The sixth edition launches tomorrow and collects live and virtual exhibitions

Ghassan Salameh: Dubai Design is betting on promising local talent

Salama confirmed that Emirati talents in the field of design are distinguished by high enthusiasm.

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The creative director of Dubai Design Week, Ghassan Salama, confirmed that the sixth edition, which will be launched tomorrow in the Dubai Design District, came after an in-depth study before making the decision to submit it, indicating that it was essential when planning it to come into consideration of all necessary precautionary measures, while making sure to That the topics presented by the exhibition are not separate from the current conditions the world is going through.

Salama added, in his interview with Emirates Today, that “Dubai Design Week, in its new version, focuses on creative people living in the UAE and the region, as well as on issues related to local content, as designers as well as creative fields face many difficulties, and therefore it was necessary to find a way to support them. And the allocation of activities to help them in such times ».

Regarding the development of the design market in the Emirates, Salameh considered that the trend in this field is high, and the number of participants from Dubai is increasing, which confirms the prosperity of this field due to the positive impact of the Dubai Design District, praising the new Emirati talents, which can be described as characterized by high enthusiasm, as There is a high rate of response, and there are proposals related to the local culture and production related to the region, and that bear a special character.

Themes and Galleries

The creative director of Dubai Design Week indicated that the exhibition will also focus on issues related to the role the designer plays, to participate in finding solutions to the problems surrounding him, whether related to the Corona crisis, mobility, social distancing, public space, or economic problems that govern The stage, pointing out that the current circumstances have undoubtedly affected the size of the exhibition, as this version bears a directed character, as the event received requests from designers and partners and will be hosted.

Salameh noted that the new session of Design Week carries with it works of personally designed works, explaining that “the basic idea of ​​the Dubai Design Week exhibitions is to organize activities for local and resident designers in the Emirates of several nationalities, and there will be 21 creative people presenting their work, in addition to The works that will be displayed in public areas, and proposals to provide solutions for the spaces in which the works are displayed, in addition to that there will be some offers that will be presented on the platforms by default.

Rich program

Design Week, which is organized under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Culture and Arts Authority in Dubai, includes a group of exhibitions, and this year there is a special focus on making the program rich in exhibitions that combine the live in the event site, as well as virtual Including the Designers' Exhibition in the Emirates, which is launched for the first time, and was prepared for it by opening the door for participation, receiving requests, and focusing on being directed to designers and the public.

Within the activities of the Dubai Design Week, which will continue until November 14, there are a number of discussions that follow a specific theme and topics related to each other, in addition to the market that was designed from Design Week, and will focus on displaying local products.

Regarding the new exhibitions and the criteria for selecting the participants in them, Salameh stated that the criteria follow the nature of the activities that will be presented, especially since some exhibitions and activities are open to participation before choosing the designers.

As for the installations in the 2020 edition of Design Week, he said, “Selection is for useful works that can solve specific problems. There are many stories related to spaces for entertainment in public places or even small gardens, and this in itself was included in the criteria that affected Business selection ».

He added, “The aim of the exhibition for designers in the UAE is to contribute to the launch of a new generation of creators in this field, and the conditions were for them to be from within the country, and to have many products that take into account the Emirati cultural character, and not to be heavily involved in Other exhibitions ».

Challenges

The connection of the current edition of Dubai Design Week to the period of the "Corona" crisis, which had a set of challenges during the preparation period, which forced the organizers of the exhibition to think of many factors, including, as Salameh said: “The nature of the participants, because there is no large presence of participants from outside because of Travel restrictions, as it was necessary to take into account the nature of appropriate times for appointments and discussions, as well as that junior designers do not have large budgets to participate, and this was taken into account, in addition to preparing for the exhibition without many live meetings, so there was a need to use modern technology in communication to adapt. .

He noted the difference in the numbers of participants in this session, due to travel restrictions that changed the format of the exhibition, which focuses on designers and engineers residing in the region, which allowed the presentation of a copy of a local nature.

"We focused on selecting beneficial businesses that could provide solutions to specific problems."

"We faced many challenges in this session because of the circumstances ... and we were able to overcome them."

Precautionary measures

Ghassan Salameh.

Emirates today

The creative director of Dubai Design Week, Ghassan Salama, stressed the event’s commitment to all precautionary measures that prevent the spread of the Corona virus, indicating that the public will be required to register through the exhibition’s application, so that a time is set close to the date of their visit, in order to know the busy times to prepare in advance for the number Attendees.

He added that "the number of visitors will be limited in closed hall exhibitions, as the number of people will be calculated according to the area, with work to measure the temperature before anyone enters, and focus on outdoor activities, in addition to adherence to masks and social distancing."

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