As a professor at the Faculty of Decorative Arts in Tehran, Saffari taught a generation of young artists, architects, and designers during the 1960s and 70s. His teaching combined European modernist principles with a sensitivity to local culture and traditions. Students often recalled his openness, curiosity, and encouragement to break from rigid academic norms. Through his mentorship, Saffari helped shape the foundations of modern design and art education system.
Saffari was part of a circle of intellectuals and artists in Tehran during the late 1950s–70s who defined modernist cultural identity. His work intersected with that of Bahman Mohasses (painter), Forough Farrokhzad (poet and filmmaker), and Parviz Tanavoli (sculptor), among others. Together, they experimented with blending Persian heritage and Western modernist aesthetics.
