The eighth edition of the creative festival presents its largest edition yet

Sprawling large-scale installations evoking the latest in architectural design and technology, talks discussing the latest trends in the industry, designers showcasing works that emphasize sustainability and care for the planet and workshops that teach various design techniques and thought processes—this is Dubai Design Week and it is now open in Dubai for its eighth edition.

Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of Dubai Council, Dubai Design Week is the region’s largest and most pivotal, creative festival showcasing over 360 entities coming together to provide free-to-attend events and activities at its main location in Dubai Design District (d3) until 13 November 2022.

Cemented in the UAE’s design scene and its local yet cosmopolitan nature, over 120 UAE based- designers and 360 companies are participating in this year’s edition. On the international front, more than 200 international and regional brands and designers are also taking part in the week and in Downtown Design, the region’s preeminent fair taking place simultaneously in a purpose-built structure in d3.

Design lovers, professionals in the industry and creatives, can attend the fair and peruse d3 to behold a variety of exhibitions, installations and activities taking place throughout the area.

Among the highlights are over 20 unique large-scale immersive installations situated across d3, prompting visitors to pause and reflect on the nature of the design, its material and message. All of the installations highlight the theme of this year’s Dubai Design Week which is Design With Impact emphasizing a respect for the environment and community through architecture and design.

Leading regional and international designers have developed exclusive works that have a positive effect on the environment. They have been made with impact driven innovations incorporating new materials, such as the brick pavilion made of shell waste by Fadaa Space, recycling, as seen in HSC Design’s Tree house and upcycling, experienced through Deepak Jangra’s GRIDS. This year’s theme demonstrates different ways of how the industry can design a better future. Other notable works include those by a mix of international and regional names, including Stella McCartney, OBMI and BMW.

What’s more is that over 100 talks and workshops during the six-day festival. The theme of this year’s talks program is centered around the theme Source, Resource, Outsource, focusing on the intricacies of making design and architecture amid today’s rapidly shifting arena where technology and sustainability are playing more defining roles. The talks include panellists, such as Ali Bahmani and Mario Gagliardi who explore the intersection between craft and technology and the growth of slow design and the evolution of textiles with Polimoda President Massimiliano Giornetti and the founders of Bokja.

In addition, the Maker Space also presents dynamic workshops for design enthusiasts of all levels and ages and includes workshops such as Mycelium Experiment, where participants can craft with mushrooms and mycelium, while learning about their value to the planet. Homegrown gift wrapping company Maska celebrates the gift of giving with a workshop that upcycles fabrics to wrap gift for orphans.

Despite is strong international pull of top designers and creatives, Dubai Design Week is based in the local Middle Eastern market with an emphasis on homegrown products.

With this in mind, and for the first time ever, the Design Market by FLTRD will take place across the entire week offering a retail experience full of homegrown offerings that span from homewares to ready to wear and will expand on the weekend to offer the best in local artisanal products and family activities.

This is a week that celebrates creativity, design and architecture throughout the downtown urban landscape of Dubai and in one of the preeminent creative districts of the Middle East region—a true example of Dubai’s ability to merge the local and the international through creative enterprise.