- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 04:39 05:55 12:22 15:50 18:44 20:00
Design Days Dubai, the Middle East’s and South Asia’s first fair dedicated to collectible and limited edition design, has announced its programme for the inaugural edition where visitors will be able to view over 400 rare and limited edition design works alongside a packed programme of talks, workshops and performances
Cyril Zammit, Fair Director, Design Days Dubai, said: “While the demand for design and design-related collectibles has increased significantly in the region, at Design Days Dubai, we are committed to fostering a substantial understanding between the artists and galleries and the visitors. Through the course of the fair, Design Days Dubai will provide design-enthusiasts with insights into the world of design, from inspirations and concepts, to finishes and investment.”
Those who will experience design for the first time as well as design aficionados alike can enjoy an extensive list of live performances at the fair with highlights including Studio Drift’s amazing ballet of lights; the world premiere of Ice Angel by Dominic Harris - an interactive work that depicts wings on the visitors; a creative weather station by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur named “Tomorrow is another Day”; and Kwangho Lee at work carving stools.
For those interested in knowing more about design, there will be a series of lectures open to all that includes trend forecasting with internationally acclaimed Li Edelkoort, and Rabih Hage speaking on design as an investment.
Each day of the fair there will be workshops that provide opportunities for local designers to integrate with some of the world’s leading designers: The Khatt Foundation will explore the link between Arabic lettering and product design: Korean designer Kwangho Lee will share his skills in weaving with Emirati products; and Brazilian designers Leo Capote and Amaury will team up with design students in producing objects. In addition, international star designer Nada Debs will also be at hand to review portfolios of design students during one-to-one talks and will advise those looking for careers in design.
Salem Al-Qassimi, Founder of Fikra said: “The open format of Design Days Dubai will help make design accessible and more understandable, even to those who are completely new to design. By offering direct access to designers, collectors, and gallerists it will invite conversation and questions, encourage discussion, and stimulate debate. In doing so, this event will provide some clues about the future of design in the UAE as well as the wider Middle East – and hopefully help define the role of the Middle East in the global design stage.”
Design Days Dubai will be held from March 18 to 21, 2012, at a specially designed venue by the base of Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai, the flagship mega-development by Emaar Properties. The event is organised in partnership with the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), The Address Hotels + Resorts, and design patrons Audi and Van Cleef & Arpels. It also coincides with the contemporary art fair Art Dubai, and is an integral part of Art Week.
18th March 2012
Public Workshop: Arabic Lettering & Arabesque in Product Design
Led by: Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès & Lara Assouad Khoury (Khatt Foundation)
Time: 11am-1pm & 4.30pm-6.30pm
Duration: 2hrs
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
The workshop will address the role that Arabic lettering plays in bringing an Arab/Middle Eastern look and identity to product design, made by and/or for the region. It will show key case studies of work by several designers from the Khatt Foundation network. 3D lettering and typographic systems in furniture design production with different local materials/techniques, and new visual design approaches will be discussed, as well as what ideas and strategies can be developed for UAE-based design and designers.
Designer, Professor and Consultant Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFares specialises in bilingual typographic research & design. She is the founding Creative Director of the Khatt Foundation (www.khtt.net), and is the author of three books on Typography.
Graphic Design and Arabic typography docent, Lara Assouad Khoury has been an independent graphic and type designer since 2005. She was part of the Typographic Matchmaking project organized by “Khatt Foundation”, and is currently developing her own extensive Arabic ‘Naksh’ font.
Public Talk
Led by: Ahmed Angawi
Time: 2pm -2.45pm
Duration: 45minutes (30mins talk & 15mins Q&A)
Location: Nuqat Dubai Design Conference, Atrium, DIFC Gate Building
An up-and-coming product designer from Saudi Arabia interested in strong cultural themes and the transformation of traditional crafts into contemporary pieces. Known for his installations and furniture, Angawi also initiated SIDA (Saudi Industrial Design Association) to cultivate generations of designers in the region.
Live Design Performance: Styrofoam Carving
Led by: Kwangho Lee
Time: 6.30pm-7.30pm
Duration: 1hr
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
Kwangho Lee will perform two live Styrofoam performances carving sofas out of plain Styrofoam blocks using a heated wire rod creating wavy textures depending on the speed of his hands. These sofas have unique characteristics, the longer you sit on them, the warmer they become.
Renowned artist, Kwangho Lee’s work reflects his belief that any daily-use object may be transformed into something unique. Lee was raised and worked alongside his grandfather in a farm in Korea, graduated with a degree in Metal Craft from Hongik University, and worked with many group shows in cities like Seoul, Tokyo, Milan, San Francisco, LA, New York, etc. Kwangho Lee expresses the symphony of design and craft by involving a large scale and high level in his work. His projects never undergo machinery process. His productions come out in small quantities and are hand crafted. Lee was awarded ‘Young Artist of the Year” Award in 2011.
Public Seminar: “What Design can do for the Future?”
Led by: Li Edelkoort
Time: 7pm-8.30pm
Duration: 1.5hrs
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
The dominance of contemporary culture nowadays, may translate design, into examples of how interactive lifestyle is. This century will be one of connectivity, networking and of social cohesion and functioning within a group. There will be a great emerging interest in serial and industrial elements, resulting in the revival of a modernist lifestyle. Our current obsession with sustainability, quality of life and well-being will help influence pragmatic choices.
Lidewij Edelkoort is one of the world’s most famous trend forecasters. She studies the evolution of socio-cultural trends before sharing information in industries as diverse as fashion, textiles, interiors, automobiles, cosmetics and food. Edelkoort creates trend books -two years ahead- that are design tools used by international brands.
Having directed the world-renowned Design Academy Eindhove from 1998-2008 and established the Designhuis she has proven that both a city and a region can benefit from placing design at its core.
19th March 2012
Public Workshop: Camel Leather Weaving in cooperation with Al Khaznah Tannery
Led by: Kwangho Lee
Time: 11am-1pm & 5pm-7pm
Duration: 2hrs
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
Kwangho Lee, is leading 2 workshops where he will create a ‘woven’ lighting using camel leather strips (provided in collaboration with the Al Khaznah Tannery). During the workshop, Kwangho will guide and assist the participants in creating their own woven creations out of local materials such as palm leave strips & Talli.
Renowned artist, Kwangho Lee’s work reflects his belief that any daily-use object may be transformed into something unique. Lee was raised and worked alongside his grandfather in a farm in Korea, graduated with a degree in Metal Craft from Hongik University, and worked with many group shows in cities like Seoul, Tokyo, Milan, San Francisco, LA, New York, etc. Kwangho Lee expresses the symphony of design and craft by involving a large scale and high level in his work. His projects never undergo machinery process. His productions come out in small quantities and are hand crafted. Lee was awarded ‘Young Artist of the Year” Award in 2011.
Professional Seminar: “Bliss, Spirituality in everyday life”
Led by: Li Edelkoort
Hosted by: FN Designs
Time: 11am-3pm
Duration: 4hrs
Price: AED 500 (registration under programme@designdaysdubai.ae)
Location: Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz
We live in an impossible period of time where fear has stifled our outlook, bringing the public’s mentality to a stage that is dangerously nationalistic. Our economic system is no longer a democratic rule and needs to be reinvented, and our planet is getting angrier about the way we are treating it. Thus, we are frantically searching for new identities; to regain a sense of reconciliation with ourselves and others, and for that, man will go on a quest for inner peace for a renewed respect for what life is. We will aspire to a time out of time, we will search for a world within a world, a space of daydreams and wonder.
Lidewij Edelkoort is a world renowned trend forecaster, who writes trend books two years ahead, to be used as design tools by strategists, designers and marketers of international brands (fashion, textiles, interiors, automobiles, cosmetics and food).
Mentorship Programme: 20min one-on-one mentor sessions
Led by: Nada Debs
Time: 12pm-3pm
Duration: 3hrs
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
Lebanese interior designer/architect, Nada Debs is leading 20min mentor sessions for 12 students/independent designers. The sessions are focused on undergraduates, postgraduates and any designers who would like to have one-on-one mentorship and guidance through their design portfolios and future aspirations.
Nada Debs is the founder of the ‘East and East’ company, in Beirut. She celebrates Eastern Craftsmanship through contemporary design, using Arab heritage in a modern sense. The company concentrates on the design, manufacture and sale of her own furniture and home accessory lines. Nada Debs’ multi-cultural background has helped in shaping the company’s core competencies with respect to design. She was brought up in Japan, graduated from the United States as an Interior Architect, and started her own design company in the United Kingdom, before returning to her roots in Lebanon to found her company. Globally, Nada Debs is represented in New York, Dubai, Geneva, Cairo, and Amman.
Public Talk: “Chroub o Choof” - “Drink & Look”
Led by: Younes Duret
Time: 2pm-2.45pm
Duration: 45minutes (30mins talk & 15mins
Location: Nuqat Dubai Design Conference, Atrium, DIFC Gate Building
The fountain ”Chroub o Choof” near Ben Youssef Mosque in the heart of the medina of Marrakech, was brought in by Ahmed El Mansour (1578-1603). One of the inscriptions carved in it is, invite to “drink and watch” (in Arabic echroub ou chouf”). More than just a fountain, this space invites people to take the time to enjoy life and watch what is happening around them. The idea of the workshop will be to create a seating area (urban furniture, chairs, sofas...) that suggest a pause in the daily activities. This seat needs to be easy to use and convenient. It should be comfortable and ergonomic.
Global design agency creator, founded in Marrakech, with experience and background from Africa to Europe. Duret’s use of art ranges from the functional to the ecological and industrial.
Public Seminar: The Design Market: Discovering, Collecting & Investing
Led by: Rabih Hage
Time: 7.30pm-9pm
Duration: 1.5hrs
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
A discussion about the rising collectible design market and its origins, players and development. Hage will offer an insight into the trend of rising prices in the 20th Century Design Market and the unique and limited edition phenomenon as well as how designers and collectors are behaving. In this seminar we will attempt to answer the question: Is Design a promising asset class worthy of investment?
Architect and interior designer Rabih Hage started his career working on hi-tech commercial projects. Relocated to London since 2001, his focus shifted to interiors and new-built architecture projects. His style is a result of working on buildings “inside out,” bringing architecture to a human scale. He introduced furniture “that is art” and incorporated works by young artists and designers in his interior schemes “melding function and aesthetics". His recent design work includes the Rough Luxe Hotel, the Radisson Edwardian Guildford Hotel and many international residential projects.
20th March 2012:
Public Workshop: “Chroub o Choof” - “Drink & Look”
Led by: Younes Duret
Time: 8.30pm-1.30pm
Duration: 5hrs
Location: Nuqat Dubai Design Conference, at Tashkeel
The fountain ”Chroub o Choof” near Ben Youssef Mosque in the heart of the medina of Marrakech, was brought in by Ahmed El Mansour (1578-1603). One of the inscriptions carved in it is, invite to “drink and watch” (in Arabic echroub ou chouf”). More than just a fountain, this space invites people to take the time to enjoy life and watch what is happening around them. The idea of the workshop will be to create a seating area (urban furniture, chairs, sofas...) that suggest a pause in the daily activities. This seat needs to be easy to use and convenient. It should be comfortable and ergonomic.
Global design agency creator, founded in Marrakech, with experience and background from Africa to Europe. Duret’s use of art ranges from the functional to the ecological and industrial.
Public Workshop: Lego Links - Architecture & Design
Led by: Meitha Al Mazrooei, WTD Architecture & Design Magazine
Time: 11am-1pm
Duration: 2hrs
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
Mini WTD’s will bridge the gap between their ideal cities through Lego Links. Their mission is to build a Lego Link between two imaginary cities that are designed by them. The groups will be required to create a story for each city and then build a physical link between them. The educational underlay of this is a metaphor for connecting various communities through intelligent design. WTD will reinforce that all cities can be redesigned and redeveloped according to anyone’s imagination architect or child.
WTD is a community of local architects and designers who share the common purpose of reshaping the built environment, by creating an interactive architecture and design magazine. The publication will include ideas and projects reflecting the architecture and design realities of the Middle East. The content will examine all spaces; past, current and future with the goal of achieving the creation of innovative spaces that fulfill community needs.
Live Design Performance: Styrofoam Carving
Led by: Kwangho Lee
Time: 12.30pm-1.30pm
Duration: 1hr
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
Kwangho Lee will perform two live Styrofoam performances carving sofas out of plain Styrofoam blocks using a heated wire rod creating wavy textures depending on the speed of his hands. These sofas have unique characteristics, the longer you sit on them, the warmer they become.
Renowned artist, Kwangho Lee’s work reflects his belief that any daily-use object may be transformed into something unique. Lee was raised and worked alongside his grandfather in a farm in Korea, graduated with a degree in Metal Craft from Hongik University, and worked with many group shows in cities like Seoul, Tokyo, Milan, San Francisco, LA, New York, etc. Kwangho Lee expresses the symphony of design and craft by involving a large scale and high level in his work. His projects never undergo machinery process. His productions come out in small quantities and are hand crafted. Lee was awarded ‘Young Artist of the Year” Award in 2011.
4pm-5pm WTD Architecture & Design Magazine Launch at the bookstore
Public Workshop: Furniture-making using Emarati Talli & street materials
Led by: Leo Capote & Amaury
Time: 4pm-6pm
Duration: 2hrs
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
Brazilian designers Leo Capote & Amaury will lead a workshop on creating a lamp and a seat using fine finishing’s (Emarati Talli) & street materials. Their concept is to use everyday objects and transform them into distinctive usable design pieces.
Born and raised in his grandfather’s tool shop, Leo Capote was acquainted at an early stage, with hammers, screws and nails. This helped him transform absolutely any tool or object into unique design pieces; he could turn sneakers into plugs, bikes into sinks and forks into photo holders. To him, absolutely anything is raw and is not yet been used for its right purpose.
Amaury is an artist who focuses on objects rejected by the consumer society, such as a discarded old drawer or tacky decorative ornaments that would probably be wasted in the short term. He collects and gathers such elements, creating narratives from his own imagination. What interests him is the dialogue and the possibilities of interventions created from this.
Discussion Panel: “Teaching Design”
Led by: Peter di Sabatino (AUS), Constantin Boym (VCU Qatar), Alexis Georgeacopoulous (ECAL) & Nabyl Chenaf (AUD)
Time: 7pm-8.30pm
Duration: 1.5hrs
Location: The Pavilion, Downtown Dubai
A panel discussion on “Teaching design”, with Constantin Boym the Director of Fine Arts Master Programme from Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar), Alexis Georgeacopoulous the Director of Ecole Cantonale d’art de Lausanne (ECAL) and Nabyl Chenaf the Dean of Architecture, Art & Design from AUD on the challenges they are facing in design education and the goals they are striving to achieve in their respective universities.
21ST of March 2012
Public Workshop: “Chroub o Choof” - “Drink & Look”
Led by: Younes Duret
Time: 8.30am-1.30pm
Duration: 5hrs
Location: Nuqat Dubai Design Conference, at Tashkeel
The fountain ”Chroub o Choof” near Ben Youssef Mosque in the heart of the medina of Marrakech, was brought in by Ahmed El Mansour (1578-1603). One of the inscriptions carved in it is, invite to “drink and watch” (in Arabic echroub ou chouf”). More than just a fountain, this space invites people to take the time to enjoy life and watch what is happening around them. The idea of the workshop will be to create a seating area (urban furniture, chairs, sofas...) that suggest a pause in the daily activities. This seat needs to be easy to use and convenient. It should be comfortable and ergonomic.
Global design agency creator, founded in Marrakech, with experience and background from Africa to Europe. Duret’s use of art ranges from the functional to the ecological and industrial.
Public Workshop: Furniture-making using Emarati Talli & street materials
Led by: Leo Capote & Amaury
Time: 11am-1pm
Duration: 2hrs
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
Brazilian designers Leo Capote & Amaury will lead a workshop on creating a lamp and a seat using fine finishing’s (Emarati Talli) & street materials. Their concept is to use everyday objects and transform them into distinctive usable design pieces.
Born and raised in his grandfather’s tool shop, Leo Capote was acquainted at an early stage, with hammers, screws and nails. This helped him transform absolutely any tool or object into unique design pieces; he could turn sneakers into plugs, bikes into sinks and forks into photo holders. To him, absolutely anything is raw and is not yet been used for its right purpose.
Amaury is an artist who focuses on objects rejected by the consumer society, such as a discarded old drawer or tacky decorative ornaments that would probably be wasted in the short term. He collects and gathers such elements, creating narratives from his own imagination. What interests him is the dialogue and the possibilities of interventions created from this.
Mentorship Programme: 20min one-on-one mentor sessions
Led by: Nada Debs
Time: 11.30am- 2.30pm
Duration: 3hrs
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
Lebanese interior designer/architect, Nada Debs is leading 20min mentor sessions for 12 students/independent designers. The sessions are focused on undergraduates, postgraduates and any designers who would like to have one-on-one mentorship and guidance through their design portfolios and future aspirations.
Nada Debs is the founder of the ‘East and East’ company, in Beirut. She celebrates Eastern Craftsmanship through contemporary design, using Arab heritage in a modern sense. The company concentrates on the design, manufacture and sale of her own furniture and home accessory lines. Nada Debs’ multi-cultural background has helped in shaping the company’s core competencies with respect to design. She was brought up in Japan, graduated from the United States as an Interior Architect, and started her own design company in the United Kingdom, before returning to her roots in Lebanon to found her company. Globally, Nada Debs is represented in New York, Dubai, Geneva, Cairo, and Amman.
Mentorship Programme: “Sit in Shade” UAE Student Competition 2012
Led by: tasmena, Design Days Dubai Education team & Brazilian Designers; Leo Capote, Amaury, Pedro Bernardes & Hugo França from Coletivo Amor de Madre Gallery
Time: 4pm-6pm
Duration: 2hrs
Location: Design Days Dubai, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa
In Collaboration with Design Days Dubai, tasmena is leading a student competition called “Sit in Shade”, a design competition for university level students within the UAE. The theme is to create urban furniture (seating & shade) out of recycled pallets (accessible, recycled materials) that can be used in key areas in Dubai. Four international Brazilian designers; Leo Capote, Amaury, Hugo Franca & Pedro Bernardes will mentor & oversee the development of the furniture with their respective teams of students.
tasmena is an international not-for-profit organization engaged in and empowering others to develop place-specific design solutions for sustainable urban living. We believe everyone, indiscriminate of age or social standing, can contribute actively to city making. Tasmena aims to create an impact on contemporary design, research, education and policy-making through a series of laboratories, workshops, competitions, forums, publications and exhibitions. We promote open, critical, cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration of students, educators and professionals locally, regionally and globally.
Meet & Greet Session
Led by: Nada Debs
Time: 6pm-7.30pm
Duration: 1.5hrs
Location: The Pavilion, Downtown Dubai
A causal meet & greet session with Lebanese interior designer/architect Nada Debs.
Nada Debs is the founder of the ‘East and East’ company, in Beirut. She celebrates Eastern Craftsmanship through contemporary design, using Arab heritage in a modern sense. The company concentrates on the design, manufacture and sale of her own furniture and home accessory lines. Nada Debs’ multi-cultural background has helped in shaping the company’s core competencies with respect to design. She was brought up in Japan, graduated from the United States as an Interior Architect, and started her own design company in the United Kingdom, before returning to her roots in Lebanon to found her company. Globally, Nada Debs is represented in New York, Dubai, Geneva, Cairo, and Amman.
Basma Al Fahim presents Rick Owens’ Tower of Nard March 21st –April 5th from 8pm in association with Design Days Dubai.
22nd of March 2012
Public Workshop: “Chroub o Choof” - “Drink & Look”
Led by: Younes Duret
Time: 8.30am-1.30pm
Duration: 5hrs
Location: Nuqat Dubai Design Conference, at Tashkeel
Ongoing Live Performances:
mischer’traxler (Gradient Mashrabiya):
Mashrabiyas are delicate wooden screens found in Middle Eastern architecture. They are made of many small lathed wooden elements connected together, and form an important position within traditional Middle Eastern craftsmanship. Following the invitation of Carwan Gallery (Beirut), Studio mischer‘traxler (Austria) has teamed up with a Lebanese woodworker to redefine the constructive system of the Mashrabiyas. They will focus on showing all stages and steps of production, to make the craftsmen's work visible and understandable to the observer. The result will be a sideboard that is composed of a network of over 650 different single pieces of manually hand-carved wood. With each stage, the sideboard's pattern gets more and more defined, detailed and fragile but at the same time more and more three-dimensional.
Studio Drift’s Shylight:
The Shylight is a lamp hung from the cieling and hidden in a cocoon; It depicts the natural process by which flowers attract and repel pollen-gathering bees. When the lamp is switched on, it falls out of its ‘cocoon’, opens its petals and floats downward, then closes again when switched off. The lamps are programmable and can be combined with additional Shylights to perform a dance. The result is a poetic luminaire that comes to life. Studio Drift (Amsterdam) designs amalgamate nature and technology, ideology and reality, and their aim is to make original and passionate designs, using the best materials and the latest production technologies.
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