Design That Tells a Story: Yasmin Farahmandy on Culture, Craft, and Bold Expression
people • DESIGNERS
Discover the world of storytelling interior design with Dubai-based Yasmin Farahmandy, founder of YDesign Interior, a studio celebrated for bold, lavish and surreal spaces. Having lived and studied in Dubai, Vancouver, and Milan, Yasmin offers a global perspective to her work, drawing on more than ten years of expertise in hospitality and residential design. Her approach mixes a passion for fashion and art with a dedication to building authentic spaces that narrate a story. YDesign Interior has been involved in iconic projects across the region, offering bespoke designs that transform concepts into reality.
Words: designeers
MAY 2025
WEBSITE: ydesigninterior.com
INSTAGRAM: @ydesigninterior
DESIGNEERS
Growing up between Dubai, Vancouver, and Milan, how have these diverse cultures shaped your design sensibilities and approach?
Yasmin Farahmandy
Growing up between Dubai, Vancouver, and Milan gave me a rich palette of cultural perspectives that deeply influence my design language. Dubai taught me the importance of ambition and innovation; Vancouver grounded me in nature and sustainability; and Milan instilled in me an appreciation for timeless aesthetics, craft, and detail. This fusion allows me to approach each project with both emotional sensitivity and global awareness.
DESIGNEERS
How do you weave personal narratives or brand identities into the spaces you create?
Yasmin Farahmandy
Every space I design begins with a story. Storytelling is the foundation of my practice. I approach interiors like a director sets a scene: each material, colour and texture plays a role, exactly how a narrative-driven interior designer builds emotion. For hospitality spaces, it’s about capturing the essence of the guest experience; for residential, it’s about creating an emotional extension of the people who live there. Authenticity is always the foundation.
DESIGNEERS
If you had to describe your design style using just threewords, what would they be and why?
Yasmin Farahmandy
Narrative, curated, bold.
My work is narrative because I believe in storytelling through design. Curated because I’m meticulous about layering art, materiality, and form with intention. And bold, because I’m not afraid to break rules, experiment, or make a visual statement when the space calls for it. That balance ultimately defines me as a narrative-driven interior designer.
DESIGNEERS
How do you incorporate sustainable design elements and materials into your projects without compromising on luxury and aesthetics?
Yasmin Farahmandy
For me, sustainability and luxury are not opposing forces. True luxury today is conscious. I often incorporate reclaimed materials, ethical sourcing, and locally made finishes, ensuring sustainability is woven seamlessly into the design. It’s about being thoughtful: using materials with depth and integrity and designing in a way that endures, emotionally and physically.
“I approach interiors like a director sets a scene: each material, colour, and texture plays a role in conveying the narrative.”
Yasmin Farahmandy
DESIGNEERS
Beyond architecture and interiors, what other art forms or experiences inspire your design process?
Yasmin Farahmandy
Fashion, film, sculpture, and even music heavily influence my process. I often reference couture detailing in my material choices or cinematic lighting techniques in my spatial layouts. Travel is another huge source of inspiration, walking through old streets, observing textures, light, and cultural rituals. These moments feed my imagination.
DESIGNEERS
Is there a particular design trend or element you find yourself consistently drawn to or avoiding?
Yasmin Farahmandy
I’m consistently drawn to organic forms and imperfect beauty, elements that evoke a sense of soul. On the other hand, I tend to avoid overly themed or hyper-minimalist trends that feel disconnected from human emotion. Design should resonate, not just impress.
DESIGNEERS
Favourite design icon?
Yasmin Farahmandy
Kelly Wearstler. Her fearless approach to materiality, form, and colour has always inspired me. She blurs the lines between art and interior design with an unapologetic boldness that I deeply admire. Her spaces are layered, sculptural, and emotionally charged—each one tells a story without saying a word. I appreciate how she consistently redefines what modern luxury looks and feels like.
DESIGNEERS
Dream design hotel?
Yasmin Farahmandy
Designing for Belmond and the Orient Express represents the ultimate expression of immersive, narrative-driven design. Belmond’s properties are storied icons. Each one a celebration of culture, timeless elegance, and layered history. The opportunity to reinterpret such a legacy through a bold, contemporary lens, melding local craftsmanship with a deeply curated material language—would be an extraordinary creative pursuit. Equally, the Orient Express is a masterpiece of movement and memory. It’s not just a train, it’s a cinematic experience that unfolds across borders, eras, and emotions. Designing for such a setting demands a rare balance of theatre, intimacy, and historical reverence. Together, Belmond and the Orient Express offer the kind of design challenges that align perfectly with my obsession for storytelling, sensuality, and spatial drama. These are the projects that leave a mark on culture, not just the industry
DESIGNEERS
Do you have a go-to supplier or artisan for unique materials or finishes?
Yasmin Farahmandy
Yes, I have a trusted network of artisans and suppliers across Europe and the Middle East. From hand-blown Murano glassmakers in Venice to local stone carvers in the UAE, I deeply value working with craftspeople who bring authenticity and mastery to a project. These relationships are an integral part of my creative process.
DESIGNEERS
What is an important project you worked on?
Yasmin Farahmandy
One defining project has been Revolver in Dubai, an example of surreal interior design that Dubai rarely sees. It encapsulates everything I stand for as a designer- drama, emotion, and detail. Revolver was a bold exploration of light, shadow, and spatial rhythm. From the custom lighting installations to the moody palette and sculptural forms, every element was curated to provoke a sensory journey. It’s a space that doesn’t just serve food, it performs. The project challenged conventions and gave me the freedom to push narrative and material boundaries in a way that felt both elevated and unapologetically daring.
