Downtown Design brings together the best contract brands under one roof giving design professionals the opportunity to meet and source original design from around the world.

Last year proved to be a successful year for the contract furnishings market with the sector being one of the most important sales channels bringing in new business with the increasing number of projects that have turn-key interior design being catered to. What sets the contract sector apart from the rest of the furnishings market is its endless flexibility, all-round service offering and high quality. The contract market is also comprehensive because of its relevance to all sectors of design including furnishings, soft furnishings, bedrooms, kitchens, lighting, bathrooms and floorings.

With Expo 2020 in the horizon and over 400 hotels being planned in Dubai, Downtown Design brings together the best contract brands under one roof giving design professionals the opportunity to meet and source original design from all around the world. The growing need in the market for bespoke design on a large-scale ranging from hospitality to corporate and commercial has increased significantly in the past few years and poses less risk in the face of financial crisis due to long-term agreements. As demonstrated in 2008, contract also suffered from the negative consequences of the economic recession however the industry proved to have a greater flexibility during the credit crunch and economic challenge due to the nature of its agreements.

Post the economic crisis, it has been estimated that 27% of contract furniture was procured by the hospitality industry including hotels, restaurants and bars. At the same time the retail industry contributed to a further 20% with a number of mergers taking place in recent years between retail outlets and commercial brands; leading to an increase in the need to restyle their work.

An increasing need for bespoke design in workspaces and offices has led to the commercial furniture sector now accounting for 17% of the market.

Recognizing the evolving needs of the market, Downtown Design is proud to represent some of the world’s leading brands in the contract industry:

Herman Miller

Founded in 1923, the brand Herman Miller became synonymous with ‘modern’ furniture by the middle of the 20^th century. Working with legendary designers George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames, the company produced pieces that would become classics of industrial design.

Herman Miller today is a recognized innovator in contemporary interior furnishings, solutions for healthcare environments, and related technologies and services.

Serralunga

Research, technology and productive tradition make the fundamentals of the brand Serralunga that, through original and valuable collections, celebrates design Made in Italy: a reference point and trend setter in the field.

Serralunga takes these fundamentals and produces a combination of shapes and unique interpretations, transforming a purely functional object into a stunning piece of furniture for the Urban Outdoors. With its passion for innovation, Serralunga is renowned for pushing the boundaries of materials, technologies and aesthetics in order to create groundbreaking products that both inspire and delight.

Lema

At the heart of Lema’s discreet vision lies the love for detail and quality. Achieving Italian excellences of execution and materials is a philosophy that Lema has been pursuing since its foundation combining craftsmanship to state of the art industrial technologies. Applying their manufacturing heritage to a innovative technology has led to a custom-made product with the advantages of modern mass production while retaining typical hand-made care.

First in Italy to propose custom-made modular systems for day and night areas in over 40 years, Lema constantly evolved building a complete furniture range that, in addition to systems representing the brand’s core business, is currently consisting of chairs, sofas, tables, storage, beds and accessories.

Bolon

On a mission to be a design-led innovator, Bolon fuses conservative, traditional flooring with the creativity of the world of fashion. The brand was founded over 60 years ago in Stockholm, Sweden with the product of rag rugs made from textile waste.

With every new collection, their passion and commitment to break down the traditional barriers in the flooring industry remains unwavering. For Bolon, floors are much more than something to walk on. They are a palette of unlimited possibilities, a gorgeous blend of rock n’ roll, design, fashion and architecture.

USM

Modular furniture in timeless design. That is the principle behind USM since its inception about half a century ago. Furniture for the home and office environments which is created from just a few basic elements. A tailor-made solution that can be expanded or reconfigured at any time. Each piece of furniture allows room for individual versatility and creativity.

Swissness/Quality, modularity and sustainability are at the core of USM’s values and are implemented across all their product range. Offering expert, personalized planning services on how to configure the furniture to adapt to current and future needs, USM makes a sustainable and cost-efficient feature for homes and offices around the world.

Click here to see our full exhibitor list from 2015.