Introduction
What if the future of fashion and design wasn’t just coming from the same few geographies, cities, schools, and circles, but from unexpected places, with fresh perspectives and untapped talent?
This is the mission of Aliph: a creative campus-in-the-making, rooted in Morocco, with a mission to identify, nurture, and connect the next generation of African design leaders. But this isn’t just another education project; it’s a call to rethink access, equity, and how global industries invest in future talent.
Want to learn more about Aliph and its mission? Click here.
Every time I return to Morocco, I’m struck by the same thing: a boldness of spirit. The riot of colours, the layers of craft, the hospitality woven into every interaction. It’s a place where heritage meets heat, and where creativity is hiding around every corner and in every nook and cranny. And for me, this is why Aliph matters; not just for the students it aims to empower, but for the global design ecosystem and the planet. Because if we want to build a future that’s more inclusive, more sustainable, and more imaginative, we need to tap into talent that’s been systemically overlooked, and start designing with, not for, the majority world.
For you, our readers, this isn’t just a story, but an invitation. Whether you’re a designer, educator, technologist, funder, or brand innovator, Aliph offers multiple on-ramps for engagement: as a mentor, partner, collaborator, or champion of inclusive design. We believe that scale only happens through community, and that starts by being honest and transparent about our process, challenges, and what we’re building together.
Aliph Creative Offsite 2025
Last month, I returned to Marrakech for my second Aliph Creative Offsite – a three-day gathering of designers, educators, technologists, funders, and changemakers from across Morocco and beyond. Building on the vision discussed in 2023, this year marked a turning point: moving from talk to action; from bold ideas to tangible blueprints.
Led by Aliph founder, Safir Bellali, the agenda was rich and varied, from powerful panels and inspiring presentations to creative share-outs and practical workshops. But two sessions stood out for their actionability: the Four Corners exercise, which unpacked the strategic building blocks of Aliph (Recruitment & Talent, Skills & Competencies, Partnerships, and Fundraising), and the Opportunity Breakouts, where we began co-developing short-term design pilot programmes designed to bring the vision to life.
This article spotlights both: the foundational insights from our working groups, and the pilot pathways they inspired, with a special focus on the Fashion Design track, which is already underway and scheduled for a September 2025 go-live.
Let’s dive into the takeaways, themes, what’s next, and how YOU could get involved.
The Four Corners – Unpacking the strategic building blocks of Aliph
(1) Recruitment & Talent: Rethinking Who, How & Why 🧠
What if the next generation of world-class designers and creative problem-solvers are already out there but have no access to opportunity?
The “Talent & Recruitment” track explored what it really means to find, select, and nurture future cohorts in a way that is inclusive, intentional, and aligned with the project’s values.
Key takeaways:
👥 Who are we looking for?
- Talent can come from anywhere: Not just polished portfolios, but raw potential, drive, and curiosity, especially from underrepresented or overlooked backgrounds.
- Diversity is non-negotiable: Socioeconomic status, cultural heritage, gender identity, and age diversity all contribute to richer learning ecosystems.
- Create personas, not profiles: Think beyond credentials. Design fictional but realistic student personas (e.g. high school graduate with raw design instinct; community artist with a tech curiosity) to guide selection.
🎯 How do we find and select them?
- Digital-first outreach: Use social media, grassroots mobilisation, and partnerships with local networks to spread the word and democratise access.
- Interview for mindset: Prioritise soft skills like empathy, resilience, and initiative alongside technical talent. A spark of intent is often more important than polish.
- Transparency matters: Avoid nepotism or exclusivity – establish clear, visible, and fair criteria for all applicants.
- Think practical pathways: From apprenticeship-style contracts to pre-placement support, student journeys should feel connected to real opportunities.
💡 What are we really recruiting for?
- Not just skills, but potential: Aliph is about long-term transformation, not short-term performance. Select students who are ready to grow, give back, and challenge norms.
- Mindset over mastery: A student’s ability to experiment, fail forward, and think critically is just as valuable as technical ability.
- Local roots, global relevance: Start with Moroccan youth, but remain mindful of wider African and diaspora connections for scaling.
(2) Skills & Competencies – What We Need to Nurture Now 🎓
What does it take to nurture tomorrow’s changemakers – not just skilled creatives, but responsible, system-aware designers?
Key takeaways:
💡 Skills Are More Than Technical Abilities
Skills like 3D CAD, AI literacy, and hands-on prototyping were named as important, but only when developed through iterative learning and collaboration.
🌀 Competencies Bridge Knowledge, Attitude & Behaviour
Participants stressed the importance of:
- Critical thinking, systems thinking, and creative problem-solving
- Adaptability, emotional intelligence, and purpose
- Global awareness grounded in local relevance
💬 Attitude Is the Engine
Confidence, humility, curiosity, and a willingness to experiment were seen as essential traits, often more predictive of success than technical skills.
🌍 Planet-Centric Thinking
The shift from user-centred to eco-centred design was widely embraced, calling for frameworks that centre around ecology, regeneration and long-term impact.
🔁 Learning Must Be Continuous
Rather than fixed curriculums, learning should be modular, mentor-driven, and open to community storytelling, failure, and iteration.
(3) Partnerships: Powering the Ecosystem Through Collaboration🤝
What kinds of partnerships does it take to build a design education model that’s rooted locally but resonates globally?
Aliph’s vision can only come to life with the right ecosystem around it. The Partnerships track mapped potential collaborators across six domains:
- Educational Institutions (local design schools, international faculty exchange)
- Foundations & Grantmakers
- Brands & Tech Providers (fashion, software, and digital tools)
- NGOs & Public Institutions (UNESCO, UNICEF, civic orgs)
- Creative & Cultural Connectors (grassroots artists, filmmakers, diasporic influencers)
- Unlikely Allies (tourism boards, gaming studios, and civic groups)
Guiding principles:
- Legitimacy through partnership: Especially early on, credibility builds trust.
- Avoid extractive models: Aliph must co-create with local stakeholders, not impose from the outside.
- Think wide and deep: Small cooperatives and big orgs both have roles to play.
(4) Fundraising & Sponsorship 🧭
How do we fuel Aliph’s big ambitions in sustainable, strategic ways that turn funders into active allies?
Who are we engaging?
- Foundations & philanthropies
- Tech and fashion brands
- Civic and government orgs
- Design industry institutions
- Tourism, media, and creative investors
Key messages:
- Funding = Co-Creation: Aliph doesn’t want passive donors. It needs partners to shape, mentor, and sustain its vision.
- Clarity, impact, and accountability are essential for credibility.
- Storytelling is a tool to align missions, unlock funding, and show ROI.
🔥From Insight to Impact – Opportunity Breakouts
The final sessions of the offsite turned strategy into execution. In small, multidisciplinary teams, we discussed the practicalities of four pilot tracks to activate Aliph’s mission in 2025–2026.
🧵 Fashion Design Pilot – The Flagship Launch
Aliph’s most developed pilot is also its most urgent. With funding secured and partnerships with L’Institut Français and L’École Duperré already in place, this module will serve as a creative and career incubator for Moroccan youth, under the creative leadership of luxury and design expert, Angeline Dangelser.
Programme Highlights:
- Hybrid learning: combining foundational techniques (drawing, textile work, storytelling) with future-facing tools (Illustrator, 3D, AI).
- 6–12 students: A tight cohort model allows deep mentorship and real impact.
- Real-world briefs: With support from brands students will develop capsule collections, pitch portfolios, and execute live briefs.
- Brand building: Students will work on personal narratives and identity, with zines, lookbooks, and events to support visibility.
- Cultural relevance: Moroccan design heritage is central, from silhouettes and techniques to storytelling and aesthetics.
- Outcome-focused: The goal isn’t just education, but career opportunity, whether that be launching personal brands, entering the workforce, or inspiring new regional pipelines.
- A shift away from a fixed campus model: Aliph is embracing a more nomadic, decentralised approach – bringing learning to where knowledge and culture already live. From artisan cooperatives to urban studios, this flexibility ensures students learn in real-world contexts, not just classrooms.
This flagship initiative is ready to go and represents a tangible invitation for collaborators, mentors, sponsors, and global brands to shape fashion education at its roots.
💻 Industrial Design & Digital Creation
This track brings together product thinking, digital workflows, and real-world impact.
- Students simulate creative studios: learning to ideate, test, and refine products from concept to MVP.
- Focus areas: safety accessories, home goods, sustainable materials.
- Tools: CAD, AR, digital storytelling platforms.
Cultural identity is embedded in every brief, keeping outputs grounded in Moroccan context but globally competitive.
🎓 Professional Education – Training the Trainers
Aliph’s long-term viability depends on local ownership. This track will:
- Develop benchmarks for quality and relevance in design education.
- Recruit professional mentors from global institutions to offer guest lectures or residencies.
- Cultivate a faculty pipeline of African educators and creative leaders.
🤝 Fundraising & Sponsorship Strategy
This pilot formalises a roadmap for attracting and activating funders:
- Programme packaging: story-led opportunities (e.g. sponsor a showcase, co-create a capsule)
- Diverse income models: branded workshops, product sales, IP licensing
Community transparency: open co-creation, impact dashboards, and storytelling-led reporting
✨ What’s Next? And How You Can Help?
Aliph’s 2025 offsite marked a turning point; no longer just a vision, it’s now a growing ecosystem with working pilots, strategic frameworks, and a clear call to action.
As we enter the next phase, we are launching a two-month sprint (May–June 2025) to crystallise the structure, partners, and delivery models behind these pilot programmes, starting with Fashion Design ahead of its September launch. This window is critical to secure resources, solidify commitments, and ensure we’re building with intention. To carry this momentum forward, participants are self-organising into three task forces focused on:
- Further defining the programme’s vision and educational model
- Building meaningful industry relationships
- Translating ideas into concrete pilot execution plans
These working groups will drive progress between now and summer, setting the foundation for long-term success.
If you’re reading this and thinking “how can I help?” here’s how:
🧑💻 Designers, educators, and technologists:
- Offer time, mentorship, or training – even committing to mentor just one student can have an outsized impact.
- Recommend students, collaborators, or speakers
🤝 Brands and institutions:
- Sponsor a cohort, donate tools, or help design a brief
- Partner on storytelling, visibility, or programme expansion
🎤 Storytellers and media:
- Amplify this mission
- Follow and share student stories as they emerge
Because this isn’t just about design; it’s about who gets to imagine, build, and own the future, and making sure opportunity is no longer a luxury, but a shared foundation. What are you waiting for? Get involved now! 🚀🌱
