Participants explored sustainability, identity, innovation and community through workshops.

Based on the theme Together / معاً, DIDI’s campus transformed into a living platform of collaboration with exhibitions, workshops, talks and discussions throughout the week.

The workshop programme included:

Together in Identity: From Heritage to Form – Translating Culture into Contemporary Design
This UN-certified workshop by CIAAD, led by DIDI Professor and Programme Chair Jasmine Shahin in collaboration with Kohler, invited participants to reimagine kitchen and bathroom product concepts inspired by the cultural richness and identity of the Arabian region. Guided by Kohler’s sustainable design philosophy, participants translated heritage, materiality and place into contemporary design expressions, culminating in mood boards and concept sketches that captured the intersection of culture, sustainability and innovation.
Date: Wednesday, November 5
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Together We Renew: A Hands-On Workshop in T-Shirt Design and Upcycling
This community workshop invited participants to reclaim materials, meanings and modes of expression through creative making. Using painting, collage, fabric manipulation and mixed media, attendees transformed existing DIDI T-shirts into unique, wearable statements of individuality and shared creativity. Led by Olgica Momirovska, the session highlighted sustainability and circular design, encouraging the upcycling of older garments and branded materials to create something renewed, personal and purposeful.
Date: Saturday, November 8
Time: 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Together We Frame: Exploring Collective Perspectives Through Photography
This community photography workshop invited participants to explore observation, storytelling and shared perspective through the lens. Open to visitors, students and families, the session encouraged the capture of moments that reflected connection, creativity and everyday life from diverse viewpoints. The workshop culminated in a collective display of images, celebrating how individual perspectives came together to frame a shared narrative of design and community.
Date: Saturday, November 8
Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM

About Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation:

DIDI is a future-focused university located in Dubai Design District (d3), dedicated to nurturing the next generation of creative leaders. It offers the region’s first multidisciplinary Bachelor of Design, allowing students to combine two disciplines to build future-ready careers— Product Design, Multimedia Design, Fashion Design and Strategic Design Management. Designed in collaboration with MIT and Parsons School of Design, DIDI’s curriculum blends global innovation with creative excellence.