Nedda El-Asmar studied Jewellery Design, Gold & Silversmithing at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, and she completed her education at the Royal College of Art in London. It is impossible to sum up her various activities over the last thirty years in one word. Openness, flexibility and diversity are key concepts in her thinking and design approach. She is quick to see possibilities, even if a commission comes from an unexpected source. As a result she has evolved into an acclaimed designer with a broad field of activities.
Nedda develops a world of seemingly simple shapes, ideally refined or oddly baroque, mixing classical elegance and a modern approach in a well-balanced, creative manner. Craftsmanship and originality, tradition and innovation, functionality and aesthetics and a passion for re-envisaging traditional objects are all central to Nedda’s work.
Her work has received international recognition, awards, and publications.
She works for renowned names such as Hermès, Puiforcat, Eternum, Gense, Villeroy & Boch, Robbe & Berking, Obumex, Demeyere, Carl Mertens, Serax, Maison Vervloet, …
From 2008 – 2017, Erik Indekeu, trained as a Product Designer, was Nedda’s business and design partner. This partnership and her nomination as Designer of the Year in 2007 meant that the diversification of their projects gained momentum.
She served as a coordinator and senior lecturer of the Jewellery Design, Gold & Silversmithing department at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp from 2007 – 2019, and at the PXL-MAD School of Arts in Hasselt from 2019 – 2025.
In December 2025, she was appointed dean of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
Awards
Flanders Culture Awards, Belgium
2008 Ultima for Architecture & Design
2006 Nominated Ultima for Architecture & Design
Le Sommet du Luxe et de la Création, France
2008 Nominated Talent du Luxe
2005 Nominated Talent du Luxe
Henry van de Velde Awards, Design Vlaanderen
2025 Lifetime Achievement Gold Award
2008 Henry van de Velde Label
2007 Henry van de Velde Award, Public's award
2006 Henry van de Velde Label
2004 Henry van de Velde Award, Best product
2003 Nominated Henry van de Velde Award, Best product
1997 Henry van de Velde Award, Young Talent
Designer of the Year , Belgium
2007 Elected by Interieur Foundation, Weekend-Knack & Weekend-LeVif/L'Express
Biennial of industrial design, Slovenia
2008 BIO.21 Honourable Mention
L'Observeur du design, Agence pour la Promotion de la Création Industrielle (APCI), France
2008 Label de l'Observeur du design '08
2007 L'Etoile de l'Observeur du design '06
Formex, Sweden
2006 Formidable Award
Knokke-Heist, Belgium
1999 Young Designer Award
Province of Antwerp, Belgium
1998 Provincial Prize for Industrial Design