Dubai Design Week, the region’s leading design festival, will mark it’s 10th edition this year. Here’s everything you need to know about the event.
Photo: Dubai Design Week.
Dubai Design Week, the region’s leading design festival, kicks off today and will carry on till November 10. Like every year, this edition is dedicated to showcasing everything related to art and design in all its mediums, from the latest collections by renowned brands and creatives from over 40 countries to more than 500 acclaimed and up-and-coming designers.
Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, the week is set to encompass 10 exhibitions, 4 activations, over 40 installations, and around 60 workshops throughout the week, along with over 75 vendors for an exciting marketplace and, of course, lots of exciting food choices.
Natasha Carella, Director for Dubai Design Week, tells Vogue Arabia, “As we celebrate the 10th edition of Dubai Design Week, we look forward to bringing together designers from across the globe to exchange ideas and demonstrate the positive impact that can be fostered through design. Responding to the complexities of a modern world, sustainable practices and the nuances of vernacular architecture across the region and wider global south take centre stage this year, with thought-provoking programming that explores creativity in all its forms and how design can better our common future.”
Below, take a closer look at some of the most interesting presentations this year.
Abwab
Abwab, meaning ‘door’ in Arabic, is one of the key features at Dubai Design Week. The initiative supports artists and practitioners from the South West Asian and North African (SWANA) region. Each year, the theme of Abwab is changed accordingly to global and regional circumstances—with the 2024 one being vernacular architecture (based on the use of local materials based on local needs) and how it can be utilized to inspire regenerative design). The 2024 edition includes three entries in this category by Ola Saad Znad from Iraq, Miriam Hillawi Abraham from Ethiopia, and a collaborative project by Dima Al Srouri, Dalia Hamati, Andy Cartier and Rosa Hämäläinen.
Photo: Dubai Design Week. A Present/Absent Mudhif | Ola Saad Znad
Urban Commissions
Urban Commissions is an annual competition by Dubai Design Week where architects and designers get the chance to develop outdoor furniture that incorporates responsible and resilient design approaches. This year, the title was acclaimed by Omani design office Altqadum for their conceptual table titled TukTukDum. The table was inspired by the musical culture of the Gulf, where audiences are gathered around musicians. The design reimagines traditional tables and incorporates openings on their surface, allowing people to sit inside them—presenting a unique and interactive experience for the audience by inviting the audience to become part of the performers.
Photo: Dubai Design Week. TukTukDum Table by Altqadum
Downtown Design 2024
During Design Week 2024, visitors will also be able to look forward to the Downtown Design 2024 fair, which will take place from November 6 to November 9 by the Dubai Design District Waterfront. The fair will present a long line-up of renowned design brands and manufacturers who will be showcasing their latest collections, along with varying home and design solutions. Additionally, along with big names within the field, this special event will also feature showcases by independent creative studios and individual designers.
Some of the international brands participating at the exhibit are: Audo Copenhagen, Cosentino, Kartell, B&B Italia, Lasvit, Natuzzi, Haberdashery, and Poltrona Frau, among others. Regional brands participating at the fair are the Tanween Design Programme group, along with the second edition of the ‘Designed in Saudi’ showcase and lastly, independent studios and creatives from the UAE, Lebanon, and Egypt. Among the country pavilions, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), interiors from Spain and the Dutch Collective will partake in the fair too.
For attendees looking to experience talks from speakers around the world, The Forum at Downtown Design will host a series of panel discussions and keynotes from the global industry. Some names to keep a lookout for in the 2024 lineup are India Mahdavi, Eames Demetrios, Lina Ghotmeh, Nika Zupanc, and Jassim Alsaddah, among others.
Editions
Editions is a limited edition fair revolving around art and design in the Middle East, set to debut at Dubai Design Week with 60% regional portrayal and 40% international talent, spread across design studios, galleries and collectives. Mette Degn-Christensen, the Director of Downtown Design tells Vogue Arabia, “Editions, the Middle East’s first fair dedicated to limited-edition art and design, will broaden the access and opportunity to discover carefully selected works from around the world.”
Some of the highlights from this year? Emirati designer Aljoud Lootah, who will present her art work in celebration of the 10th anniversary of her studio. Additionally, 1971-Design Space will showcase an ‘Infinite Majlis: A Möbius Strip Sculpture.’ Other must-sees include the UAE based galleries Leila Heller Gallery, The Third Line, and Waddington Custot, all of which will be exhibiting works by talented artists from around the globe.
Five installations to keep an eye out for:
Neo-Majlis
This inflatable pavilion by Future Bedouin is inspired by nomadic ethos and the UAE’s vibrant culture.
Photo: Dubai Design Week
Mirror Loop
The Mirror Loop by Fathil Kummayapurath is inspired by Dubai’s creative landscape, reflecting a continuous flow of ideas.
Photo: Dubai Design Week
Therapeutic Pavilion
This pavilion by the University of Sharjah is constructed by Himalayan salt bricks and is aimed to enhance wellness living and a holistic lifestyle through natural solutions.
Photo: Dubai Design Week
The Language of ض
Envisioned by Maryam Bin Bishr, Nuhaila AlHemeiri and Salma Ali Hani from UAE, the installation highlights the relationship between expression and Arabic—a language that is eminent for its expressive nature.
Photo: Dubai Design Week
BMW Group Middle East x AB + AC Architects
This wooden cube encompasses BMW’s vision for a sustainable future by using plant based materials. The wooden cube is a layered spatial organization built for talks and workshops.
Photo: BMW
Workshops and exhibitions
During Dubai Design Week, visitors will get to enjoy be a variety of workshops that you don’t want to miss, including the Tatreez Therapy workshop by Eman Alkhawaja, who will provide guidance in tatreez and teach guests more about the the beautiful art form. For those interested in gaming, SAE University College will be hosting a workshop to build its own game. And lastly, for photography enthusiasts, Nada Almosa will host a mixed media workshop with archival photographs.
But that’s not all. For those looking to get inspired, there are loads of exhibitions by students and designers set to take over Dubai Design District. Feel free to stroll around the venue and experience the graduate show by the American University of Sharjah or the UAE Designer Exhibition, curated by Emirati designer Omar Al Gurg—which features over 30 UAE-based multi-disciplinary creatives from different parts of the region, among others, that are set to impress.
For more information, visit Dubaidesignweek.ae
