Re-affirming Downtown Design’s position as a fair of global discovery and entry point into the worldwide design scene for both the local and international talents of tomorrow, the popular ‘Destination at Downtown Design’, returns in October with a fresh selection of international design weeks and their emerging design brands.
Re-affirming Downtown Design’s position as a fair of global discovery and entry point into the worldwide design scene for both the local and international talents of tomorrow, the popular ‘Destination at Downtown Design’, returns in October with a fresh selection of international design weeks and their emerging design brands.
2016’s participating design weeks are: Addis Ababa, Barcelona, Beirut, Reykjavik and Taipei.Each will present a co-curated collection of their most exciting young brands, offering visitors the chance to discover design products they would not ordinarily encounter in one single place and providing a commercial platform for smaller design brands from all over the world.
Rue Kothari, Fair Director of Downtown Design said: “We are thrilled to bring such a diverse mix of design weeks to the fair. Each will represent the spirit of their city; showcasing lighting, furniture and textiles, expressed with indigenous materials, traditional craftsmanship and a strong contemporary aesthetic that will both broaden the diversity of the fair, and provide a breath of inspiration for all visitors.”
Addis Ababa will show a mix of the traditional and the modern with handcrafted chairs, stools inspired by the Ethiopian comb, and modern, architectural pieces; Reykjavik, textiles and prints as well as functional furniture made from natural materials; Taipei, ultra-minimalist, sculptural design solutions and accessories including neo-contemporary porcelain tea sets. As very cosmopolitan cities, both Barcelona and Beirut look at sculptural design objects such as vases and lighting, giving them a modern, industrial look that still elevates the artisanal techniques prevalent in both countries.
Last year, Istanbul Design Week brought escapefromthesofa, a young interior design firm and studio that, due to its success at Destination 2015, will return to this fair as a standalone exhibitor.