Dubai
Developed in close consultation with the region’s A&ID community, every November The Forum at Downtown Design hosts a series of live talks, panel discussions, keynotes and industry masterclasses.
Fostering pertinent connections in a fast-growing and sought-after market, the programme is staged in an annually reconfigured setting promoting dialogue and open exchange. For the 2026 edition, BONE Studio will design The Forum, bringing its considered approach to materiality and spatial design to the setting, with an emphasis on responsible material choices and sustainability.
Globally sought-after interior architect and designer Tristan Auer joins the line-up at The Forum this year to share his expert view on reimagining icons, balancing heritage with modern living, and the enduring value of craft.
Tristan Auer
In conversation with Sara Hamdan, T. Magazine
AI can generate a vision in seconds, but buildings still take years to deliver. This conversation explores how technology is changing creativity, communication and decision-making in architecture, and what must remain deeply human in designing the future.
Speakers: Yahya Kaddoura (Atkins Realis), Angela Bonus (Valcarce Architects), Farooq Hamza (AECOM)
Moderator: Maya Cochrane (RIBA)
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In high-end design, materials are more than finishes; they signal value. From weighing craftsmanship against mass production to balancing beauty, durability and sustainability, this panel unpacks the material trends shaping tomorrow’s luxury developments.
Speakers: Ralf Steinhauer (RSP), Pooja Shah Mulani (LW Design), Mohammad Adib (Dewan Architects), Ellen Søhoel (XBD Collective)
Moderator: Agata Kurzela (Studio Agata)
What makes a city feel like home? As Dubai grows at speed, how do we design for belonging? Seated on Al Dakkah, the traditional Emirati bench where home meets neighbourhood, this panel explores how thoughtful design at street level shapes the way we live together and asks what has to be true at the scale of an object before anything works at the scale of a city.
Speakers: Omar al Gurg (MODU Method), Saad Boujane (Gensler), Mohammed Orfali (Orfali Bros)
Moderator: Nadia Verjee (EXPO City)
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Before a city is built, it is written. This panel explores how the invisible codes of planning, accessibility, biodiversity and commerce shape the way we experience our cities, from dynamic lighting and native landscapes to drone transport.
Speakers: Carlos Barea Sandoval (Lead Design Architect, IRTH Group), YaLun Li (AUD), Adela Askandar (Studio Bikin Architects), Yann Follain
Moderator: Liso Teo (AIA Committee)
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What does 'Made in Italy' mean to a market that knows exactly what it wants? Italian and regional design experts discuss how Italian manufacturing adapts to Gulf projects, from bespoke residences to hospitality, without losing what makes it distinctive.
Speakers: Valerio Soldani (ITA), Marco Mangili (MMA), Laila Al-Yousuf (SAY Studio), Luca Mazza(HMA Living), Jacqueline Shaddock, (Emaar), Jaime Terrades (H&H)
Moderator: Camille Dubuis-Welsch (Commercial Interior Design)
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What makes Dubai instantly recognisable? From record-breaking skyscrapers, malls and destination hotels to food trends and entrepreneurship at its best, this panel explores how creative firms shaped the city’s blueprint and a design identity now exported worldwide, and what comes next for the city of the future.
Speakers: Emily Mottolese (AIA), Sameer Grover (Emaar), Todd Pilgreen (AIA) ,Christian Vasquez (NEB)
Moderator: Li Ren, AIA
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Who will lead the future of the built environment? This panel explores how women are shaping leadership, practice and design culture in the region, and whether the industry needs not just greater representation, but new ways of leading.
Speakers: Voultsaki, Loukia (AECOM), Maryam Al-Irhayim (AECOM), Maya Cochrane (RIBA Gulf Chapter Chair)
Moderator: Matthew Utley (NOWMA Studio)
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