The Power Of Change
Identity|October 2018

Fair Director Rue Kothari has brought a new vision to Downtown Design with the premiere of Downtown Editions and much more!

Joanne Molina
The Power Of Change

The region’s most respected and internationally renowned design trade fair, Downtown Design (13-16 November), is once again exceeding expectations with evolutionary changes. The biggest: after six successful years of showcasing collectible design, Design Days Dubai will be reformed and moved to November as a key element within Downtown Design, uniting the region’s two leading design exhibitions in partnership with d3 (Dubai design District) as an integral part of Dubai Design Week (12-17 November). Fair Director and local design leader Rue Kothari sat down with id to explain her creative process.

How do you stay inspired and bring a fresh vision each year?

It’s the thought of a blank page each year that inspires me. I wouldn’t be happy delivering a show that was the same year after year. The excitement comes from working with a new architect, reimagining the concept and evolving all elements of the fair to bring an enhanced experience to our visiting architects and interior designers.

How has Downtown Design transformed your design philosophy?

It’s helped to diversify my understanding of design, giving me both an international perspective on what we’re doing here in the Middle East and an understanding of the eccentricities of the regional market. It has evoked a deeply personal response to the importance of support and advocacy in the creative industries.

What is the biggest lesson you learned from last year?

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