Growing 50% since the previous year, Dubai Design Week 2017 was a huge success. Featuring an action-packed programme with 200 activities taking place throughout the city, the event drew over 60,000 visitors from around the world. The aim of the festival was to showcase achievements in creative design from Dubai, the region and beyond as well as encourage emerging talent.
Dubai has gained a reputation for excellence in design and the creative arts, being named by the United Nations as one of the organisation’s Creative Cities of Design, Dubai Design Week - an annual event – is an important week in any design enthusiast or professional’s calendar.
A focal point of the event, Downtown Design, welcomed 15,000 visitors who got to see 150 brands and 72 of which are new to the event and the region, the fair has grown 350 % since its inauguration. Taking place at the d3 Waterfront, Downtown Design is the regional meeting point for the design industry and a platform to explore the latest trends in contemporary design. Visitors were also able to enjoy presentations and workshops led by leading names in the creative interiors design industry, including those behind some of Dubai’s most impressive installations and building developments.
As the first Middle Eastern city to achieve recognition from the UN for its impact on global culture,
The city is now rolling out a four-year plan to take its creativity and nurture its artistic talents even further, including hosting the World Expo in 2020.
Dubai is famous for its show-stopping buildings and designs that combine aesthetics with practicality. Notable developments include Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building – the Dubai Metro, Jumeirah Corniche, Shindagha Bridge and Palm Jumeirah, but there are many more for visitors to explore and marvel at.
The city is also famous for its stunning, luxurious venues with creative interiors that when met with observant eyes will find everything from crisp, clean lines and minimalist storage solutions to rich jewel tones, sumptuous textures and opulent accessories. While interiors may differ from one place to another, one key theme is constant – luxury and exceptional design. Anyone with an interest in creative design will find plenty of inspiration in Dubai.
Dubai is home to some of the most revered interior designers and space-makers in the world, including Isabel Pintado of Wilson Associates, Diane Thorsen of Perkins & Will, Jesper Godsk of LW Design, David T’Kint of HBA Dubai and Katrina Antonovich – to name just a few.
Dubai is widely recognised as one of the best and happiest places to live, with the entire ethos of the city focusing on creating healthy, happy spaces that are sustainable and improve quality of life. It’s a passionate, vibrant city that has worked hard to get where it is today, earning its place on the map as a Global City of Design.
Dubai is a vibrant, exciting city that’s the perfect place for anyone with a keen interest in art and creative design. Following the success of the 2018 Dubai Design Week, the world eagerly awaits what else the emirate and its designers has to offer.