Colab, the first purpose-built material library in the UAE based in Dubai Design District (d3), and Broadway Interiors, an international award-winning design consultancy have partnered to launch a student design and build competition. The initiative is in line with Colab’s recently launched SHARE / كراش campaign targeting university students across the UAE, which aims to leverage COVID-19 necessitated distancing to move the discussion online and stimulate ideas for students in creative fields. The competition is open to final year students and challenges them to redesign the interiors of Colab incorporating a selection of material finishes.
The competition, which officially launches on September 13, calls for students to develop a design concept for a full wall(s) or floor for implementation within Colab. A submission can be made for one, two, three, four or five walls; each wall will be valued on its own merit and the entry can be developed by an individual or a group of students working in collaboration. The design concept should be developed from a portfolio of product generously supplied by a host of suppliers including Optimum Gulf, Dukta, Topakustik, Surface Eleven, Finsa, Sherwin, Williams, FunderMax HPL, No Grey Area International, BSH Walls & Floors, Wow Factor and Shaw Contract.
The judging panel comprising Chris Barnes (Broadway Interiors), Paul Bishop (Bishop Design & Rogue) and Kevin Maclachlan (NOMAD|K) has been created to review and assess the submissions. All entries will be assessed on creativity; design methodology; practicality of design; presentation of ideas; and selection of materials used. Upon the selection of the winning design(s), the judges will work with the students to transform their conceptual ideas into reality. The aim is to announce the winning design at Dubai Design Week, which is slated to run from November 9 – 14, 2020.
