The platform for emerging designers to launch their journey in furniture innovation and entrepreneurship will this year be led by Thomas Trad, and the results of the 5th edition of the programme will be showcased to visitors at Downtown Design, 5-9 November in d3.

Rooted in cultural relevance, functionality and commercial viability, the Athath Fellowship is a platform for emerging designers to launch their journey in furniture innovation and entrepreneurship.

The fellowship combines two interconnected modules — furniture design and prototyping, and commercial strategy — delivered through three progressive phases. From ideation and concept development to hands-on prototyping and final fabrication, the program is designed to support the creation of full-scale, commercially viable furniture pieces.

Led by UAE-based designer Thomas Trad, this year, the design module focuses on fabrication techniques, material exploration and detailing. The commercial track will guide participants through value proposition building, pricing strategies and market positioning. Complementary seminars by design professionals, academics and legal experts will round out the experience.

Inviting aspiring furniture entrepreneurs to explore new possibilities in furniture design, applications are now open for the 5th edition of the programme and selected candidates will be interviewed in June, ahead of the 15-week program that merges design thinking with practical strategy.

In partnership with the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and with the support of the Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, MAKE has announced the launch of the fifth edition of the Athath Fellowship. 

The cohort will culminate with a presentation of finished prototypes at Downtown Design in November 2025 — offering participants the chance to showcase their work to industry leaders, private clients and the wider design community.