Designing The Future

With the fourth edition of Dubai Design Week taking place next month,EliasKamelJabbelooks ahead to the increasingly popular event, and how the regions design and architecture industries are evolving

- Elias Kamel

AFTER WELCOMING some 60,000 attendees in 2017, this year’s edition of Dubai Design Week – taking place from November 12-17 – is set to build on past successes, with scores of events showcasing the best of the region’s design industry.

Taking place at TECOM Group’s Dubai Design District – which houses 36 architecture firms, including one launched by legendary Arab architect, the late Zaha Hadid – the increasingly popular event has become a staple in the emirate’s vibrant fourth quarter calendar.

According to Dubai Design District CEO Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, this year’s Dubai Design Week will offer a variety of programming focusing on education and international collaboration.

“This is the fourth edition of Dubai Design Week and offers six-days of programming with 200 events covering design across a range of disciplines including architecture, product, furniture, interior and graphic design,” he says.

“The anchor event is Downtown Design, which is the commercial centrepiece and annual meeting point for the local and international design industry. This year the focus will be on empowering the architecture and interior design professionals.

“There will be the introduction of Downtown Editions; a carefully edited showcase of limited-edition and bespoke design and occupying a new key area within the Downtown Design fair.

“The Global Grad Show will showcase 150 works from over 90 of the most innovative universities from 50 countries across the world; and Abwab, the curated and interactive project containing original commissioned design from the region.”

The growing interest in the design sector makes sense because it makes dollars. Research shows that it is a becoming increasingly lucrative and important for the UAE economy, especially as construction skyrockets during the years leading to Expo 2020 Dubai.