With just under three weeks to go before Downtown Design’s return to the Dubai Design District on 8-12 November, the trade fair has revealed its plans to reconnect those converging on the d3 Waterfront to take part in the last major design event on the international calendar.

As Dubai-based interior designers and architects experience a post-pandemic boom, with demand for ID and architecture services witnessing levels not seen in the region for many years, the event will showcase the latest brand collections from over 25 different countries alongside installations and exhibitions of limited-edition and bespoke design to help furnish the next stage of regional projects.

Visitors can also take part in a packed programme of activities that include interactive discussions and presentations on the latest trends in the world of design by leading regional and international creatives, while on-site networking events held throughout the week will be held in venues specially created for the exhibition by studios from across the region.

The Forum

Designed by Ema as an amphitheatre that promotes interaction and engagement, The Forum will host a series of compelling live interviews and discussions between leading regional and international architects, interior and product designers on each afternoon.

Taking to the stage throughout the week, the exciting line-up of speakers and panellists includes Sebastian Herkner, Elliott Barnes, Gregory Gatserelia, Massimo Iosa Ghini and Adrien Gardère. In addition, Micael Calatrava, CEO of Calatrava International, will discuss the current flow of his company’s global projects with particular emphasis on their creation of the UAE Pavilion and the Qatar Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

More than a dozen topics will be addressed in the panel discussions, with contributions from leading lights such as Jonathan Ashmore, founder and Principal Architect at Anarchitect; Laura Bielecki, Group Design Director at Ellington; Pallavi Dean, founder and Creative Director of Roar; Andy Shaw, Managing Partner, AMA and Chair, RIBA Gulf Chapter; Diane Thorsen, Design Director at Gensler; and Isabel Pintado, SVP Design & Innovation, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts.

The Exhibition

“Editions” at Downtown Design will present a boutique showcase of limited-edition and bespoke pieces from designers and brands including Aline Hazarian, Art de Vivre, The Line Concept and Zieta Studio alongside emerging regional talents including ARE from Syria and Roham Shamekh from Iran.

These individual exhibits will be complemented by a range of showcases uncovering the latest in design from the region, including The Beirut Concept Store, which will feature works by 50 established designers and up-and-coming creatives based in Lebanon; the UAE Designer Exhibition 2.0, set to unveil works by 25 desigers producing locally; and the unveiling of the projects by the four designers selected by Tashkeel for the 2021 Tanween Programme.

The main exhibition will feature over 130 leading international and regional brands from 25 different countries, with highlights including furniture from Lema, Minotti, Giorgetti, Ethimo and Vitra; textiles from Illulian, Kvadrat, Jaipur Rugs and Verdi; major kitchen and bathrooms brands including Grohe, Villeroy & Boch Laboratorio Mattoni and RAK Ceramics; as well as lighting brands including Lasvit from the Czech Republic, Baranska Design from Poland and Shakúff from the USA.

International Attendees

Downtown Design will also host significant country stands from Italy, France, Spain, Austria and Hungary to further enhance the European presence at the fair.

The Italian country stand, ‘Luxury Interiors – The Art of Italian Design’, will comprise over 40 Italian companies showcasing their latest work, with creations from brands like Fantini Mosaici, Ciclotte, Pinetti, Lombardo, M/U, Arte Veneziana and L’ Officina di Luca Peppoloni.

The French stand meanwhile, under the Business France/Team France Export umbrella, will present examples of the ‘Art de Vivre’ – with over 15 firms that combine traditional savoir-faire with avant-garde innovation including Non Sans Raison, Alain Saint-Joanis, Hudor and La Boite Concept.

Spain’s design sector will encompass a united installation curated by Dubai-based Spanish architect Juan Roldán, including Bõln, Cosentino, Kriskadecor, Lladró, Nanimarquina, Nomon, RS Barcelona and Sol&Luna.

Rounding out the country stands, the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency are organising their presence under the “Budapest Select” umbrella brand, created to provide national designers with wider attention, recognition and success, with exhibits including the latest work from Zsuzsanna Horváth, Miklós Leits, Position Collective, Oléant, Loomiosa, Paper Up!, Máté Horváth and Sára Kele.

Installations

Several leading design studios have spent recent months busily creating unique, interactive installations and entertainment venues for all visitors to experience throughout the fair, including a dramatic, multi-sensory main entrance from NIU Studio; an elegant restaurant inspired by Virginia Woolf and her Bloomsbury Set contemporaries from Lulie Fisher Design Studio; and an eclectic bar inspired by the Dubai landscape and vista created by Broadway Interiors.

Trade Connect

UAE and GCC-based specifiers are also still able to apply for Downtown Design’s Trade Connect programme, which provides a suite of exclusive events complemented by networking and product sourcing opportunities at the fair, including access to the preview of Downtown Design on Monday 8 November, pre-arranged 1-2-1 business meetings, hosted lunches and evening networking events with leading designers.

Register for your free visitor ticket here.