We were lucky to catch up with Alma Kamal, Hamda Al Naimi N/A recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alma Kamal, Hamda Al Naimi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

—Hamda: Risk has been a constant in my life, not always bold or dramatic, but the kind that quietly changes everything. I struggled in school, especially with math, later realizing I had an undiagnosed learning disability. While numbers confused me, visuals made sense. Doodling helped me understand the world, and eventually, I found my place in graphic design.

The biggest risk? Leaving home. I moved from Dubai to San Francisco to pursue my passion, stepping into the unknown. Then came another leap, starting a business with Alma. We had no roadmap, no business background, just a shared dream. It was overwhelming at times, filled with financial stress and imposter syndrome, but also moments of joy and validation. Not every risk guarantees success, but some lead to something greater such as finding your purpose. Taking that leap shaped not just my career, but me. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

—Alma:
This is an interesting point because, in my day-to-day life, I never feel like I’m taking any risks. I also never felt like I had a real choice in the so-called “decisions” that kept shaping my life. But from the outside looking in, people either find the way I live unsettling or admirable, often calling me brave. I never feel brave, though—I just feel like, ever since I was a child, I never truly had a space of my own. I kept getting pushed out, again and again. Every time I thought I had found a place where I belonged, something would force me out.

Life has been challenging, but as I grew older, I realized that I deserve to exist and take up space just as much as anyone else. That realization has brought me peace, serenity, and growth.

Alma Kamal, Hamda Al Naimi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

—Alma: I’m a Graphic Designer who’s passionate about print design, and the co-founder of an-arketype. Hamda and I started this business out of a shared passion for books and design. We both love working with InDesign and wanted to create book templates that not only help people design faster but also teach small tricks of the craft along the way. Our goal is to make good design accessible while inspiring creativity.

Beyond templates, we create prints that go beyond aesthetics, they carry messages, stories, and curiosities. Each piece is designed to spark conversation, bring joy, and add meaning to a space. an-arketype isn’t just a business to us, it’s how we connect with the world through design.

—Hamda:
I’m a multidisciplinary Graphic Designer and the co-founder of an-arketype. Alma explained our business perfectly, so I’ll just add that, alongside running our studio, I also work in the graphic design industry. Taking on contracts and full-time roles in branding, print, and visual design.

At the heart of everything we do is a passion for storytelling through design—whether in our templates, prints, or my industry work. Design isn’t just what we create; it’s how we connect, inspire, and shape the world around us.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

—Alma: I think non-creatives—whether clients or people in general—often don’t realize that producing creative work requires a lot of mental and emotional space. Creativity isn’t something we can just turn on at will; it’s not always easy or automatic to come up with beautiful, meaningful designs.

Another challenge in our industry is its inherently subjective nature. A lot of graphic design out there isn’t high quality, but because it’s so widespread, the general public has grown accustomed to it. So when we try to create well-crafted designs that follow the foundational principles of the craft, people often struggle to connect with them—or even feel uneasy—simply because they’re not what they’re used to.

—Hamda:
Often times, non-creatives forget that creativity doesn’t follow a set path, it’s more like an adventure! Sometimes, we’ll notice a shape in a pastry or a color on someone’s jacket, and suddenly, it sparks something for a project we’ve been working on. It’s not a desk job. Creativity is about stepping outside, soaking up inspiration from the world around us, and then bringing it all back to shape our work. Even when we’re working on the computer, it’s about feeling, discovering, and turning those moments into something new and exciting.

For example, in branding, people often love the look of another company and try to replicate it, forgetting that their business and goals are unique. It’s about understanding what you offer first and reflecting your own story, not just copying what looks cool.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

—Alma: I love seeing my work come to life in a tangible form—holding it in my hands, feeling the physicality of it. There’s something special about all the small decisions coming together into one cohesive final product that I can flip through and then pass to someone else, allowing them to interact with it too.

I’m also a deeply sensitive person with a strong love for philosophy and humanity-centered ideas. My craft gives me the perfect vehicle to express those thoughts and share them with the world in a meaningful way.

—Hamda:
I totally agree with Alma, seeing your work as a tangible object is a very rewarding and a beautiful experience. Another thing I find incredibly rewarding is when we see our audience benefiting from it, whether that’s through inspiration or enjoyment. It’s such a fulfilling feeling when something you’ve poured energy and effort into brings positivity to others.

Contact Info:

• Website: an-arketype.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/anarketype
• Other: creativemarket.com/anarketype

Image Credits
Stock photography: -Pexels, -Unsplash