Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

Program

Our vision

Curriculum →

Mission →

Community

Who we celebrate

Faculty →

Chair →

Staff →

Students →

Work

We strive for

Recent Work →

Ventures →

News →

FAQs →

Apply Now →

Search

Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

Program

Our vision

Curriculum →

Mission →

Community

Who we celebrate

Faculty →

Chair →

Staff →

Students →

Work

We strive for

Recent Work →

Ventures →

News →

FAQs →

Apply Now →

Search

A hand holding an ecological toothbrush that looks like a stick with threads,

Mishwak, The Dry Way To Brush Teeth

Mishwak, The Dry Way To Brush Teeth

Date

By Nigel Sielegar

Miswak began as a design project at MFA Design, when Leen Sadder (MFAD '12) and her classmates were asked to redesign the first thing they threw out after leaving class. Leen went home that night and threw out an empty tube of toothpaste.
While researching the history of oral care, she learned about the cultural and medicinal benefits of the miswak, a branch from the Salvador Persica tree. It is a natural toothbrush and the oldest method of oral hygiene. She designed a prototype for a miswak holder and cutter that would make it easier to cut and carry. The prototype was the first iteration of what would become The Cutter Case.
After presenting the final results to the class, she uploaded the project to her online portfolio and it went viral. Read more here.

A set of ecological toothbrushes that look like sticks in a couple of blister packages.



A poster showing an advertisement for a  new ecological toothbrush that looks like a stick. The text on the poster says: The miswak is a natural toothbrush.



A man holding an ecological toothbrush that looks like a stick with threads,

Newsletter

Newsletter

Newsletter

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu