Abbas Sbeity (b. 1991, Lebanon) is a designer, curator, and cultural manager based in Helsingborg, Sweden. He leads Creative Insights Studio, offering design and research consultancies for the public sector and development agencies, and runs his curatorial practice through his newly founded organization, Kulturrummet, focusing on site-specific, community-driven projects. His work often engages local communities through participatory and co-creation processes, using ethnographic, phenomenological, and critical mapping approaches to explore social, political, and urban issues.
Abbas teaches Design Theory and Management at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (Lebanon) and is a guest lecturer in the Embedded Design program at HDK-Valand, Gothenburg University (Sweden). His extensive cultural management experience includes leading learning projects and grant schemes for artists, journalists, and cultural practitioners across the MENA region.
He holds an MA in Design from the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts and a BA in Architecture from the Lebanese University. Abbas is the founder of Architects for Change (2014-2019) and a member of the MENA Design Research Center, where he managed and programmed four editions of Beirut Design Week (2015-2019).
Previous residencies and exhibitions include Southern Sweden Design Days (2023), Skåne Konstförening (2020), Groundwork New Orleans (2017), and Beirut Design Week (2017-2018).
Words from collaborators & clients
“I have worked with Abbas on multiple projects. He is dedicated to create something that is of value for the end user, and is thinking about the important details. Great to work with and has an eye for making things be understood easily and looking nice.”
— Karsten Deppert, Co-founder Mindpark
“Abbas is a great collaborator and creator! He has a high sense of self-leadership and drive to create value, always keen to support and find connections. I love Abbas openness and curiosity to learn and grow. It was a privilege to have Abbas part of the Colearn team.”
— Bella Funck, Co-founder Colearn
“Abbas brought design research craft, methods and curiosity to our collaborations - and helped develop our product further through both creativity and pragmatism. I really appreciate his passion and dedication to learn and develop, both himself, and this work.”
— Sveinung Skaalnes, Co-founder Colearn
“As a project manager, Abbas always found the most creative ways to engage participants in an online setting. He is also very keen on exploring and understanding participants' need in order to adjust plans and visions accordingly. Most importantly, he is big on high quality impact and making sure it's happening across various project activities.”
— Abeer El-Kayaty, Internews
“I have had the pleasure of working with Abbas since 2022. The assignment in Helsingborg, which Abbas operates as a project manager, involves planning and implementing events and activities in a socially vulnerable area of the city. During our time together, Abbas has proven to be a valuable addition to our project. In his intention to create good public spaces, he encourages and benefits from the residents' inspiration and knowledge of their local area. In addition, he involves associations and businesses in Söder, but also other actors in other parts of the city and not least the city's various administrations and makes them come together. Abbas has proven to be an exemplary team player and a natural leader. He is self-motivated and takes his own initiatives that align well with the project's ambitions. He possesses both the intellectual and social capacity, creativity and drive required for the assignment.”
— Cecilia Fredriksson, Urban Planner, Helsingborgs Stad
“I have supervised Abbas for two years in Hivos for our organizations main program on arts and design, technology and social justice. What really impressed me about Abbas is his ability to manage difficult stakeholders, navigate in changing situations and contribute to a complex program in the difficult context of Lebanon and Egypt. Abbas is creative and a connector. It was great to have Abbas part of the Hivos team and hope we can work again on something in the future”
— Arthur Steiner, Hivos
“I have worked with Abbas for five years and he has been a very resourceful, reliable, and dedicated person to work with.”
— Doreen Toutikian, Beirut Design Week
“During my time at Beirut Design Week, Abbas was the Program Manager and was responsible for the team I was part of. As I worked directly with Abbas, I saw how he navigated through changing situations and the complex networks while keeping the team updated and well-informed. Apart from his markable project management and organization skills, I felt that Abbas was really pushing the inclusivity and transparency within our team. Overall, as my supervisor, Abbas was strikingly supportive and I learned new aspects of project management while working with him. Given the chance, I would definitely be enthusiastic to work with Abbas again.”
— Eeva Lehto, Designer