Beaconhouse National University (BNU)

Ms. Zainab Saghir Barlas

Associate Professor

Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts & Design

Zainab Saghir Barlas fosters creative expression and critical thinking in design education. She employs diverse media and methodologies to expand students’ understanding of design. Her intuitive approach cultivates a dynamic learning environment, inspiring students to integrate research and studio practice with purpose.

Bio

Since January 2017, Zainab Saghir Barlas has been an integral part of the Visual Communication Design department at the Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts and Design, Beaconhouse National University. As an educator in both studio and theory, she is committed to fostering creative expression and expanding students’ understanding of design in a contemporary context.

With a dynamic approach to teaching, she employs diverse media and methodologies, encouraging students to explore design beyond traditional boundaries. Her ability to engage intuitively with students has helped cultivate a positive, proactive, and result-driven learning environment, strengthening the teacher-student relationship.

Passionate about nurturing critical thinking, she inspires students to delve deeper into the practical and theoretical applications of design. By integrating research and studio practice, she empowers them to approach design with insight, purpose, and a forward-thinking perspective.

Academics

  • Master in Art & Design Studies (MA ADS), Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts and Design (MDSVAD), Beaconhouse National University, Lahore
  • Bachelor of Design (B.DES), National College of Arts, Lahore

Experience

Academic
  • Associate Professor, Beaconhouse National University (2024–Present)
  • Assistant Professor, Beaconhouse National University (2019–2024)
  • Visiting Faculty, Beaconhouse National University (2017–2019)
  • Program Manager, Beaconhouse National University (May–Sep 2020)
  • Teaching Assistant, Beaconhouse National University (2015)
  • Teacher, Pepperdine School Network (2006–2007)
Professional
  • External Reviewer, COMSATS (June 2023, 2024)
  • Panelist, Design Summit, Lahore (March 2024)
  • Panelist, MikroPom, BNU (October 2023)
  • External Reviewer, COMSATS (November 2023)
  • Panelist, International Conference on Gender Studies, Punjab University (March 2021)
  • Editorial Committee, Journal of Gender and Social Issues, FJWU (Sept 2019 - Jan 2022)
  • Content Writer and Social Media Manager, BNU-SVAD (June 2019 - Oct 2020)
  • EMCEE/Presenter, Design Summit (Prologue 2), BNU (April 2019)
  • EMCEE/Presenter, Design Summit (Prologue), BNU (April 2018)
  • Panelist, Université Bordeaux, Montaigne (July 2017)
  • External Reviewer, COMSATS (June 2017)
  • Creative Director, Aruj Industries (Laurein) (June 2012 - Jan 2014)
  • Art Director, Looptex (Nov 2008 - June 2010)
  • Freelance Illustrator, The Card Company (July 2006 - Sept 2008)
  • Art Director, Orient-McCann-Erickson (Sept 2004 - June 2006)
  • Visualizer, Red Communication Art (Jan 2004 - Sept 2004)
Freelance Work
  • Corporate Identity Designer, zOrganics
  • Corporate Identity Designer, Learning to Exhale
  • Corporate Identity Designer, Ali & Ali - Barristers and Corporate Consultants
  • Corporate Identity and Packaging Designer, Batter Chatter
  • Corporate Identity and Menu Designer, Baithak (Houston, TX)
  • Corporate Identity Designer, Epic Jr.
  • Corporate Identity and Social Media Content Creator, Raise The Bar - Health Studio
  • Brand Identity Designer, Girl.Gone.Cocoa - Artisan Chocolatiers
  • Designer, Aruj Industries - Brand Collateral

Group Exhibitions

  • Domestic Provocations, Alhamra Art Gallery (2025)
  • Unity in Flux, Ejaz Galleries, Lahore (2024)
  • Lahore Digital Arts Festival – Metaverse Bodies (2023)
  • Lahore Digital Arts Festival – POST-Reality, an online event bypassing traditional understandings of art curation and presentation (2021)
  • Exit Strategy, curated by Risham Syed & Sundas Azfer for Islamabad Art Festival, National Art Gallery, PNCA, Islamabad (2019)
  • Crossovers, curated by Ali Raza at Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore (2019)
  • Massacre of the Innocents, National Art Gallery, PNCA, Islamabad (2015)

Contact

  • Email Address: zainab.barlas@bnu.edu.pk
  • Ext number: 280
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