The number ten represents harmony, balance, and completeness. Many architectural philosophies embrace ten principles that guide the creation of aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces, emphasizing ideals like sustainability and human scale.

As Dubai Design Week marks its tenth edition this year, the importance of design resonates even more profoundly. This edition highlights the unity that can be achieved through thoughtful architectural practice.

“This year’s program is particularly significant as it marks the 10th edition of Dubai Design Week, celebrating a decade of creative growth and innovation within the city’s cultural landscape. The event will showcase cutting-edge design across a range of disciplines, featuring over 500 designers, from globally renowned figures to emerging talents,” says Natasha Carella, Director at Dubai Design Week. 

“Over the years, the goal and vision of Dubai Design Week have evolved, but the core commitment remains the same: to platform voices and talent from the SWANA region and showcase high-quality, original design to a global audience,” Carella adds.

She explains how, from its inception, the aim has always been to elevate creatives from the region and offer them an international stage to share their ideas and innovations. However, as the design scene has shifted, so has the focus.

What started as a celebration of design has naturally grown to tackle some of the pressing global challenges and issues. “Today, Dubai Design Week is not just about aesthetics or functionality but also about how design is a tool for positive change,” says Carella. 

Carella highlights that Dubai Design Week offers a space for designers to exchange ideas on improving humanity’s collective future, whether by exploring environmental sustainability or examining how design can benefit marginalized communities.

Another evolution is Dubai Design Week’s role as a testing ground for international designers and businesses. 

Downtown Design, the annual trade fair for contemporary design, has become a platform where global brands engage with the region, often resulting in a lasting presence. Many companies have used Dubai Design Week to gauge their appeal in the local market and have since established a permanent foothold in the region.

Additionally, Dubai Design Week has become a key event on the calendar, not only for the UAE design community but also for designers, cultural institutions, and brands from across the region and beyond.

THE MOST DIVERSE EDITION YET 

Courtesy: Dubai Design District

This year’s Dubai Design Week centers on vernacular architecture, sustainability, and the evolving use of materials. The comprehensive program aims to address pressing global challenges like climate change, offering “design-led approaches that benefit vulnerable communities,” says Carella.

She emphasizes that representing the local design scene in the UAE is a key objective for Dubai Design Week. She highlights the annual UAE Designer Exhibition as a significant part of the program, describing it as “a multidisciplinary showcase at Downtown Design that spotlights UAE-based creative talent.” Curated by UAE-based Omar Al Gurg this year, the exhibition aims to provide “early-career designers with a platform for visibility and commercial opportunity.”

Carella explains that the exhibition aims to highlight emerging talent and young practitioners, helping them “break into the region’s market” while showcasing their work to a wide audience of B2B and B2C visitors. She adds that across all programs—including installations, exhibitions, workshops, Downtown Design, Editions, and the Marketplace—there is a commitment to featuring diverse individuals and collectives.

This approach, she notes, exemplifies the country’s diversity and enables audiences to engage with “a cross-section of talent that reflects a multitude of cultural influences and perspectives.”

A RENEWED FOCUS ON ABWAB 

Abwab, meaning “doors” in Arabic, is a vital component of Dubai Design Week, showcasing creative talent from the SWANA region. Each year, it commissions installations that address relevant global and regional themes, providing a platform for over 180 designers from Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Lebanon, and the UAE to share innovative ideas rooted in their cultural heritage.

Participants are encouraged to reimagine these practices to promote regenerative design, blending ancient principles with modern innovations for sustainable, ecologically restorative environments. This year’s initiative encourages dialogue between the past and future, encouraging collaboration and solutions that enhance the built environment. Winners of this year’s Abwab will be announced soon.

A SEAT AT THE TABLE – URBAN COMMISSIONS 

Meanwhile, Urban Commissions, Dubai Design Week’s annual competition that empowers architects and designers to shape public spaces creatively, returns this year. Each year, the competition focuses on a different theme to inspire new approaches to urban environments, aiming to enhance community interaction through thoughtful design.

This year’s Urban Commissions theme, “Tawila” (Arabic for “table”), invites participants to explore innovative interpretations of the table beyond its traditional role. Carella explains that the goal is to create public outdoor furniture that fosters “meaningful community experiences.” Proposals are evaluated by a jury featuring notable figures such as Dr. Alamira Reem Al Hashimi and Ahmad Bukhash.

This year’s winner is Altqadum, a research-based design studio from Oman led by Marwan Albalushi, Najd Albalushi, and Abdulrahim Alkendi. Their winning proposal, TukTukDum, draws inspiration from the musical culture of the Gulf, transforming the table into a performance space that encourages personal and communal connections.

Carella highlights the importance of fostering dialogue among global design leaders. Prominent speakers, including architect India Mahdavi, will host the opening keynote. This year’s discussions will focus on “multicultural design and the fusion of identities in contemporary space,” craftsmanship, and the design challenges presented by extreme environments.

Additionally, the Marketplace will return to Dubai Design District (d3) on November 9-10, featuring over 75 homegrown small businesses.

Courtesy: Dubai Design District

BALANCING TALENT AND PARTNERSHIPS IN DESIGN

Carella emphasizes Dubai Design Week’s commitment to balancing established designers with emerging talent. 

Initiatives like Downtown Design and Editions showcase established creators, while programs like Abwab and Urban Commissions support newcomers, ensuring a vibrant design ecosystem. She underscores the importance of partnerships with cultural institutions like Art Jameel and the National Pavilion UAE, stating they add depth and breadth to the event’s artistic activities.

In terms of sustainability, Carella highlights the use of organic materials in the Abwab commissions and emphasizes the role of the material library, Colab, in promoting innovative, eco-conscious design practices.

Rather than presenting ourselves as a model of sustainability, we focus on fostering new ways of thinking about design, building, and making,” explains Carella. The mission is to inspire designers to tackle pressing environmental challenges while emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations in their work.

This year, all projects featured in the Abwab commissions utilize organic materials, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful material choices. 

Courtesy: Dubai Design District

“By exploring these cutting-edge materials, designers can rethink traditional methods and adopt more eco-conscious solutions,” Carella said. 

Additionally, the installations prioritize responsible production methods. For example, “The Fridge” by Studio Shoo features a lounge area made from recycled plastic panels sourced from discarded refrigerators, serving as a powerful reminder of the environmental impact of consumer waste.  

Through initiatives like these, Dubai Design Week aims to ignite a dialogue about sustainability, encouraging the design community to explore new materials, rethink waste, and engage with the environmental challenges we collectively face. “We want to inspire a movement toward more sustainable and ethical design practices,” Carella said.

The tenth edition of Dubai Design Week commences from November 5, 2024, until November 10, 2024, at Dubai Design District.