. Leaving my home in France at 18 to attend SCAD was one of those defining experiences. Moving to a new country, learning to live and study in English, and immersing myself in a completely different culture have pushed me to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Along the way, I’ve also built lifetime friendships in college — people from all over the world who have become like family and who make this journey even more meaningful.
Another unforgettable experience was volunteering at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside my two sisters. I was the youngest member of my team, selected as one of only 15 volunteers for track and field, working in the Technical Information Center. I processed World Athletics request forms, provided technical support to delegations, guided athletes and coaches to medal ceremonies, and ensured that equipment met official standards — all while representing my country on the global stage.
And on top of all that, I had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet incredible athletes like Gaby Thomas, Quincy Wilson, Mondo Duplantis, and many more. These are the kinds of moments you carry with you forever — the stories you’ll one day tell your children and grandchildren. That’s what makes me happiest: living experiences that shape who I am, creating memories I’ll treasure for a lifetime, and building friendships that will last long beyond my time in college.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://zahramevaa.wixsite.com/my-site
- Instagram: zaamev
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahra-mevaa
