On February 7, 2026, grade 12 students from schools across Lebanon gathered at LAU’s Beirut campus for a full day of immersive creativity, taking part in The Moonsweepers, the fifth edition of the School of Architecture and Design’s signature workshop. The initiative invited participants to step into the life of an LAU design student, experiencing firsthand the school’s hands-on pedagogy and creative processes.

Through an intensive workshop spanning an entire day, participants gained a concrete understanding of what fields such as architecture and design truly entail: Conceptual thinking, material exploration, making, collaboration, critique and jury review. For many high schoolers, the experience became a defining moment, helping them assess whether these disciplines align with their interests and aspirations.

“At the heart of the initiative lies its experiential nature,” said Silia Abou Arbid, director of the foundation program. “Rather than presenting architecture and design as abstract disciplines, the workshop allows students to inhabit the rhythm of studio life—how ideas are conceived, tested, crafted, discussed and evaluated within the school.”

The workshop was structured as a single, continuous creative experience rather than segmented sessions. Faculty member Christine Kettaneh, who led the initiative, introduced the students to a carefully designed brief inspired by La Luna, a short, animated film directed by Enrico Casarosa. Drawing on the film’s dreamlike narrative, participants were tasked with imagining themselves as celestial caretakers and designing an object, tool, garment, or vehicle to safeguard the moon, stars, or cosmos.

Mentorship was central throughout the day. LAU faculty members and alumni from across the design disciplines collaborated to guide students through each phase of the process.

“By working closely with faculty, alumni and technicians, students encounter design as a dialogue between independent thinking and collective guidance,” said Kettaneh. “Alumni, particularly, play a vital role as near-peer mentors, helping students envision future paths while honoring their individual creative voices.”

Students also explored the school facilities, including the wood and metal workshops, where they received practical guidance in bringing their projects to completion—an experience that often leaves a lasting impression at this formative stage of their education.

The day concluded with a formal review, during which guest faculty evaluated each project for creativity, conceptual clarity, engagement with the brief and overall execution.

Three students were awarded scholarships in recognition of their work: Reem Berjawi in first place and a 25 percent scholarship; Marie Jose Constantine in second place and a 20 percent scholarship; and Sarah Ammar, who placed third and was awarded a 15 percent scholarship. Additionally, honorable mentions went to Fatima Kawtharani and Amar Shehab.