For a design enthusiast as I am, November in Dubai is a bit like a special treat with many design related events aligned.
If you have spent some time at Expo 2020 Dubai, you were probably amazed by several pavilions presenting the best in the latest technology together with other presenting organic and low tech solutions.
Back in town, at the Dubai Design District (d3), the seventh edition of Dubai Design Week will be the main focus of this month. I remember when I launched it in 2015, we aimed to bring the best of design and creativity from the world, the region and the UAE. This year again, one of my favourite spots will be the MENA Grad Show where more than twenty regional universities will showcase the best ideas from their students.
This is so inspiring to put in perspective regional challenges, innovative social ideas and participate to make today and tomorrow’s world a better place in the fields of technology, science and design. I invite you to spend proper time there and exchange with the students. Who knows, you might meet one of the next genius that can save our planet.
Adding to this offer, the online Global Grad Show will gather 400 institutions from 70 countries making once again Dubai the epicentre of the creativity with its usual bold and daring spirit.
In the heart of d3, the Abwab pavilion will revolve around regenerative architecture and the role of design as restorative and reparative tool.
Don’t miss the ‘2040: d3 Architecture Exhibition’ and the second edition of ‘UAE Design Exhibition’ to spot the emerging talents.
And finally, the Beirut Concept Store will present independent and emerging designers with their creations.
But the celebrations will continue with the launch of Dubai’s first proper design gallery. The Emirati company H&H is starting ‘Collectional’, a brand new platform both online and with a physical gallery in its headquarters, the Eden House designed by Khalid Najjar.
Beside regional premieres by Michael Anastassiades, Niko Koronis, Ewe Studio, Christophe Delcourt, Dimoregallery and more, the gallery will unveil its first commission: a limited-edition series of mirrors by Sabine Marcelis, made especially for Dubai and announce the first UAE talent who will be supported for a brand project over the coming year.
From November 24, Dubai Watch Week returns at The Gate DIFC. We are all fascinated by the exquisite design of watches but, to me, the watch industry is one of the last, with maybe haute couture and luxury, that foster, care and support the incomparable skills of the human hand.
When I met with Hind Abdul Hamied Siddiqi, Director General of the event in early October, she expressed her concern to see that this century-old tradition of fine artisans and makers is slowly fading. There is a lack of vocation from the youth to spend hours behind a counter working with magnifying glass to assemble piece by piece the extraordinary mechanism of a watch, or even the decorative elements such as enamelling and engraving.
And, for once, it is not the technology that is a treat, but more the absence of modern and more appealing curriculums to attract the youth. When some schools are focused on watchmaking, they are less on the crafts. For example, most enameling artists were fine arts students prior to exploring the enameling world.
She would hope to see regional talents working on a concept, building up projects to create new watches or contribute to this industry in other ways.
According to the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, the market is healthy with 1.2 billion watches produced in 2019. On one side, low-end watchmakers have considerably suffered from the crisis as many people lost their purchasing power along with their jobs and the willingness to buy watches. But on the other side, high-end watchmakers saw a considerable proportion of demand, only deferred to when buyers could come and purchase the products (call it revenge shopping).
And because there is no celebration without a cake, allow me a personal note to end this monthly column. It now has been one full year since I started this regular encounter with you, esteemed readers of Esquire Middle East, and it has been an honour and a pleasure to celebrate design in all its possible forms. So let’s celebrate design together for another year ahead.