A showcase of innovative new talents from six global design weeks
The launch of Destination at Dubai Design Week (26–31 October) will champion the work of pioneering young design brands from six fledgling design-week cities around the world including Beijing, Helsinki, Istanbul, Melbourne, Mexico City, and San Francisco.
Each participating city presents a co-curated collection of three of their leading young brands, giving them the opportunity to present their creativity and craftsmanship to the buyers, designers and visitors attending the event. This unique cultural design exchange is intended to highlight Dubai’s role as a global design hub, and to provide an entry point into the worldwide design scene for both the local and international talents of tomorrow.
Rue Kothari, Fair Director of Downtown Design said: “We are thrilled to present these 18 emerging international brands at Downtown Design in Dubai. They each represent the spirit of their city; showcasing lighting, furniture and textiles, expressed with indigenous materials, traditional craftsmanship, innovative technology and a strong contemporary aesthetic that will both broaden the diversity of the fair, and provide a breath of inspiration for all visitors,”
‘Destination’ has been set up to provide a commercial platform for promoting young design brands and will enable them to connect with the region's trade professionals and influencers. Established in cooperation with trade fair and Design Week centrepiece Downtown Design, Destination will play a key part in Dubai Design Week’s mission to provide a commercial platform for smaller, creative design brands from all over the world.
FEATURED BRANDS
Beijing Design Week presents characteristically playful work from the Shanghai- and New York-based Benwu Studio, alongside contemporary furniture by Zao Zuo and imaginative industrial products from EOQ.
Helsinki Design Week brings the sustainable wooden furniture of Nikari to Dubai, as well as evocative lighting designs from Saasand Johanna Gullichsen’s remarkable reinterpretations of traditional Finnish textile patterns.
Istanbul Design Week contributes bold wooden furniture from Halit Berker; crafted objects in natural materials from Day Studio, plus an insight into the welcoming modern interior spaces that Escape from Sofa’s furniture can create
Melbourne International Design Week introduces Dubai to the bespoke, handcrafted lighting of Christopher Boots, the strong and simple lamps of André Hnatojko,and the lighting and furniture of Jonathan Ben Tovim, who is unveiling a new work exclusively for Dubai Design Week.
Mexico City’s Albierto de Diseno is represented by Ediciones Jalapa, who have created a collection of objects reinterpreted through artisanal traditions across Mexico; home wares, accessories and soft furnishings that merge heritage and modernity from Tributo; and furniture and lighting from LCMX, a Mexico City architecture and design studio specialising in solid wood.
San Francisco Design Week exhibits lighting for small spaces from architect-founded, crowdfunded company Hello Lumio, collaboratively crafted furniture from Council Design and luxuriously comfortable outdoor seating from Galanter & Jones.