A visual narrative for the song ‘Like a Man’, exploring toxic masculinity and healthier identities
Like a Man
TIMELINE & TOOLS
Production Design, Set Design, Art Direction & Styling. 6-8 weeks.
Inspired by Barahmé’s song Like a Man, this project examines masculinity in two parts: the toxic and the tender. Built around the core track, the piece contrasts what society normalizes with the internal friction of young men, challenging conventional masculine tropes through satire, vulnerability, and emotional release.
As the production and set designer as well as makeup artist, I led the visual worldbuilding across both screen and print. Prior to filming the music video, we developed the concept through an editorial photo series that I art directed and styled—establishing the initial visual language, motifs, and tonal contrasts.
Following the photo series, we expanded the world into the official music video. Collaborating with the film crew, I translated those core ideas into a cinematic space, designing environments and styling that reflected the song's emotional tension—balancing harsh control and chaos against moments of raw openness to reimagine masculinity as something expressive, complex, and whole.
ABOUT
CREDITS:
Artist: Barahmé (Anas)
Director: Rosa Riad
Producer: Al-Raffay Mirza
Cinematographer: Issa Shah
1st AC: Alexander Kuepfer
Gaffer: Easah Quick
Key Grip: Travis Wallace
Grip: Liam Schmid
Production Designer/Makeup Artist: Bahar Goel
Set Dresser: Josette Joseph
Art PA: Elaf Khan
Editor: Zeyad Abouzeid
Photo Series
Shooting took place across indoor and outdoor locations, including his apartment and mine, where I creatively utilized existing props and materials to build each scene. My role spanned art direction, set design, and styling, shaping the overall aesthetic while collaborating closely with photographers and directors, Abdullahi and Baker. The photo series is designed to echo the duality of Barahmé’s song, each exploring a facet of masculinity—what’s normalized, what’s mocked, and what’s reimagined. The subtitles are written and edited by Abdullahi, and Barahmé himself was the model and subject.
1 — A hidden pain: men’s emotions buried in silence.
2 — What society expects of men: detached, chaotic, unbothered.
3 — The impossible measures of manhood—man up, mask up, measure up.
4 — Cockiness and dominance, celebrated as success but hollow beneath.
5 — A celebration of gentler masculinity expressed through creativity and reflection.
6 — An Arab man reclaiming softness and domesticity without losing himself.
Transforming everyday spaces into narrative environments through set design
Set Design Process (Music Video)
I designed and transformed multiple interior spaces, including a basement and bedroom, using existing materials and props to shape the atmosphere of each scene. Through before-and-after set design, I focused on how space could influence mood—introducing clutter, texture, and lighting to reflect different states of masculinity. My role also extended to makeup, supporting character expression and continuity on screen while working closely with the director, cinematographer, and lighting team.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Behind the Scenes
