Dubai Design District to Present Eight Emirati Designers at London Design Fair

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14 Aug 2018

Dubai Design District (d3) will host the second chapter of ‘UAE Design Stories: The Next Generation from the Emirates’ at the London Design Fair that is set to run from 20 to 23 September, 2018 in the Old Truman Brewery, E1. The exhibition is supported by the UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development and is curated by renowned Emirati product designer Khalid Shafar.

Following the successful first chapter held in Milan at Salone Del Mobile in April 2018, d3 has set a new brief for Chapter 2, entitled ‘Objects of the Past: Today’, which invites the eight selected designers to delve into the historical photographic archives of the UAE and unearth pictorial history surrounding the regions nomadic roots. Designers are tasked with interpreting pieces from the archives into modern day designs, taking their inspirations from the UAE’s earliest residents. The designers will bring to life products and pieces using modern day design methodologies and processes, and present contemporary interpretations of items that held great value to those nomadic families for whom travelling through deserts and oceans was an integral part of life, and navigating ever changing landscapes was a lifestyle.

Designers will create unique commissions for London, each inspired by this exquisite and treasured archive. The exhibition will then travel to Paris as part of the UAE-France Cultural Dialogue programme, before returning to Dubai for Dubai Design Week from 12 to 17 November, 2018.

His Excellency Sheikh Salem Khalid Al Qassimi, Assistant Undersecretary for Knowledge Development, said: “The Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development is keen to support initiatives such as this one that highlight the richness of the UAE's cultural and creative landscape to a global audience. It is an outstanding achievement to see the UAE Design Stories: The Next Generation from the Emirates exhibition that promotes some of our best Emirati creative talent at leading global events, including Salone del Mobile in Milan in April, London Design Festival in September and the upcoming Emirati Cultural Week in Paris.”

Mohammad Saeed al Shehhi, CEO at d3, said: “We are proud to be a part of London Design Fair again this year, and to showcase our country’s heritage through the works of our local designers. I am delighted with our successful showing at Milan earlier this year and look forward to London, Paris and then bringing this exhibition back to Dubai. Supporting our regional designers across the many creative fields in the industry is both an important and strategic step for d3 and Dubai as a creative nerve centre.”

Participating Emirati designers:

• Abdalla Almulla – Architect
• Alia Bin Omair – Jewellery designer
• Alia Mazrooei – Interior designer
• Aljoud Lootah – Multi-disiplinary designer
• Azza Al Qubaisi – Sculpture and product designer
• Rouda Al Shamsi - designer
• Salem Mansoori – Interdisciplinary designer
• Ahmad AlAreef – Multidisciplinary Bedouin artist