Even if it’s just for a moment, an innovative sculpture, building or installation can stop you in your tracks. But, great design doesn’t just magically appear on the horizon. The work that goes into holding your attention for that one inspiring moment takes years, and it all starts with a solid education.
Even if it’s just for a moment, an innovative sculpture, building or installation can stop you in your tracks. But, great design doesn’t just magically appear on the horizon. The work that goes into holding your attention for that one inspiring moment takes years, and it all starts with a solid education.
Dubai is fast becoming a world leader in design education, with a number of universities now offering courses that encourage students to challenge the conventional. So what makes Dubai such a great place for young designers?
Creativity
Dubai is constantly redefining the way we think about the modern city. Designers, artists and architects are encouraged to think about how space is used every day in this great metropolis. Dubai Design Week is the perfect expression of this creativity, with 12 site specific installations located around the city at strategic locations. The range of creativity on offer from local and international talent is echoed in the city’s design schools, where students feed off such innovation. The creative advances in science and technology that allow this desert city to thrive are also percolating into design schools, sparking ideas and fuelling entrepreneurial spirit.
Dynamism
The pace of change in Dubai is dizzying and young designers are using this energy to kick-start their careers. Exploring the intersection between art, architecture and social psychology is commonplace in the city’s design schools. One artist who can attest to this is Raudha Al Ghurair, whose haunting installation, LOT36587, features in this year’s Dubai Design Week. Raudha studied a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture at the American University of Sharjah, where she received the prestigious Sheika Manal Young Artist Award in 2011.
Her artistic work is influenced by her architectural studies and her use of different media to capture ‘the essence of the moment’ has a real flavour of Dubai. Wondering how you might capture the moment in this city of constant and compelling change? Take a visit to LOT36587 in the Dubai Design District between 26 - 31 October.
Diversity
Studying in the UAE is a chance to meet people from all walks of life. Dubai alone is a city of expats, with over 85% of people coming from other parts of the world. Being part of this melting pot of different cultures, languages and points of view is a great start for a young designer. This is a city where you have to learn to communicate with others in new ways, and visual communication is one of the most effective methods we have. Dubai is a city where bold ideas are sought after and whether you are studying architecture or interior design, exciting things await.
This city of creativity, dynamism and diversity is the perfect place to study design – but with a range of courses on offer how will you decide which one is for you? Potential design students can try this fun Design Your Life web app to find out what their life in design might look like.
Contributed by American University of Sharjah CAAD