The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) has welcome new members to the Design Subcommittee. Ella Fleri Soler will lead as Chair, joined by Co-chair Maria Eileen Fsadni. The committee is further strengthened by the addition of Tom Van Maldaren, Saz Mifsud, Matthew Demarco, Anna Horvath, Karolina Rostkowska, and Zach Ritchie. 

These creative professionals bring extensive expertise and deep knowledge of the design sector, aiming to strengthen MEIA’s goal of further professionalisation and sustainability within the sector. 

Following the announcement of the subcommittee Chair Ella Fleri Soler and co-Chair Maria Fsadni, here are the other members. 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

MATTHEW DEMARCO

Matthew Demarco is a graphic designer and co-founder of Bloom Creative, a studio he has led for the past decade. Alongside his client work, he also runs Maltatype—a personal project dedicated to documenting and celebrating Maltese public typography, with a particular focus on traditional shop signage. His practice is rooted in a love for branding, type, and the visual language that shapes Maltese identity. Outside the studio, Matthew is a husband to Emma, father to two boys, and caretaker of an oriental shorthair cat named Shrimpy.

KAROLINA ROSTKOWSKA

Karolina Rostkowska is an entrepreneur in the creative sector, focused on supporting local designers, artists, and makers. She is the founder of il-lokal, a concept store dedicated to showcasing the work of Maltese creatives, and of Nice Things Market, a craft market providing a platform for independent makers. Karolina also serves as President of 808 Association, the voluntary organisation behind Malta Design Week. Her work centres on creating opportunities for the creative community in Malta and contributing to its ongoing growth and recognition.

ZACK RITCHIE

Driven by curiosity and a passion for technology, and branding, Ritchie explores how art and innovation can bring people together. His work connects the digital and physical worlds, using sculpture, Web3, and storytelling to create engaging experiences.

With a background in graphic design and advertising, Zack has collaborated with brands like Charles & Ron and worked on public art projects, including sculptures with Mercury by Zaha Hadid Architects. From large-scale installations to digital collectibles, he turns ideas into interactive and meaningful designs, helping people experience art in new and exciting ways, whether in real life or digital spaces.

ANNA HORVATH

Anna Horvath is an award-winning, Hungarian-bom narrative designer and architect with a far-reaching experience on an international stage.

Horvath has participated in numerous design and architecture projects, from small to large scale structures in London, Berlin, Lisbon, Budapest, and Malta. Her portfolio includes projects such as the permanent exhibition at the prestigious Jewish Museum in Berlin, furniture design for a favela in Rio de Janeiro, and a pop-up store for Hermes Petit h collection in Lisbon.

She started her playful brand: AHA Objects that works in the field of exhibition design (Identity Design, Cromwell Place), set design (Zfin Malta Production), retail experience (Te fit-Tazza Showroom) and furniture collections (Collezione L!Puff). The studio is Malta and Budapest based where the designs menit inspiration from local aesthetics and craftsmanship with numerous international projects, sales and collaborations.

SAZ MIFSUD

Saz Mifsud is a fashion textile designer and founder of her namesake brand, known for creating distinctive, print-led pieces that blend fine art with fashion. With a background in textile design from Central Saint Martins and University for the Creative Arts, Saz launched her label with a clear focus: to craft collections that are visually expressive, rooted in storytelling, and elevated by quality craftsmanship.

Working primarily with silk, Saz designs limited-edition collections across accessories and ready-to-wear – including scarves, dresses, beach-wear, evening bags, and hair pieces. Her signature aesthetic draws on her own travel photography, which she translates into abstract, nature-inspired prints. Each piece begins with a visual observation – whether a flower in bloom, a detail on a building, or the tones of a coastal landscape – and evolves into a layered design that balances bold composition with a refined colour palette.

Saz’s work is shaped by a deep appreciation for texture, colour, and the relationship between art and fashion. Her collections often explore themes of place, heritage, and femininity, while maintaining a strong focus on versatility and wearability.

The brand has gained recognition for its artistic approach to print, its commitment to natural materials, and its distinctive perspective within the contemporary fashion landscape. Today, Saz Mifsud continues to build a world where design and narrative meet – offering thoughtful, expressive pieces made to be worn, collected, and cherished.

TOM VAN MALDEREN

Malta-based architect Tom Van Malderen uses his work to probe the intersections of art, design, and architecture. He draws pleasure from contemplating the ways we utilize our environments, closely examining the intricate web of cultural references woven into their objects and materials. In doing so, he prompts reflection on aspects of utility, value, ambiguity, and accessibility. Van Malderen invites visitors and users to imagine and experience the fictions and frictions of our inhabited space-its politics, its history, its materiality, and other real and unreal constructs.

Looking ahead, they aim to foster an open and evolving dialogue within Malta’s design community - mapping who’s out there, bridging gaps between disciplines, and creating space for emerging voices. They are committed to championing collaboration and inclusion, while raising public awareness of design’s cultural, emotional, and societal impact — not just in the creative industries, but across education, policy, business, and everyday life.