Biography
Maher Akraa-Meyer is a design researcher and journalist whose work focuses on projects and research at the intersection of media, communication, design, and democracy, particularly within the contexts of conflict, war, and crises.
Maher is currently a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zurich, conducting his research within the Department of Communication and Media Research (IKMZ) in collaboration with the Bern Academy of the Arts (HKB), Institute of Design Research. His interdisciplinary work examines the convergence of media, communication, and design, with a particular emphasis on hate speech in social media. Through a Media Socialization & Design Research Approach, he investigates the emergence, dissemination, and societal impact of hate speech, while exploring how design-driven interventions can foster empathy and constructive discourse in polarised societies. His research also integrates perspectives from Design and Rhetoric, further enriching its analytical and methodological depth.
In addition to his doctoral research, Maher has joined the Democracy Studies Programme at the University of Zurich’s Department of Political Science, broadening his academic perspective. This programme offers a deeper understanding of freedom of expression, democratic discourse, and the societal need for open yet responsible communication spaces. By integrating insights from democracy studies, his research critically examines the balance between free speech and the regulation of hate speech, analysing how societies navigate these tensions in digital environments.
Alongside his doctoral research, Maher works as a Research Associate at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) in the Bachelor Design Management, International programme and is also part of the Diversity Team at HSLU.
In 2023, Maher completed a Master of Arts in Design, specialising in Trends & Identity, at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). His Master’s thesis, titled "Dialogue Design – A Mediation-Based Design Approach to Conflict Resolution", and his culminating project, "Dialogue Tent", were conceptualised to develop innovative methods of dialogue to address conflicts in fragmented societies. His academic work aspires to contribute to global peace initiatives and sustainable conflict resolution, with a primary focus on dialogue and mediation through design, particularly in relation to conflict dynamics and the role of media in contested environments.
Born in Aleppo in 1989, Maher commenced his academic journey at the Faculty of Fine Arts, where he pursued Interior Design at the Private University of Science & Arts in Aleppo, Syria, between 2007 and 2011. During this period, he launched his career as a journalist, working as a reporter and photojournalist with local Syrian media.
Between 2006 and 2016, he undertook a major project documenting Aleppo’s Old City and its historical landmarks before and after their destruction during the Syrian war. This initiative aimed to preserve the UNESCO World Heritage Site through exhibitions, galleries, and documentary projects, featured in both local and international media. The accompanying photobook from this project remains in development.
In 2006, Maher was awarded the United Nations Population Fund’s Best Photograph Award in the "Child Labour" category in Syria.
Maher’s journalistic career extends across Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, and Switzerland. Between 2012 and 2016, he served as News Director at a Syrian radio station based in Istanbul, which focused on covering events in Syria. Additionally, he worked as a War Correspondent in northern Syria. Between 2015 and 2016, he documented the Russian bombardment of Aleppo. From 2014 to 2021, he worked as a UN Journalist, covering political conferences at the United Nations in Geneva.
In 2018, he founded "brocarpress.com - Brocar Media Network" in Zurich, an independent media platform dedicated to reporting on Middle Eastern affairs from Switzerland. Through Brocar Media Network, he facilitated workshops in 2019 and 2020, bringing together academics, researchers, human rights experts, and Syrian activists to develop policy proposals aimed at supporting the Syrian Constitutional Committee. These discussions focused on frameworks for a prospective social contract, offering insights and recommendations to guide the drafting of a new Syrian constitution at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva.
Maher has been an active advocate for press freedom and journalist safety in the Middle East. In this capacity, he has shared his testimony and expertise with the United Nations and Swiss media organisations.
In 2021, Maher transitioned into academia, working as a university intern at BA Design, Cast / Audiovisual Media at ZHdK until 2022. Simultaneously, he worked as a freelance photographer in Zurich, collaborating with various institutions, including Literaturhaus Zurich, ETH Zurich, and the City of Zurich.
He is a member of several professional organisations, including Impressum – The Swiss Journalists, Zurich Press Association, Reporters Without Borders - Switzerland, IFJ International Federation of Journalists, Online News Association, Research network Switzerland (investigativ.ch association), and Swiss Professional Photographers and Film Creators (SBF).
