Basin Incense Holder

Maha Alavi is a Toronto-based industrial designer. Her practice aims to explore context through connection and creation, informed by her prior training in philosophy and psychology.

Alavi takes inspiration from travel — the way daily rhythms shift throughout different global geographies. She is fascinated by the influence of objects on people and spaces, and construction of cultural archetypes through design. Alavi cites places like Berlin, Tokyo, and Singapore as major sources of inspiration for her work. Time spent in cities so connected to both industry and nature have created a sensibility that focuses on detail and balance, and nurtured an understanding of light and seasons eventually inspiring her first hardware series, CERCLE.

Through her unique lens Alavi transfigures both daily routines and unique experiences into exciting explorations of space and form. When designing, Alavi considers continuity in form and philosophy: the design must communicate its intent holistically and succinctly.