Afroz Nawaf — Educator, Systems Designer & Creative Strategist
Afroz Nawaf is an award-winning educator, systems designer and creative strategist based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He is Founder of point a.cademy, Head of MDX Studios (Film Programme) at Middlesex University Dubai, and a Senior Fellow of Advance HE (SFHEA). He is also Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Not an Agency Inc. and a Blackmagic Design Worldwide Certified Trainer — one of two in the Middle East.
Current roles
- Founder, point a.cademy (2025–Present)
- Head of MDX Studios (Film Programme), Middlesex University Dubai (2021–Present)
- Lecturer in Film, Digital Media & Postgraduate Programmes, Middlesex University Dubai
- Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Not an Agency Inc. (2018–Present)
- Advisory Board Member, Daytona State College, USA (2023–Present)
Expertise
- Film education and curriculum architecture
- Field-emulated education models
- Systems design for learning
- Creative strategy and creative direction
- UX/UI and customer experience design
- Film production: producing, directing, cinematography, colour grading, Dolby Atmos
- AI workflow architecture and creative AI integration
- Sustainability in film production (BFI/BAFTA albert certified)
Selected achievements
- Pioneered field-emulated education at Middlesex University Dubai; the model was deployed at UN COP28 Dubai, generating AED 1.5M+ in market-validated outcomes.
- 100+ international awards and 200+ official selections for student-led work at MDX Studios.
- First academic institution to theatrically premiere student films at Roxy Cinemas Xtreme, Dubai Hills — MENA's largest cinema screen.
- Secured the first regional Stephen King Dollar Baby film adaptation rights for an academic production.
- Forbes Middle East — Best Media Centre Design (2019).
- British National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) nomination (2024).
- Former Regional Marketing Manager, Hewlett-Packard Middle East, managing a ~$20M annual budget.
- Creative direction for HP, Microsoft, Apple, Warner Bros, Universal Music Group, Sony, Emirates Airlines, Mercedes AMG, Dubai Tourism, Burj Al Arab, Sephora, Dior and Spotify.
Press
- point a. teaching courses in AI, Content Creation & UX/UI Design
- MDX Studios 2025 Premiere Celebrates Student Filmmaking and Cultural Storytelling
- Dubai students behind Stephen King's next production
Contact
Dubai, United Arab Emirates · afroznawaf@gmail.com · a.nawaf@mdx.ac.ae
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