Design Week Addis Ababa debuts in the Middle East with a curation of contemporary and evocative pieces

With an aim to promote Addis Ababa as a global design capital, the Design Week Addis Ababa was established in 2015 in an effort to provide an international platform for both emerging and established designers, technologists, innovators, artists and artisans. The multi-disciplinary event that’s is endorsed by UNESCO also advocates for development by design initiatives - projects that incorporate a design-centered approach to Ethiopia’s development challenges.

Today; the most anticipated design event in East Africa, Design Week Addis Ababa features industries including architecture, interiors, industrial design, technology, urban planning, food and gastronomy, graphic design and art.

Design Week Addis Ababa has become the ultimate indicator of Ethiopia’s cultural and creative pulse.

Presented at Destinations 2016, creative furniture design startup; Actuel Urban Living passionately design and create eminent design pieces that are emotion inspiring, functional and beautiful. With a vision to become a renowned brand for contemporary home design and furniture in African and beyond Actuel offers a range of office and home furniture as well as home furnishing products. Their first home collection designed and Made in Ethiopia by skilled artisans is inspired by elements of Danish modern design and the spirit of traditional Ethiopian design. 

Furniture designer Jomo Tariku has been designing and innovating centuries old African utilitarian design into his contemporary furniture lines for the last 20 years. Finding inspiration in African hand carvings, centuries-old buildings, body art, pottery and baskets, hair design patterns and tradition woven textiles Jomo has designed a series of renowned contemporary African furniture lines. At Downtown Design, Jomo presents The Berchuma collection- a line of stools that bring out the unique styles of contemporary African design as functional art pieces.  Jomo Furniture has been displayed at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry's "Design For Life" exhibit, and was recently featured in the 2015 book Contemporary Design Africa.

To read more information about Design Week Addis Ababa, click here.

To register to visit Downtown Design, click here.