The Foundations and Elements of Design course is a fundamental subject in shaping the artistic taste of students in the early stages of their academic studies. Therefore, it is important to select educational art models that combine aesthetic authenticity with educational values. Baghdadiyat paintings emerge as an ideal choice for this purpose due to their rich visuals, deep cultural content, and comprehensive design experience.<br /><br />Baghdadiyat Paintings: A Living Canvas for Learning Design<br />These artworks provide a vivid example of how to employ visual composition elements in a work that blends beauty with identity. They depict Baghdadi women in daily life scenes surrounded by traditional architectural features such as shanasheel and ornate wooden windows. Every detail—from the choice of warm colors to the organization of space and mass—reflects a deep understanding of design principles, making them effective educational material for first-year students.<br /><br />Educational and Artistic Benefits of Using Baghdadiyat in Teaching:<br /><br />First, studying these paintings enhances students' understanding of the relationship between visual elements and meaning, as they learn how every line, color, and space serves a specific concept and reinforces the artwork’s message.<br /><br />Second, they help students grasp visual balance and proportion, as the distribution of characters and elements within the space creates a thoughtful rhythm and organization.<br /><br />Third, students learn the value of decorative details not merely as visual fillers, but as tools that deepen artistic meaning, encouraging wise use of detail in their own designs.<br /><br />Linking Heritage with Contemporary Design:<br />Beyond technical benefit, incorporating Baghdadiyat paintings in teaching reinforces the idea that design is also a tool for preserving cultural identity. These paintings don’t just depict scenes—they document the life of a community and the memory of an entire city. This instills in students an awareness that creative expression is deeply rooted in cultural and historical heritage.<br /><br />Suggested Project:<br />Teachers can propose a simple project for first-year students where they analyze a Baghdadiyat painting and then redesign a modern scene inspired by its spirit. The student maintains the aesthetic and compositional values while integrating elements from their present environment. This makes the student not just a theoretical learner, but a conscious practitioner capable of adapting design principles in new contexts.<br /><br />Using Baghdadiyat as a teaching model in the Foundations and Elements of Design course not only enriches students’ artistic skills but also instills respect for heritage, trains them in critical analytical thinking, and equips them with powerful artistic tools for their academic and professional journey.<br />☘️ Thus, Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education is achieved.<br />Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.<br />This article aligns with SDG 4 by promoting culturally rooted, skill-enhancing, and critical-thinking-based education through the use of traditional Baghdadiyat paintings in design curricula.<br />Al-Mustaqbal University the first university of Iraq .