Design Passport: Why I Traveled to Morocco and Italy

I recently returned from a journey through Morocco and Italy to celebrate my birthday, but this trip was about much more than marking another year. It was an opportunity to experience architecture, craftsmanship, and design firsthand in places that had long existed only in textbooks, lectures, and photographs.

Admiring the Zellige tile and wood carvings of the Bou Inania Madrasa.

A Designer's Journey

During my college years, I was required to take numerous courses in architectural and interior design history. We studied classical and indigenous precedents from Africa, Europe, and Asia that shaped the built environments we know today. I spent countless hours memorizing architectural motifs, decorative details, building typologies, and historical movements in preparation for exams.

Proudly sharing my restaurant design project for Design Studio 5 at Florida International University.

At the time, much of what I learned felt distant and disconnected from my everyday life. Many of the buildings and spaces existed in places I had never visited, and the black-and-white photographs in my textbooks could not fully convey their scale, color, or craftsmanship. My primary goal was simply to learn enough to pass the class.

A sunset view of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.

Years later, after working as an interior designer and traveling throughout the United States and the Caribbean, I made my first trip to Europe in 2019. For the first time, I stood before historic buildings that I had only previously encountered in books. Experiencing them in person changed my perspective entirely. The scale, artistry, and attention to detail inspired a level of appreciation that no photograph could ever provide.

Capturing a sketch of the renowned Pantheon in Rome, Italy.

Since returning to academia as a professor, I have once again immersed myself in architectural and design history. This time, however, I approach it with greater maturity, awareness, and curiosity. Revisiting these subjects inspired me to embark on a journey to Morocco and Italy to experience architecture not as a student studying images, but as a designer engaging directly with the built environment.

A boutique shop featuring Berber headdress and jewelry in the souks of Marrakesh, Morocco.

Why Morocco and Italy?

As someone who has always been fascinated by my heritage, I have long been drawn to African art, design, fashion, and craftsmanship. Throughout my life, I have incorporated African influences into my personal style and living spaces as a way of exploring identity and belonging. Naturally, Africa had always been a destination I hoped to visit.

After an unsuccessful attempt to travel to Morocco in 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak, I finally had the opportunity to make the journey this year. Morocco appealed to me not only because of its location at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and the Arab world, but also because of its rich craft traditions and remarkable architecture.

A view of the many alleys of the souks of Marrakesh, Morocco.

As I researched the country, I became fascinated by the souks—vibrant marketplaces filled with handcrafted goods ranging from brass metalwork and pottery to leather goods and handwoven rugs. For a designer, the souks represent an endless source of inspiration. Equally compelling were the riads, intimate courtyard homes hidden behind heavily carved wooden doors, and the extraordinary architectural details found throughout the country, including colorful zellige tilework, intricate stucco carvings, and elaborate wood ornamentation.

Chasing the natural daylight shining through the oculus of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy.

Italy offered a different but equally important source of inspiration. Many of the buildings that shaped my architectural education—including the Pantheon, the Colosseum, and St. Peter's Basilica—are located there. Visiting Italy allowed me to experience these landmarks firsthand while gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between architecture, art, urban planning, and daily life.

Capturing one of the many frescos and ornate ceiling ornamentation at the Vatican Museum in Rome, Italy.

What I'm Bringing Home

What inspired me most throughout both countries was the extraordinary commitment to craftsmanship. Whether expressed through Moroccan tilework and carved plaster or Italian marble sculpture and fresco painting, I was continually reminded that design is often most powerful when it celebrates detail, artistry, and human touch.

I was struck by the way patterns, color, ornamentation, and materiality were used so boldly yet thoughtfully. Both countries demonstrated that beauty can be layered, expressive, and deeply rooted in culture and history. They also reinforced the importance of creating spaces that tell stories and foster emotional connections.

A lovely tin container resting on beautiful Moroccan tile.

As I return to my work as a designer, artist, and educator, I find myself carrying a renewed appreciation for craftsmanship, color, pattern, and architectural storytelling. The lessons I gathered throughout Morocco and Italy will undoubtedly influence future interiors, artwork, wallpaper collections, and creative projects developed through Ze Haus.

Capturing the light at sunrise in front of the Siena Cathedral in Tuscany, Italy.

This journey was more than a vacation.

It was a reminder that some of the most meaningful design lessons are learned not in classrooms or textbooks, but through direct experience, observation, and curiosity. Sometimes the best way to understand great design is to stand within it.