Making is our way of thinking.
A creative learning programme
Through materials, experimentation, reflection and dialogue, children aged 6–12 learn not only how to create things, but how to understand themselves and the world around them.
Hosted at Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai
Why the making mind?
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Why the making mind? *
Children are naturally curious.
They observe, question, imagine and invent long before they learn to explain how they do it. The Making Mind exists to protect and strengthen those instincts.
Developed through the lens of professional studio practice, the programme introduces children to making as a way of observing, thinking and engaging with the world.
Rather than teaching children what to think, we help them develop the habits of mind that allow them to notice more deeply, work through uncertainty, communicate ideas and contribute with confidence.
The Creative Loop™
See →
Imagine →
Make →
Refine →
Share →
See → Imagine → Make → Refine → Share →
Creativity is something we practice.
Every project follows the same creative rhythm:
The Creative Loop gives children a repeatable framework for approaching ideas, challenges and projects. Over time, it becomes more than a way of making. It becomes a way of thinking.
Imagine.
Generate ideas and explore possibilities.
See.
Observe, discuss and investigate.
Make.
Experiment with materials and bring ideas into the world.
Refine.
Test, adapt and improve.
Share.
Reflect together and document the journey in the Process Passport.
Join the Pilot Year.
The Making Mind launches this September with a limited number of places. Beginning with a small group of children allows the programme to grow thoughtfully through observation, dialogue and refinement. Families joining the Pilot Year become part of the very first chapter of The Making Mind.
Our Home
Hosted at Jameel Arts Centre
The Pilot Year takes place at Jameel Arts Centre, one of Dubai's leading cultural institutions and an independent platform for contemporary art, learning and community engagement. Its inspiring setting reflects the values at the heart of The Making Mind, providing children with an environment where they can observe, explore, make and share.
About Carla
Design has always been my way of making sense of the world.
For over a decade, I have led my own design practice, creating objects at the intersection of craft, materials and contemporary design.
Over time, I realised that the most meaningful part of making was not the finished object, but everything that happens along the way: slowing down, paying attention, trying again and learning to trust the process.
When I became a mother, this felt even more important.
The Making Mind grew from a desire to create the kind of creative education I wanted for my own children. One that nurtures curiosity, resilience, confidence and joy through making.
My hope is that every child who joins The Making Mind learns to observe more deeply, think more bravely and share their ideas with pride.
Carla Baz is an internationally recognised designer with an award-winning practice spanning collectible design, lighting and objects. Trained at ESAG Penninghen in Paris and ECAL in Lausanne, she began her career in London with Vivienne Westwood and Zaha Hadid before establishing her own studio in 2014.
Her work has been exhibited at Design Doha, Collectible Brussels and mudac Lausanne, with recognition including the Fondation Boghossian Design Prize, Maison&Objet Rising Talent Award, AD Middle East Best Product Designer Award and inclusion in the AD100.
Alongside her studio practice, Carla has taught design at university, mentoring students in the development of their own creative practice.