Dubai Design Week, a five-day event, which kicked off Monday in Dubai Design District is the region’s largest and most innovative design event and cements Dubai as a leading global design hub. Its director, Cyril Zammit, says, “Dubai Design Week has again marked Dubai as a place of convergence. Our design week is a catalyst for local and regional talents and we hosted 5 other design weeks (Addis Ababa, Barcelona, Beirut, Reykjavik and Taipei) bringing over here some of their national brands never seen in the region before,” adding “It is also a great chance to learn more about our neighboring countries.” Established in 2015 by the Dubai Design District and Art Dubai Group, the annual event—held under the patronage of HH Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum—works to display the international appeal of the emirate through talks, exhibitions, and interactive exhibits. Here, Vogue Arabia highlights some of Dubai Design Week’s most ambitious and thrilling displays.
‘hexalite’ by Zeinab Al Hashemi
A dazzling 33 hexagonal structure created with over 1,100 Swarovski crystals.
Moza Chair by Studio Muji (Mentalla Said and Jumana Taha)
A geometric wooden chair made using traditional Emirati handcrafting Sadu—an ancient art of Bedouin weaving.
Memoir Bar by Jiten Thugral and Samir Tagra
Guests at the India pavilion in the Abwab exhibition were invited to pick a memory, write it down on a piece of paper, and shred it. The shredded paper was then transformed into a tile, and displayed as a tangible memory on the wall.
Sadu Above Water by Ibrahim Alatiyah x Samovar Carpets
This hand-woven carpet aims to celebrate Bedouin culture and poetry by including triangular patterns found in Sadu furniture in conjunction with a sea of colors and Arabic letters.
Excavations by Rand Abdul Jabbar and Hozan Zangana
The Iraq pavilion at the Abwab exhibition explores the country’s rich history via the excavation sites of found artifacts and discoveries.
The Cocoon by T.Zed Architects
A wooden installation strategically placed in the frenzied environment serves as a quiet “get-away” for guests to physically and metaphorically disconnect themselves from their dynamic surroundings.
Mass Imperfections by Elias and Yousef Anastas
As part of the Palestine pavilion in the Abwab exhibition, this structure is handmade using elements of olive woodcarving— a skill that makes up a third of the craft industry in Bethlehem.
Intersect by Lexus Dubai
Intersect by Lexus is a high-end restaurant that invites guests to explore the car without driving it. Hundreds of miniature toy cars line up the walls on the way to the powder room; while seating is made with the same leather used in Lexus’ LFA model. Dubai is the second city in the world to host Intersect by Lexus (after Tokyo).
25 Years of Life at Home in The UAE by Ikea
In celebration of Ikea’s 25th year anniversary in Dubai, the cult Swedish furnishing retailer built a larger-than-life octagonal house placed in the heart of D3.