Khalid Shafar makes objects that tell a story. The Dubai-born designer worked in marketing before studying design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London and at the Centre for Fine Woodworking in Nelson, New Zealand. His “telltale objects” include his Palms, a series of tables and stools that mirror the silhouette of the palm tree, with stems that reference bark and tops made from dried fronds woven using traditional basket-making techniques. Along with modern and personal forms, his work has highlighted the rich past of his native region known for its obsession with the future, by employing dying crafts, including weaving and embroidery.