Back with an in-person iteration, the region’s leading fair for high-end and quality design has opened its doors to its 8th edition, showcasing more than 150 international and regional exhibiting brands and designers, alongside extensive collateral activations and a stellar talks programme.
Running from 8 – 12 November, the fair is a key event of Dubai Design Week, the region’s most important creative festival, with brands from over 20 countries as well as major national representations from European countries including Austria, France, Hungary, Italy and Spain. Downtown Editions, the fair’s boutique section dedicated to limited-edition and bespoke design, once again uncovers the latest in design by individual designers, studios and creative collaborations, with a spotlight on the region, including presentations by homegrown brands such as The Line Concept, DesignKraft, Klekktic and Custom no9 alongside the Beirut Concept Store and the UAE Designer Exhibition 2.0
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, patron of Downtown Design, toured the fair on the opening day, and commented, “Not only has the design fair become a key element in the region’s cultural and creative industries agenda, but its rich programme also showcases and engages both the industry and the wider public in a fun, thought-provoking, and accessible way.”
Downtown Design presents the latest global interior design trends, ideas and inspirations with highlights including furniture from Ethimo, Minotti and Vitra; handmade luxury rugs from Illulian, Verdi, FBMI and Hands Carpets and textiles from Kvadrat in collaboration with regional designers; major brands from the kitchen and bathrooms sectors including Grohe, Villeroy & Boch, Giorgietti and RAK Ceramics, as well as globally renowned lighting brands such as Lasvit.
Feature areas by UAE-based studios include this year’s entrance, designed by award-winning Dubai-based studio NIU, which showcases an oversized mosaic clad caricature by artist Antonello Blandi, decorated by Fantini Mosaici. The restaurant concept is by Broadway interiors whilst The Lighthouse Café has been designed by Lulie Fisher Design Studio.
The Forum at Downtown Design will host a series of compelling live interviews and discussions between leading regional and international architects, interior and product designers on each afternoon of the fair, featuring names such as Sebastian Herkner, Micael Calatrava, Isabel Pintado and Pallavi Dean, staged in a dynamic amphitheater specially designed by ema to promote interaction and engagement.
Entry to the fair is free by registering as trade at downtowndesign.com or through the Dubai Design Week app. Trade and public days are from 9 to 12 November.
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