Inaugural ‘Design Next’ exhibition kicks off tomorrow in d3
Dubai, UAE, 4 November 2024: Design Next, a first-of-its-kind exhibition in the UAE promoting the circular economy, is bringing an inspiring showcase of sustainable design and insight from around the world to the 10th-anniversary edition of Dubai Design Week.
The exhibition, launched by Dubai Design District (d3), a member of TECOM Group PJSC, and the prestigious Isola Design Group, kicks off tomorrow, showcasing ideas and solutions to empower the circular economy and inspire visitors to play a greater part in shaping a sustainable world. The exhibition will run in Building 6 at d3 from 5-10 November 2024.
“Consumers want to see bold statements around sustainability transform into tangible, accessible reality. Design Next offers businesses, creatives and the public a glimpse of how local, regional and global brands are leveraging circular design to deliver attractive and functional products for personal and commercial use,” said Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3) – part of TECOM Group PJSC. “We are delighted to work with such a prestigious brand in the global design space to create this programme that emphasises the breadth and depth of creativity shaping a sustainable future through displays and insightful conversations by brilliant minds. We hope Design Next will catalyse a greater movement towards a circular economy while powering growth in Dubai’s creative industries, in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’ ambitions.”
The inaugural line-up for Design Next comprises the creativity and innovations of more than 40 local, regional and international independent designers and studios, sustainable brands, and design tech start-ups presenting innovative, eco-conscious products to circular construction materials. From compostable smartphone cases to plant-derived furniture, interior materials, and homewares, the exhibition will illustrate contemporary applications of design created from innovative technology and alternative materials. Among the talents presenting are Aga Blonska, Chinara Darwish, Eleonora Rombolà, Grob Design and IOUS Studio, amongst many more.
Design Next will also include a dynamic and engaging platform of panel discussions hosted by industry thought leaders and live performances that bring the values of sustainable design thinking to life. These discussions start on 6 November, with Fahad Ahmed Al Obaidly, Acting Director of Doha Biennale, Samer Yamani, Founder and Director of design consultancy Creative Dialogue, and Wael Al Awar, architect and founding partner waiwai design studio among the line-up of panellists.
"We are pleased to bring our international design community and years of dedicated research in circular design, innovative materials, and cutting-edge design tech solutions to Dubai. We are confident that our partnership with d3 and Design Next will contribute meaningfully to advancing the regional design dialogue, setting new standards in environment-conscious practices and industry collaboration. Through this initiative, we aim to inspire the design sector in the region and to share the tools needed to shape a more resilient and forward-thinking future," said Gabriele Cavallaro, CEO and co-founder of Isola Design Group.
Announced in October 2024, Design Next marks the first joint initiative between d3 and the innovative Isola Design Group. The Milan-based design company, renowned for providing visibility and opportunities to independent designers, design studios, and brands worldwide, recently expanded to the Middle East with a new regional headquarters at d3’s global creative ecosystem.
Promoting homegrown and regional talents
Among the homegrown UAE-based talents on show will be Generation 3D, Desert Board, Sulmi, NYXO and the region’s first purpose-built digital material library, Colab. Sulmi designs scalable and sustainable systems, combining energy generation and storage with their electric motorcycles for maximum environmental impact, which will be available for viewing. Colab joins to showcase its online database of materials that enables design professionals and businesses to discover innovative, commercially available materials and directly engage suppliers. Alongside Colab, d3’s own community will be represented by Andreu World, the global sustainability-focused furniture design brand from Spain, which opens its first UAE-based showroom in d3 on the first day of Dubai Design Week.
Representing regional talent are Egyptian furniture designers Aya Moug and Shell Homage. Moug masterminded Byblos, an innovative plant-based material that transforms papyrus plants from along the Nile’s shore into versatile biomaterials. The plant is an eco-friendly alternative to wood, stone, and marble to create attractive furniture products that combine Egyptian heritage with modern applications.
Additional MENA-based brands include: Chinara Darwish (UAE), CIFRA (UAE), Cinar Fine Rugs (UAE), Colab (UAE), DesertBoard (UAE), Faheem Khan (Qatar), Generation 3D (UAE), High Sense (UAE), NYXO (UAE), PlyPalm (UAE), Sulmi (UAE), and YAKIN (Lebanon).
Outstanding international design representation
The exhibition will see 18 countries represented. Joining Design Next from further afield are:
- iGreen (Italy): Fully compostable smartphone covers comprising seeds which can be planted after use to grow basil, forget-me-nots and daisies, reducing plastic waste in landfills and encouraging sustainable practices.
- CoWave by Aga Blonska (Netherlands): An innovative design method to create the world's first acoustic panel based on emotional reactions. Brain scans recording electrical activity are translated into AI-legible data that design and produce 3D-printed objects using recycled plastic.
- NOWO Lamp Project by Oliwia Ledzinska (Poland): Blending digital craftsmanship with traditional techniques, the NOWO lamp uses proprietary biomaterial made from a combination of protein and mixed paper, wood and textile waste. The 3D-printed lampshades are made from corn-derived bioplastic, making the product’s exteriors biodegradable and compostable and its interior electronic components reusable.
International participants include: Andreau World (Spain), Anett Papp (Hungary), Armourcoat (UK), Arper (Italy), Chryssa Kotoula (Greece), Ek Kalakaar (India), ecoLogicStudio (UK/Italy), Eleonora Rombolà (Italy), Floris Mejer (Netherlands), Grob Design (Turkey), Halle Design (Netherlands), Harshita Jhamtani (India), House of Piranesi (India), iGuzzini (Italy), IOUS Studio (Netherlands), KeepLife (Italy), Maki Izawa (Japan), Martin Oberhauser (Italy), Masquespacio (Spain), Mattice Boets (Belgium), MODedition (Turkey), Myceen (Estonia), Oorjaa (India), Shape & Shade (Kosovo), Tectona Grandis Furniture (Turkey), VANK (Poland), and WKND Lab (South Korea).
The exhibition will feature live performances by Masquespacio (Spain) and MODedition (Turkey). Meanwhile, Fromm, a luxury contemporary furniture and accessories brand founded in Italy and Qatar, will host an immersive masterclass providing designers with valuable strategies, insights and tools to create circular products.
Insightful panel discussions by industry leaders
Alongside the exhibition, Design Next includes a packed schedule of insightful industry talks and discussions exploring a range of subjects. From sustainable design champions addressing the power of design in shaping the future to emerging materials enabling circular sustainable interior and architecture design, talks on new-age Arab design and Dubai’s cementing status as a global creative business hub.
Design Next will be the first of many initiatives launched between d3 and Isola Design Group, who will continue collaborating on an array of events and services to further cement the region’s flourishing design scene and support exciting local and regional design talent. Design Next will be a biennial event, and the d3 Architecture Exhibition will be held in the intervening years.
Time | Topic | Description | |
Wednesday, 6 November | 2 - 2:45 PM | Content vs. Form: Intersections of Design, Art and Technology | As the lines between design, art, and technology blur, this panel discusses how these fields intersect to create meaningful experiences, challenging traditional boundaries and redefining aesthetics. |
3 - 3:45 PM | The Role of Design Brands in Driving the Industry Towards a Better Future | Design thinkers from leading brands examine how they influence consumer behaviour, promote ethical practices, and lead the integration of circular materials and innovative processes. | |
4 - 4:45 PM | Behind the Project: The Award-winning UAE National Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia | Wael Al Awar, Nada Taryam, and Azza Aboualam discuss sustainable architecture influenced by local knowledge, innovative materials, and environmental conditions in the UAE. | |
5 - 5:45 PM | The Future of Sustainable Design: From Material Innovation to Circular Systems | Exploring concepts like bio-inspired materials and adaptive structures that allow interiors to evolve with minimal waste, this panel focuses on circular and regenerative design. | |
Thursday, 7 November | 10:30 AM – 1 PM | Waste to Worth: Circular Design in Practice | Discussing sustainable strategies within a circular economy, this session provides designers with practical tools to create eco-friendly products. |
2 – 2:45 PM | High-Performance Interiors: Integrating User Experience and AI | Exploring AI-driven personalisation in interiors, covering predictive ambience control and adaptive layouts responsive to user needs and preferences. | |
3 – 3:45 PM | Designing for the Future: How the Circular Economy is Impacting the Industry | This panel explores how circular principles reshape design practices, fostering creativity and economic resilience. | |
4 – 4:45 PM | From the Past to the Future: A New Perspective on Arab Design | Examining Arab design evolution, rooted in traditional craftsmanship yet forward-looking in response to social and environmental needs. | |
5 – 5:45 PM | Future Cities: Micro-Architecture and Design | Exploring modular, space-efficient design concepts for dense urban environments, with themes on sustainable micro-living and adaptable interiors. | |
Friday, 8 November | 3:30 – 4:15 PM | Public Art in Dubai: A Conversation | Architect Abdalla Almulla and artist Areen Hassan discuss public art projects, creative processes, and future opportunities in Dubai. |
4:30 – 5:15 PM | Crafting Tomorrow: The Intersection of AI and Human Creativity | This panel explores how AI complements human creativity, reshaping design and creative industries through AI-driven advancements. | |
Saturday, 9 November | 2 – 2:45 PM | How Innovative Materials are Shaping the Design and Architecture Industry | Discussing the impact of new materials in transforming the design and architecture industry. |
3 – 3:45 PM | Transforming Cities Through New Spaces for Creative Communities | Exploring how innovative spaces foster collaboration and cultural exchange, revitalising cities and supporting economic growth. |
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