Dubai gears up for Middle East’s largest design event

More than 50,000 visitors including architects, designers, thought-leaders, influencers and public audiences from the region and around the world will be in Dubai, UAE, to take part in the region's mega Dubai Design Week event which runs from November 13 to 18 at locations across the city. Staged in partnership with Dubai Design District (d3), the six-day event boasts a varied and comprehensive programme of contemporary design, said the organisers. Dubai is set to further develop its status as a cutting-edge, vibrant global design hub with the return of Dubai this event. This year’s programme of more than 200 events, up by 35 per cent from last year, includes an extensive talks and workshops programme that will open with Sir David Adjaye, one of the world’s most influential architects, in conversation with Emirati commentator Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi; a series of free-to-attend exhibitions including “Iconic City” that will return this year with a focus on the design culture of Casablanca; installations from both regional and international designers that will celebrate the creative diversity of Dubai and the largest public programme to date with family day activities, product launches, live performances, awards and a unique design market, said the organisers. A key highlight this year is the Global Grad Show, the “Oscars” of graduate design and technology. It will bring together 200 works from 92 of the world’s elite universities, up by 50 per cent from last year, alongside those from developing countries, that will shine a spotlight on how the next generation will shape the future through design, science and innovation; Downtown Design, the commercial heart of the week, will this year enhance its position as the Middle East’s leading contemporary design trade show by doubling in size, exhibiting original and high quality design from more than 150 brands across a range of product categories; and ABWAB, the platform for regional designers to show their work on the international stage, will this year grow to exhibit more than 40 designers housed in a dramatic structure made from used materials designed by Dubai-based architects Fahed & Architects. William Knight, appointed this year as the head of design for the Art Dubai Group, pointed out that the momentum behind Dubai Design Week in only its third year was exceptional. "Dubai has so much to offer by way of its progressive approach to design and innovation, and Dubai Design Week 2017 is set to match that ambition by reflecting talent drawn from across the globe in a programme that presents the unique blend of potential and opportunity here in Dubai," he noted. Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, the chief operating officer, d3 said: "The third edition of Dubai Design Week is the most exciting yet. The alignment with d3’s goal of supporting sustainable growth and boosting the city’s design credentials is underlined by the huge programme Dubai Design Week offers." "Dubai Design Week’s ability to introduce audiences to the wealth of creative talent and unique experiences and services now at d3 is matched only by the transformation of the space into a series of amazing arenas of creativity," noted Al Shehhi. Dubai Design Week 2017 is supported by Meraas, who are responsible for a unique portfolio of urban destinations, such as City Walk, The Beach, Boxpark, Last Exit, The Outlet Village, Kite Beach, Bluewaters, La Mer and Al Seef, that are designed to make Dubai and the UAE better for people to live, work and visit; and Audi, the long-time supporter of Dubai Design Week, which will this year launch the second Audi Innovation Award - a competition for design research and the highlighting of innovative ideas