Qatari Heritage is taking an international sporting spotlight through the creative work of designer Hissa Al-Khuzaei. She designed a special racing helmet for Formula One driver Pierre Gasly ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The project forms part of the Qatar, Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture initiative. Through the collaboration, Al-Khuzaei brings traditional Qatari artistic elements into a setting followed by international motorsport audiences.
The helmet combines visual references from Qatar and Mexico, creating a design that connects their cultural traditions. Al-Khuzaei described the selection as an important milestone in her career and an opportunity to represent Qatar internationally.
She said the project allowed her to explore familiar interests in culture, identity and people’s relationship with place. Moreover, she welcomed the opportunity to introduce audiences beyond Qatar to the country’s distinctive cultural identity.
Her creative process began by identifying visual similarities between Qatari and Mexican artistic traditions. In particular, she noticed the flowing movement of Mexican folkloric dancers’ skirts and traditional Qatari Sadu weaving patterns.
The dancers’ flowing fabrics inspired ribbon-like details that move across the helmet’s surface. Meanwhile, geometric triangular shapes drawn from Sadu weaving give the artwork a recognisable Qatari character.
Al-Khuzaei explained that these triangular patterns also carry symbolic meaning within the design. They represent shelter and protection, making them particularly suitable for an object designed for racing.
The helmet also features shapes inspired by Qatar’s desert dunes, adding another reference to local landscapes. Furthermore, the use of maroon strengthens its connection with Qatar’s national identity.
To reflect Formula One’s energy, Al-Khuzaei incorporated expressive painted strokes that suggest speed and movement. However, she balanced those dynamic elements with geometric structures to maintain harmony throughout the artwork.
She also considered Gasly’s racing car and suit when selecting the design’s colours. This helped ensure the helmet complemented the driver’s existing visual identity while retaining its cultural character.
Developing the final concept involved research, initial sketches and several digital design variations. Al-Khuzaei also adjusted individual elements carefully to accommodate the helmet’s curved surface.
Those changes required attention to scale and positioning, ensuring every detail remained visible. Consequently, she worked to preserve the original artistic concept while adapting it to the helmet’s practical shape.
Al-Khuzaei said her role focused on the visual design, while the project brief offered considerable creative freedom. That flexibility allowed her to develop an interpretation connecting two cultural traditions through contemporary design.
Reflecting on the wider Year of Culture initiative, she highlighted art’s ability to connect people across cultural backgrounds. She viewed the collaboration as an example of how creative projects can encourage international understanding.
She also hopes the project will bring greater attention to contemporary Qatari art internationally. In addition, she wants emerging designers to recognise opportunities beyond traditional artistic platforms.
Al-Khuzaei believes cultural traditions offer artists extensive inspiration for developing fresh creative interpretations. She noted that every artist brings an individual perspective when translating heritage into contemporary work.
For her, the Formula One collaboration also expanded her understanding of international opportunities. Ultimately, Qatari Heritage gained another contemporary expression through a design connecting national identity with global motorsport.
