The most prominent cultural event in the region is returning to the public since the start of the pandemic

Dubai Design Week ... 150 events that redefine our lives under "Corona"

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With more than 150 events and activities free of charge for various segments of visitors, the activities of Dubai Design Week were launched yesterday, armed with a variety of exhibitions, temporary stores, installations and unique shopping experiences.

With its focus on re-defining and reimagining our way of life in contexts of the impact of the "Covid-19" pandemic on our world, the Creative Festival will implement all safety standards at the event's outdoor site, within the Dubai Design District (d3), in addition to launching a set of new initiatives in virtual space. .

Dubai Design Week, which is held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, member of the Dubai Council, and in strategic partnership with the Dubai Design District (d3), the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and with the support of AR. M.

Holding, and its return in 2020, is the first important cultural event to return to its audience in its usual form since the start of the pandemic.

A groundbreaking event

The Director General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Hala Badri, stressed the importance of Dubai Design Week as a pioneering event in the agenda of the creative events of the Emirate of Dubai, noting the pivotal role it plays in expanding the horizons of design and innovation locally, regionally and internationally.

She said, “At the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, we are aware of the positive impact of cooperation, and we welcome local and international partnerships that provide opportunities that support creative industries and talents.

Through our support for Dubai Design Week events, we have made sure to allocate resources to support talents, innovators, and entrepreneurs in Dubai.

This support also forms part of our responsibility towards the cultural and creative sector in the emirate, and is in line with the sectoral axes of our updated strategic roadmap.

Extraordinary times

Khadija Al Bastaki, Executive Director of Dubai Design District (d3), said: “These exceptional times have been a big test for all of us, but at the same time they have strengthened our support for the creative industry in which Dubai Design Week plays a major role.

As the festival's strategic partner and host, visitors will be on a date with a safe environment when they return to the Dubai Design District to attend the six-day event, with an impressive program of installations, urban interventions, exhibitions, temporary stores and discussion sessions.

"The importance of design and creativity is more evident than ever before," Al Bastaki added. "Hence, Dubai Design Week is an opportunity to rally us around shared values, promote local and international talent, and celebrate achievements, while we lead the region towards the next chapter of growth and innovation."

Modified program

Taking into account the current conditions facing the creative community and the design sector, Dubai Design Week returns this year with a modified program that sheds light on the creative scene locally, and the role of creative industries in defining our lifestyle in the near and distant future.

The exhibition "Downtown Design" is developing its program with a set of activities that are held in a hybrid format that allow the meeting and interaction of the design community across the physical and digital platforms.

In this context, a multimedia exhibition entitled "The Future of Things" will be hosted, which presents more than 25 exploratory works and projects for a group of interior designers and architects from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, as part of their endeavor to explore the image of life, work and entertainment in the post-pandemic phase of "Covid-" 19 », highlighting the diversity of design talents in the Middle East region.

Sessions

As for the new Downtown Design Digital Exhibition, it will present the latest collections and products for more than 150 leading regional and international brands, and the program of discussion sessions accompanying the exhibition will host a group of design sector leaders from designers and architects, including: designer Abdullah Al Mulla (UAE), and the prestigious designer Sabine Marcelis (Netherlands) ), Hend Al Matrouk from “Tughol Studio” (Kuwait), product designer Richard Yasmine (Lebanon), and journalist and author Max Fraser (UK), who during their week-long discussions will try to explore design values ​​emerging from the pandemic.

The weekend will witness the launch of a new outdoor shopping initiative on the grounds of the Dubai Design District (d3), entitled Dubai Design Week Market, which witnesses the participation of more than 70 craftsmen, innovators and entrepreneurs working in Dubai.

By supporting the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, which has provided grants to 15 entrepreneurs with the aim of helping them participate, the market will shed light on the bright and creative people who run small businesses in Dubai, and provides the opportunity for visitors to purchase high-quality, original products, mostly local.

The inaugural edition of the Middle East and North Africa Graduate Exhibition presents 50 distinguished projects in the field of innovation with a social impact that will help improve and transform our lives for the better.

As for the annual exhibition stand dedicated to linking design talents emerging from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, ie Abwab Gallery, it appears in a new form represented by one unique pavilion. Genorous, and Woodcast Design Company.

The work focuses on the modern city system by arranging a group of elements in an open space around a central point, displaying a group of columns, each of which symbolizes one of the seven emirates, and taking into account the conditions of social distancing between visitors naturally, in a way that guarantees them a safe experience.

In order to support the local design community that is witnessing the ongoing repercussions of the pandemic, the Emirati Designers Exhibition is launched with the works of 20 creative people working in the Emirates, while the mini-exhibition entitled "D3 Edit" presents individual and cross-disciplinary collaborative works that reflect the diversity of the members of the creative community in the Dubai Design District ( d3), and the inaugural edition of the Architecture Festival 2020 is held in the Dubai Design District in partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in the Arabian Gulf, and it presents 40 regional projects that have received official accreditation for the architectural practices issued by "RIBA".

«Tanween»

Tashkeel Center unveils the participating works, in this year's session, from the Tanween design program, by Nada Abu Shkra, Lina Ghalib and Nada Salamanpour.

In turn, the exhibition "Fashcultivate", presented by the 1971 Design Center, under the supervision of the two curators: Kholoud Thani and Fatima Al Mahmoud, celebrates date palm trees as a key part of the region's culture and historical identity, by displaying seven pieces of textile art created by designers from the Gulf region Arabi.

The exhibition "From Leila", presented by Hamza Wasl studio in Dubai, takes visitors on a journey inspired by heritage.

Installation works

The Dubai Design District (d3) embraces 25 installations within its pedestrian outdoor spaces, created by a group of designers in response to the challenges arising from the requirements of social distancing, and among the cross-disciplinary works involved, Emirati designers Khaled Shafar, Al-Joud Lootah and Hamad Khoury will unveil their work. Commissioned the American Hardwood Export Council to devise adjustable seating solutions that are adapted to urban environments.

• Emirati Designers Exhibition presents innovative works by 20 creative people in the UAE, while the Dubai Design Week Market attracts 70 craftsmen and creatives.

• 150 regional and international brands.

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