GEMS School of Research & Innovation, Dubai

The Brief

When GEMS Education envisioned the School of Research & Innovation (SRI), they wanted to redefine what a school could look and feel like. SRI was meant to become a global benchmark in innovation-led education. 

Their brief to Praxis was simple yet ambitious:

“Design an experience that embodies the future of learning. Something the world hasn’t seen before.”

Aesthetic Meets Philosophy

We approached SRI not as a school, but as a living innovation lab. From materials and typography to spatial flow, every decision was made to feel futuristic, tactile, and human—creating a new design language for learning environments. 

Every corridor became a chapter of discovery:

• The AI, Research and Innovation Zone, immersing students in the future of intelligence
• The E-Sports Zone, celebrating competitive creativity and digital skill
• The Dance and Performing Arts Zone, designed as a kinetic expression of rhythm and movement
• The UAE Innovation Timeline, paying tribute to the nation’s visionary leaps
• The Sustainability Zone, where ideas of environmental responsibility take shape
• The Food Tech Journey Wall, tracing the path from farm to fork

The Result

A school that looks like tomorrow, functions like a lab, and feels like home. A global example of what education spaces can become when innovation and purpose come together.