Dubai’s contemporary art hub will be teeming with events, exhibitions, launches and talks. Register and book ahead to make the most of this year’s rich and varied line-up: from film-screenings to gemology seminars, machine building and more.
The district of Al Quoz and Alserkal Avenue will be teeming with events, exhibitions, launches and talks throughout Dubai Design Week. Register and book ahead to make the most of this year’s rich and varied line-up.
Start by filling your diary with one-off events:
Monday 24 October
Local director/producer Mohammed Rasoul gives a behind-the-scenes talk from 8-9pm entitled Designing Futuristic Arabia on his upcoming sci-fi film Duneopolis.
Tuesday 25 October
Take an evening tour of the Mirzam chocolate factory with Emirati designer and photographer Sheika Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, the creative brain behind the brand’s first designer chocolate bar, and discover how he conceived the unique recipe and developed the bespoke paper wrapper.
At FN Designs on Alserkal Avenue, a distinguished panel of experts discuss the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration from 6.30pm at Art x Design: Blurred Lines.
The Center for Architectural Discourse demonstrates how to create narratives related to the built environment by responding to spaces along E11, the road that weaves through the UAE from the Saudi to the Omani border.
Wednesday 26 October
Spend the morning at Design Meets Art, a talk at the Odd Piece showroom on how art pieces by Antoni Gaudi and Salvador Dali were transformed into functional furniture.
From noon till 2pm, join a race to create your own piece of kinetic artwork at M.A.D. Gallery. The quickest to assemble a Böhm Stirling Engine gets to keep it.
Saturday 29October
Rise to Spanish bathroom manufacturer Roca Sanitorio’s One Day Design Challenge when students and young professionals under 30 compete to create innovative bathroom concepts in just one day.
The Karam Coffee Experience offers an expert insight into the history, aroma, flavour, colour, taste and aftertaste of coffee at a ‘cupping session’. You’ll see your daily dose of cappuccino in a different light once you’ve learned about the humble coffee cherry’s incredible journey from plant to cup.
Check out the various exhibitions, talks and films on design and architecture @DIAAGRAM 4, hosted by multi-disciplinary design studio Concept-ME. There’s a different theme and medium every day.
Then fill in the gaps with events that are happening throughout the week.
For inspiring interiors, head to La Galerie Nationale which has recreated French room sets from the 1950s till the present day at Inside Decorative Art. Then pick out exclusive flooring from Woodfloors and some limited-edition pieces for your space - seating from Mishmashi’s Poof! Collection, and a sculptural light, Zephyr By SVENM, in sustainable walnut by Design Collectibles by Artisans.
If graphic design is your passion, explore the culture and craft of hand-painted signage from the Philippines at Byahe: A Typographic Exploration, and for a dose of contemporary French art head for the Bernar Venet Solo Exhibition at Custot Gallery which is showcasing the artist’s steel sculptures, works on paper and paintings inspired by maths and science.
The Jewel Teller Project offers insights into precious stones with its Portfolio collection, daily guided tours of its workshop and a 2-day seminar.
Foodies should make a beeline for the Mirzam chocolate factory to simultaneously experience beautiful design pieces and exclusive handcrafted chocolates at the Contemporary Handmade exhibition, and linger a while to learn about the design process behind its new Monsters & Maps Collection.