Originally published in Shawati’ issue 64, Winter 2023

Abwab translates to ‘doors’ in Arabic and is an annually remodeled key feature of the Dubai Design Week programme, dedicated to commissioning work from across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia with the objective to promote the region’s talent and stimulate cultural exchange. Image courtesy of Dubai Design Week

For the past nine years, over the course of a week in early November, Dubai Design District [d3] transforms into a hub of creativity. True to its name, the district is the location for Dubai Design Week, a festival that provides a platform for both emerging and established designers, architects, educators, companies, and all creative practitioners. In addition to attracting industry professionals, it is also something that engages the public with large-scale outdoor installations, exhibitions and public interventions – and it's free to attend, which means it’s something everyone can enjoy.

Abwab: India Pavilion Qissa Ghar by The Busride Studio, Dubai Design Week 2019. Image courtesy of Dubai Design Week

The 2023 edition, from 7 to 12 November - showcased a diverse range of items highlighting the crossover of design, science and technology and how these elements come together to reclaim materials of the past, as well as reimagine new forms. The year 2023 was also dedicated to sustainability, with the government announcing it as the “Year of Sustainability”, under the title, “Today for Tomorrow”. Furthermore, with Dubai’s Expo City being the host of the annual COP28 summit, Dubai Design Week 2023 shone a light on sustainable practices. Among the many opportunities to learn and engage with the design sector, visitors explored immersive public interventions made from materials such as loofah and sugar and repurposed bamboo, with many of the presentations being made from large-scale 3D printed architecture.

Sustainability in architecture also appeared in other areas of the event. Abwab, an annual feature of Dubai Design Week that spotlights regional architecture was hosted inside a specially commissioned pavilion that explored the use of palm trees as a sustainable resource. Elsewhere, a presentation of student projects that propose environmental solutions from international and local institutions was showcased as well as a graphic design activation that documents the Arab world’s visual culture. ‘Urban Commissions’, a design competition that highlights the UAE’s design-conscious urban development was another key element of the event. The competition invited submissions for functional, outdoor furniture for the public domain, such as innovative street furniture or shading. The winners were selected by a jury panel of experts in the design field.

Workshops where visitors can learn the art of making ceramics, the intricacies of architecture, printmaking and sustainable material design also ran for the whole week. Hosted by independent makers, design collectives, small businesses and cultural institutions, these workshops offer a great opportunity for members of the public to enter the design space, even with no prior experience. Lastly, the Design Market also offered a retail experience full of homegrown offerings from homewares to ready-to-wear.

DOWNTOWN DESIGN

The primary event at the heart of Dubai Design Week is the design fair – Downtown Dubai. Celebrating its 10th edition in 2023, the event hosted a roster of some of the world’s most known and established names alongside innovative design studios and craftsmen, making their debuts in the region, providing visitors with a diverse and inspiring array of design from around the world. With fresh design revelations, spotlighting regional talent, showcasing international collectives, and featuring a dedicated talks programme, 2023 was exceptional.

There were many globally renowned brands at the 10th anniversary edition, such as Cassina, cc-tapis, Dedar, Flexform, Kartell and MillerKnoll. Downtown Editions, the fair’s section dedicated to collectives, individual designers and studios, will introduce emerging creatives from all corners of the world including Edward Linacre [Australia], Akar de Nissim [Singapore], Fadi Saridienne [Dubai-based] and Don Tanani [Egypt]. Highlights included ‘Anatolia’ a collective exhibition of contemporary design talent from Turkey, reflecting the region’s unique mix of ancient and modern influences staged by the curatorial team of Isola Design, and a showcase of Dutch design talent, curated by Margriet Vollenberg, which features a line-up of limited-edition and handmade works by creatives from The Netherlands.

The primary event at the heart of Dubai Design Week is the design fair - Downtown Dubai. Celebrating its 10th edition in 2023, the event brought together a roster of some of the world’s most known and established names alongside innovative design studios and craftsmen, making their debuts in the region, providing visitors with a diverse and inspiring array of design from around the world.

Silent Call, Lasvit Design, Khaled Shafar, Dubai Design Week 2017. Image courtesy of Dubai Design Week

Fatma Al Mahmoud, director of 1971, Sharjah’s experimental design space was appointed as the curator of the 2023 UAE Designer Exhibition, themed around the future of living spaces, with a focus on materiality and social impact. A tailored line-up of creative installations, pop-up features and bespoke concepts was staged throughout the fair, from special commissions to cultural pop-up exhibitions. The week was complemented with talks and panel discussions at The Forum which hosts a series of live events, active panel discussions and industry masterclasses featuring regional and international thought leaders, promoting interaction and dialogue. One of the headline speakers was internationally prominent forecaster, publisher and educator, Lidewij Edelkoort. So, whether you are a design novice, or seasoned pro, there was something to spark your interest and inspire your creativity streak.

Mette Degn-Christensen, Director - Downtown Design. Image courtesy of Dubai Design Week

Q & A with Mette Degn-Christensen, Director of Downtown Design

How has DXBDW contributed to the growth of the local design scene over the years?

The growth that we have seen the across the creative industry, and particularly in the design industry and overall ecosystem, has been substantial - with new studios and retail spaces opening constantly in the city, and in Dubai Design District [d3]. The evolution of design within Dubai has been thoughtfully refined through the lens of Downtown Design, the annual anchor event of Dubai Design Week, and the fair consistently produces a dynamic environment where design meets opportunity and forges foundational relationships between brands & designers and the AID community, relevant end consumers; HNWIs, collectors and design enthusiasts alike. The evolution of design within Dubai has been thoughtfully refined through the lens of our fair. Downtown Design offers a dialogue to the Middle East’s creative ground through connection, relevance, and quality. Now in its 10th edition, Downtown Design proves to be a catalyst for growth in the creative community, both regionally and internationally, as well as an agent of positive change in design across the region - enabling fruitful and strategic leads from one touchpoint to another.

How does the local design scene merge tradition and contemporary?

Part of looking forward to what is ahead and innovative solutions to current topics in the creative fields is also looking back to what worked and didn’t work, and how solutions came about traditionally – we see a lot of merges between the two, and also with heritage and context playing a big role, in projects, materials and general creative inspiration in the work of the new generation of creatives. I also think that more than ever, we see a necessity for depth in the stories, craft and research in new products and solutions, both from those creating and those sourcing.

The evolution of design within Dubai has been thoughtfully refined through the lens of our fair. Downtown Design offers a dialogue to the Middle East’s creative ground through connection, relevance, and quality. Now in its 10th edition, Downtown Design proves to be a catalyst for growth in the creative community, both regionally and internationally, as well as an agent of positive change in design across the region - enabling fruitful and strategic leads from one touchpoint to another.

Are there any new design trends this year?

I am always reluctant to talk about trends in a broad aspect, as it really depends on what we are linking it to; we see strong parallels drawn to nature, tradition and an uplifting approach to telling creative stories that point to the most pressing issues that our community, industry and planet all face. In the fair, we have a strong thread of bringing the outdoor in and a human aspect throughout the fair, with emphasis on specific angles surrounding of the sea, the earth, and the skies throughout some of the highlight features this year.

A visitor at Downtown Design. Image courtesy of Dubai Design Week

What do you consider as a measurement of success for Dubai Design Week?

Every year, Dubai Design Week strives to put a strong programme, that is engaging for visitors of all ages and that has impact in the creative scene as well as those not specific to the design industry, while continuing to act as a platform for the creative community. Connectivity and opportunity are at the heart of everything we do. Downtown Design is a bridge between exhibitor and visitor, international and regional, design professional and brands or studios. Brought to life by quality works, the fair provides a gateway to the region through contemporary design.

Downtown Design 2022, Cosentino. Image courtesy of Dubai Design Week

You have now reached 10 years of Downtown Design, what are the aims for the next 10 years? The fair, as the only fair in the region, is dedicated to bringing high-quality and contemporary design to the forefront, and in close consultation with brands, studios, and designers, we see the change year on year as companies are setting regional offices up in Dubai and further growing the emphasis on good, responsible design in general. We have plans to further expand our platforms with new initiatives, considering the needs of the community, and opportunities of development in the region’s creative scene and its ecosystem. We remain at the centre of design in the Middle East - forging foundational relationships between consumers and industry professionals with brands and designers. Hosting both emerging and established designers alongside iconic brands, Downtown Design remains the annual point of connection, fostering meaningful opportunities for exhibitors and visitors alike. As the anchor event of Dubai Design Week, Downtown Design consistently produces a dynamic environment where design meets opportunity.

Dubai Design Week: Celebrating Functional Creativity with a Sustainable Lens