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40 art installations, 10 exhibitions and 60 workshops with the participation of more than 1000 designers, architects and brands from more than 50 countries in Dubai Design District.
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Launch of the first editions exhibition of its kind in the region in limited edition arts and designs with the participation of more than 40 exhibitions, art institutions and a design studio.
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A group of the most prominent international design personalities meet in the forum during “Downtown Design”
THE TIMES KUWAIT REPORT
Yet another successful Dubai Design Week’s 10th edition just concluded with the participation of more than 1,000 creative designers, architects and architects from more than 50 countries who exchanged ideas and showed the positive impact that can be enhanced through design.
The leading event managed by Art Dubai Group over the past 10 years, Dubai Design Week has evolved into an annual meeting point for emerging and well-known designers, brands, cultural and educational institutions from the region and beyond, confirming Dubai’s position as the design capital of the Middle East.
The event was held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District (d3), a subsidiary of TECOM Group, and with the support of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture).
Today, the design fair has evolved into a leading design event for the region, drawing visitors and participants from across the globe with an ever-expanding programme of showcases, events, public installations and talks. This appears to be a component of the broader effort to promote creative culture in this region, part of an ongoing image-building exercise to enhance the image of several Gulf cities.
Downtown Design Exhibition
The main event of Dubai Design Week “Downtown Design”, which took place from 6 to 9 November, returned to the waterfront terrace in Dubai Design District. This exhibition is known as the most important contemporary and high-end design exhibition in the region, displaying the latest collections, innovative products and design solutions by prominent brands and manufacturers from around the world, in addition to a range of temporary creative concepts, installations and networking events, along with a program of dialogue sessions, keynotes and training courses at the forum. Downtown Design is the perfect destination for those looking for the latest trends in interior design, furniture, lighting and home accessories.
The exhibition has become a central cultural event, both creatively and commercially, as it provides an interactive platform for the most prominent well-known and emerging talents in the Middle East, and its impact extends much further, as the quality and strength of the exhibition is reflected in the continuous growth of the interior design and furniture market in the region over more than 10 years of contemporary designs presented through the Downtown Design Exhibition.
Today, the exhibition continues to foster new connections and acts as a platform for launching partnerships, concepts and brands working in the field of design, in addition to nurturing pioneering dialogues that play a key role in the flourishing design landscape in the region and the increasing growth of the design community in the UAE.”
Prominent international brands, including Poltrona Frau, which showcases unique designs in collaboration with famous brands and names such as Fei Togod, Draga & Orl, The Conran Shop, which exhibited its designs for the first time in the UAE, and De Journay, which offerred painted and hand-embroidered wallpaper with great care. “Casa Milano” returned an interactive space known as “talking walls”, Italian artist Jacobo Fujini presents innovative handicrafts using polycarbonate, and famous designer Ross Logrov has launched a collaboration with JNF in the field of 3D printing. In addition, Coscintino revealed a creative concept from the design of the Kuwaiti design studio “Bab Nim Nim”, while Danish brands “Udo Copenhagen”, “Guppy” and “Ferm Living” presented the “Power Company” project.
Editions Gallery
The Editions Gallery, owned and operated by Art Dubai Group, took place as the region’s first limited edition art and design exhibition, in conjunction with Downtown Design. It offered a variety of exhibitions, studios and artistic and emerging art institutions across multiple media. The exhibition was a unique platform for limited edition works, offering high-quality pieces at various prices, opening up new horizons for art and design lovers. It also seeks to create a unique opportunity for a wider audience to connect and buy from contemporary creators.
Speaking about the evolution of the art scene in Dubai, Benedida Gion, Executive Director of Art Dubai, said: “Art Dubai Group is a platform for cultural exchange, and is committed to advancing new creative developments since its launch in 2007. The Editions exhibition was founded with the aim of meeting the growing demand in Dubai, both through the influx of new residents and the flourishing cultural scene.
Special Projects: Doors and Civil Works Exhibition
Abwab is one of Dubai Design Week’s most important programs, dedicated to regional talents through annual committees studying new installations or pavilions. Since its launch in 2015, more than 180 designers from countries including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates have participated in the doors.
The 2024 theme explored local architecture and sustainable design processes through the use of local materials, climate-responsive technologies and community-centred designs. Three regional works have been selected: “The Present/Absent” by Iraqi Ola Saad Zenad, the work depicting the architectural heritage of the marsh Arabs in Iraq using reeds and ancient Sumerian techniques, “Re-rooting” Dima Al-Sarouri from Jordan and Palestine, Da Hamati from Lebanon and Palestine and Andy Cartier from France and Rosa Hamalinen from Finland who explored emergency housing solutions through an ecological lens using a material derived from fungi.
Exhibitions
This year’s program offered 10 exhibitions in various design disciplines, including an exhibition of UAE Designers at Downtown Design, supervised by Emirati designer Omar Al Gurg, and included furniture and products for more than 30 designers originating from or residing in the UAE. Design Next is the first co-exhibit between Dubai’s design district and the Italian design group Isola, which aims to contribute to shaping the future of the circular economy by highlighting sustainable and innovative designers, studios and startups and organizing inspiring dialogue sessions.
Events
The audience experienced many temporary and special activities and performances offered by cultural institutions and design-based brands, including a multi-sensory event linked to the rich heritage of Arabian perfumes by Hind Al Oud, a partner at Dubai Design Week, to celebrate the launch of two distinctive perfumes, a new collection of perfumes called “Pride from Millennium to Yi”, inspired by the poem “Pride” by the famous Kuwaiti poet Faisal Al-Adani. Global media brand Monocle also launches its first temporary store and cafe in Dubai during Dubai Design Week, which includes the magazine’s custom edition of prints, clothing, household items, bags and accessories.
Doha Design
Doha Design, an annual design exhibition created by Qatar Museums, hosted an interactive reading room showcasing the Arab Design Now event, which highlighted contemporary designers from the region.
Workshops and Training Courses
Dubai Design Week included more than 60 workshops and an interactive training course. One of the highlights of the UAE Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, which presents arts and creations in the UAE from a local perspective. Baltek Studio from Lebanon also hosted a workshop entitled Sustainable Space Making, which addresses how to turn discarded plastic into practical products and furnishings.
Dialogue Sessions
The Forum, which is held annually as part of the Downtown Design exhibition, continued to attract a selection of influential voices in the global design world. This year, India has delivered the keynote address.
In addition, The Forum also hosted the first part of the editorial panel program, which highlighted the ever-evolving dynamics of the creative world through the perspectives of artists, collectors, designers and industry leaders.
Downtown Design an interactive platform
Mette Degn-Christensen, director of Downtown Design, expressed her happiness to see how the exhibition has become a central cultural event, both creatively and commercially, as it provides an interactive platform for well-known as well as emerging design talents in the Middle East.
Speaking to The Times Kuwait she pointed out that the quality of the Downtown Design Exhibition, which has presented contemporary designs for over 10 years, is is reflected in the continuous growth of the interior design and furniture market in the region.
She expressed her delight that the exhibition continues to foster new connections and acts as a platform for launching partnerships, concepts and brands working in the field of design, in addition, she noted that the the exhibition helps to nurture pioneering dialogues that play a key role in the flourishing design landscape in the region and the increasing growth of the design community in the UAE.
Mette’s attention to detail and keen desire to continue to improve drives the Downtown Design event to be better and more impressive every year since its launch. Mette feels the exhibition is a clear step up for everyone participating, having really understood the importance of the event, for the economy, and for their businesses. She points out that exhibitors are not just taking bigger spaces but really making more effort into what they are showcasing, and in engaging with audiences.
Highlighting talents of the region
During the Dubai Design Week. The Times Kuwait managed to catch up with the director of the event, Natasha Karela, and spoke with her on the continued success of an event that is marking its 10 year of operation.
“Dubai Design Week has always been an event dedicated to highlighting the talents of the region, as well as showcasing their exceptional and authentic designs to the global audience,” said Ms Karela. She revealed that keeping their commitments to exhibitors over the years, as well as using design as a catalyst for positive change, addressing pressing global challenges, and supporting dialogue on sustainability and inclusion, have been the cornerstones of their success.
Today, she says, Dubai Design Week is not just a celebration of aesthetics, but has become a vital platform for designers to exchange ideas and create a meaningful impact.
Natasha’s contribution to Design Dubai cannot but be appreciated. The hard work, the attention to every detail, and most importantly the perfect execution of the exhibition year after year is indeed a remarkable achievement on its own. Elaborating on the event’s continued success, she says, “It has seen a great evolution in terms of what the design scene represents here over the years through so many different facets. Whether it’s emerging or established talent that is coming out of the UAE, or the academic offerings of new institutions.”
“International brands have used downtown design as a sort of testing ground and then gone on to set up long term offices in the district as well,” she adds. As Natasha passionately points out, “We have over 1000 designers from 50 countries participating and this is a real testament to the success of the event.”
