The Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation will be activating their space for Dubai Design Week by programming that includes classes, design workshops, a series of Emirati Panel discussions around design and an ongoing student exhibition, which they invite the public to join.

Exhibitions will include A year at DIDI in 20 student projects.

The Panel Discussions are a series of design-focused discussions recognising design’s value within local communities as a key driver of economic prosperity and stability, which include:

  1. Product Design Panel Discussion
  2. Multimedia Design Panel Discussion
  3. Fashion Design Panel Discussion
  4. Strategic Design Management Panel Discussion

Lectures will include:

  1. Design Across Scales, with Carlos Montana
  2. Visualisation and Information Design Studio, with Leo Rezayan
  3. History of Design Lecture, with Hani Asfouor

Workshops will include:

[Re]designing Daily Objects, by Andrea Marcruz:

The workshop focuses on redesigning daily objects and thinking about ergonomics, functions, emotions elicited, etc.

Walk through a Sheet of Paper, by Hani Asfour:

Designers and innovators have a knack for connecting things through lateral thinking. Improve your problem-solving techniques and learn new tricks using creative thinking. Discover new visual mind teasers and riddles and sharpen your wits. At DIDI we don’t call it ‘out of the box’ thinking—because, when you really think about it, there is no box!

Designing for Outer Space, by Raffi Tchakerian:

Designing solutions that future space travelers can use to cope with the risks of monotony and boredom and all the psycho-physiological risks their missions will present during their arduous endeavors away from home.

Souvenirs from the Future, by Gionata Gatto:

The workshop focuses on designing a souvenir from the future. Participants are asked to re-imagine the city of Dubai, and what it could become in 50 years ahead.

Empathy in Design, by Carlos Montana:

Participants will experience the importance of empathy in user centred design and ergonomics.

From Waste to Resource, by Mirko Daneluzzo and Joanne Hayek:

A workshop that invites participants to experience the making of simple objects by designing sustainable materials out of daily organic waste such as coffee grounds, banana peels, etc.

Innovation Thinking! Successful through Design, by Elmar Schüller:

The course will start with a short introduction about how innovation can emerge, new markets and products can be created through design. Based on this the students create their groups, brainstorm, do online research, discuss and illustrate how to design their own perfect mobile device. Finally, all team results will be presented by the students and discussed by all.

Build Your Own Keychain, by Mona Al Hashimi:

In this workshop students will be able to build their own keychain starting from 2D & 3D design moving on to laser cutting and 3D printing.

Design Your Future City: Co-mapping and rewiring of neighbourhoods in Dubai, by Mirkko Daneluzzo and Joanne Hayek:

In this workshop participants will engage in the co-mapping of their neighbourhoods and brainstorm new ways to wire different areas of the city based on the intersection of different urban layers: mobility, landscape, leisure, etc.

Data visualisation and storytelling: Communicate with data creating a meaningful story, by Marina Peres:

In this workshop the participants will engage in forms of mapmaking as an applied research method in design to reveal complex relationships between representations and synthetic understanding of quantitative and qualitative data sets.

Material (In)Formation Workshop, with Raffi Tchakerian:

Core Foundation workshop in methods of making. Students gain skills in data analysis and manipulation, fabrication with varying technologies and materials. Emphasis is placed on learning how to use the tools as well as understanding how they work, material use and production impacts. This studio is in two parts. The course provides a hands- on introduction to the resources for designing and fabricating smart systems, including CAD/CAM/CAE; CNC machining, 3-D printing, mold making and casting, laser cutting; wearable technology; sensors and actuators; analog instrumentation; embedded digital processing; wired and wireless communications, as well as the waste and reuse of those methods. Emphasis is placed on learning how to use the tools as well as understanding how they work. By the end of this course students will have an understanding and working knowledge of the fundamental skills related to Fashion Design, Multimedia Design, Product Design, and Strategic Design Management.

Innovation and Design Workshop, with Elmar Schüller:

This is a project-based workshop in innovative design thinking where students develop the ability to conceive, implement, and evaluate successful projects in any design discipline. Lectures focus on the iterative design process and techniques to enhance a design thinking approach that includes participation, iteration and synthesis. Topics will include understanding users and learning processes to design and implement various projects. Students give presentations and receive feedback to sharpen their communication and presentation skills for high emotional and intellectual impact. Guest lectures illustrate multidisciplinary and local approaches to design thinking. Students will learn the basic tools to innovate in any context.