Dubai Design .. New platforms remove barriers with the public

The fifth edition of Dubai Design Week, in partnership with the Dubai Design District, and with the support of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, will kick off on November 11.

The six-day course focuses on the UAE's design identity through the efforts of a variety of local and international creative arts communities.

The Design Week will host a series of exhibitions and stationary sections as well as new activities. Some creative platforms have been added to remove walls between the designer and the public, especially in workshops.

Creative Director Rawan Qashqoush told Emirates Today that the fifth edition of Design Week looks at many new sections, most notably a creative platform supported by Dubai Culture, and holds eight projects and workshops open to visitors, allowing them to learn to design direct".

She added: «Previously there were limits between the designer and the public, and this year we are working to remove these barriers, as we seek to highlight the importance of design, and incorporate it in daily life», noting that the number of workshops has increased significantly.

Great opportunities

She added that there are new curators in exhibitions that reflect the opportunities that small companies and designers can have to achieve greater prestige, noting that synthetic designs will focus on the UAE identity.

She said that there are fixed sections in the exhibition, as it still maintains its presence, including the doors section, which includes three countries, namely India, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. Besides the doors, there will be Downtown Design, as well as two new exhibitions, Madar and Insight Onsite (Vision and Location).

Previously, ideas were brought from abroad to Dubai, while today, Dubai is exporting ideas to the world. She said that awareness of the concept of design has become good in the UAE, especially as the public is aware of what the design can offer them.

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Ghassan Salama, curator of Madar and Insight exhibitions, said that the event is a highlight of the design reality in more than one country, not just furniture and decoration, but design as an industry and its role in strengthening the local economy of the countries. There are projects from different categories presented by creators who focus their work on improving the quality of life.

He added that the importance of the event is that it gives talented designers an opportunity to enter a larger market, especially as Dubai has policies aimed at supporting youth, culture and the arts.

Salameh said that dealing with design has varied in the Arab world, over the past years, witnessed the creation of a great awareness in this area, especially with the presence of the exhibition in the Dubai Design District.

"The new edition covers nearly 100 universities, with 150 students and projects," said Bader Saud Bukhari, director of the International Alumni Exhibition, noting that the theme of the exhibition is "influential innovations in life." He pointed out that the exhibition will include distinguished projects in the world of technology and science, pointing out that this year will witness the unveiling of the program «Entrepreneurship», which will provide support for graduate projects during the launch phase in the market. Al-Bukhari added that the Alumni World Exhibition includes participants from 43 countries, including countries participating for the first time, such as Ghana, Kenya, Colombia and Kuwait.

Workshops

Dubai Design Week, which carries many exhibitions and sections, is witnessing a series of workshops that are presented to the public at the main venue.

A group of creative designers, experts and thought leaders will gather at the workshops to discuss a range of topics including sustainability, culture protection and the future of the design sector.

Other prominent participants include Managing Director of Facebook Middle East and North Africa, Rami Shehadeh, Dean of the Dubai Design Institute, Hani Asfour, and Director of Studio It Inc Shabar Sagarwala.

Events

The main events of the Dubai Design Week include: the region's leading commercial design exhibition, Downtown Design; the Global Alumni Exhibition offering projects to 100 of the world's most innovative universities; and the interactive and coordinated doors of the original design from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. . This week will feature a diverse program of over 200 events highlighting the UAE's design identity.