SUPPORTING REGIONAL TALENT
“Over the last six years, Downtown Design has brought iconic international design brands to Dubai,” says Rue Kothari, fair director at Downtown Design. “This year our newly formed showcase for limited-edition design, Downtown Editions, will give individual designers and emerging studios a platform to showcase their work.”
Under the spotlight will be 40 designers from the UAE, and more than 20 from regional cities ranging from Beirut to Amman and Casablanca. The quality and diversity of their individual work will resonate strongly with visitors. “Collectively it demonstrates the real potential of regional designers — you can see first-hand how brilliantly ambitious and sophisticated our design scene is becoming,” says Kothari.
From ceramics handmade in the UAE to marble accessories designed and cut by robot, UAE-based designers are really showing their mettle. Very importantly, in contrast to the international design community, women are taking the lead in the Middle East. From vintage Palestinian textiles reworked into modern objects, unique contemporary furniture pieces by female Saudi designers and collections debuting at the fair by creatives from Portugal and Morocco who have made the UAE their home, Downtown Design reflects the multicultural spirit of the nation. “Key to the success of regional designers is engagement,” says Kothari. “These designers have produced pieces that need to be appreciated; acquired, taken home and loved. Patronage is the fuel that feeds their creativity.”
Crucial to the region’s development as a design hub is the collaboration between the creativity of these designers and the expertise of international brands. The potential here is limitless. Placing our designers front and centre will provide the inspiration and the aspiration for generations of regional designers.