With only a week to go, we could not be more excited for Dubai’s design event of the year! We bring you the local gems that are set to shine at the 7th edition of Downtown Design…
Downtown Editions is Downtown Design’s dedicated showcase of bespoke and limited-edition design (with a spotlight on the Middle East) by established and emerging designers. This year’s list of candidates under Downtown Editions has been unveiled, and they do not disappoint.
Aljoud Lootah: The Emirati designer will present her limited-edition collection of boxes inspired by the Mandoos, a traditional Emirati dowry chest. This heritage piece has been given a few modern tweaks through material manipulation, featuring leather and metal work techniques.
Hajer Abdullah: UAE-based designer Hajer Abdullah will launch her studio with a collection of furniture and accessories that draw from the region’s equestrian culture. At the event, she will present Al Khayal, a seating collection that is a nod to the braiding patterns often found on horses in the Middle East.
Jawaher Alkhayyal: This Sharjah-based designer’s collection will feature handcrafted furniture that celebrates the traditional Emirati craft of palm fronds weaving.
Meshary Alnassar: Kuwaiti designer Meshary Alnassar in collaboration with a stone workshop in Puglia, Italy, interprets nature’s equilibrium with a collection of sculptural lights made from recomposed marble.
Binchy and Binchy: Featuring collaborations with manufacturers, such as Kvadrat Maharam and Ranieri Lava Stone, Binchy and Binchy’s set of Ten Tables is an example of how contextual and cultural understanding is amalgamated. Despite following a distinct creative pattern for each project, they believe that the resulting space should be intelligent and purpose-based.
Wajih and Omar Nakkash: Combining artisanal crafts and noble materials with a contemporary view, father and son duo, Wajih and Omar Nakkash return to Downtown Editions with a new collection of decorative objects inspired by the Levantine design ethos.
Cecilia Setterdahl: Artist and designer Cecilia Setterdahl will present her latest collection, handwoven by India-based artisans who were able to translate the designer’s canvases into rugs using wools and natural dyes.
Abdulla Al Mulla: Architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib are the 2019 class of Tashkeel’s Tanween Design Programme. At Downtown Editions, they will present a diverse collection of accessories and furniture inspired by their individual experiences and viewed through the lens of their chosen design fields.
Downtown Editions will also feature latest works by international designers and studios such as Brooklyn-based designer Fernando Mastrangelo, Arijian from South Korea and Tasca4D from Japan.
With stories woven together to form innovative and stunning designs, Downtown Design 2019 is sure to entertain. Stay tuned on Love That Design for live updates.
