Muqeem Khan

Muqeem Khan (Urdu: مقیم خان; born 1968), also known as Dr. Muqeem Mursaleen, is a Pakistani transdisciplinary designer, visual effects artist, academic, licensed Unani herbalist, and TED speaker. He is widely recognized as the first Pakistani to work in Hollywood's visual effects industry, having joined Walt Disney Pictures in 1996. His career spans Hollywood blockbuster films, academic positions across the United States, the Middle East, and Pakistan, and a lifelong practice in traditional Unani medicine.

Early life and education

Muqeem Khan was born in Karachi in 1968, the son of renowned Unani physician and pulse reader Hakeem Mursaleen (1929–), who had migrated from Delhi, India following the Partition. He was named after the legendary Delhi-based herbalist Hakeem Muqeem, reflecting the family's deep roots in Unani medicine. His early upbringing was shaped by his father's calligraphic work and the artistic tradition of his extended family, several of whom were accomplished calligraphers and visualizers.

Khan initially enrolled at the National College of Arts, Lahore in 1988 to study Architecture but relocated to the United States to continue his education. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design (1994) and a Master of Arts in Industrial Design with specialization in computer graphics and animation (1996) from Ohio State University, through the Advanced Computing Center for Arts and Design (ACCAD) and the Department of Design. In 2022, he completed a multidisciplinary PhD from the Extended Reality Collaborative, School of Communication and Creative Industries at Charles Sturt University, Australia, with research focused on Speculative Design as a tool for safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, including Unani pulse diagnosis.

Hollywood career

In 1996, before completing his master's degree, Khan was hired by Walt Disney Pictures as a Special Effects Artist — becoming the first Pakistani to work in the Hollywood visual effects industry. His film credits include:

Academic career

Khan has held academic positions at several prestigious institutions across multiple countries:

• University of Sharjah, UAE — Design faculty
• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), USA — Assistant Professor (2005–2010)
• Northwestern University in Qatar — Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Design (2010–2014)
• Habib University, Karachi — Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Design
• Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) — Visiting Professor
• Aga Khan University, Karachi — Faculty, design thinking (current)

He has delivered lectures and workshops at universities globally and has published over 12 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences including ACM Graphite (Singapore), Information Visualization (London), VIEW Conference (Italy), and Computers in Education (New Zealand).

Research and grants

Khan was awarded two major research grants by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF):

• Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP), 2011–2012 — "Integration of Sensors and Data Acquisition for a Motorized Wheelchair Simulator Platform with a Virtual Environment" (collaborative faculty with Texas A&M University at Qatar)
• National Priorities Research Program (NPRP), 2013 — "Kinesthetic Learning System for Arabic Indigenous Dances," awarded as Lead Principal Investigator (LPI), valued at approximately US$1 million

He has also presented augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)-based artistic exhibits at the TED and Tribeca Film Festivals.

Unani medicine practice

Carrying forward his family's centuries-old tradition, Khan holds a Fazil-e-Tibb-wal-Jarahat (FTJ) degree and is a registered Hakeem with the National Council for Tibb, Government of Pakistan. He practices pulse diagnosis (Nabz) and operates two herbal clinics in Karachi — in Federal B Area and Badar Commercial, DHA Phase 5.

He transformed his father's practice into a registered private limited company, Hakeem Mursaleen Pvt. Ltd., and also founded the Hakeem Mursaleen Foundation, a Section 42 registered non-profit providing subsidized herbal healthcare to underserved communities in Karachi.

TED Talk

Khan delivered a TED Talk titled "Playful Technology to Keep Cultural Heritage Alive" at the TED@Doha Summit, Doha, Qatar, in April 2012, exploring the use of emerging technologies to preserve intangible cultural heritage.

Awards and recognition

• Pride of Pakistan Award — national recognition for contributions to art, design, and medicine
• First prize, inter-school painting competition, Karachi
• Selected for World Poster Competition, Geneva
• Represented Sindh in swimming at Pakistan's 22nd National Games
• Only Pakistani juror at India's Best Design Studio Awards (IBDSA) 2016

Personal life

Khan is married to Minakshi Malla (married 2002) and has one child. He is based in Karachi, Pakistan.

External links

• Official website
• Hakeem Mursaleen Pvt. Ltd.
• Hakeem Mursaleen Foundation
• TED Talk: Playful Technology to Keep Cultural Heritage Alive
• Muqeem Khan on IMDb