The late Karl Lagerfeld once said that in fashion “one is never overdressed or underdressed in a little black dress.” The same can be said when it comes to design.
Your taste in design (of all types) defines your style and your personality. It is your signature. But today, too often the tendency is for people to show their ‘signature’ by accumulating as many signs of wealth as they can and for them to be as heavily branded as possible. It is important to consider investing in your interior for several reasons.
Personally, I still hold tight to the principle that less is more. In fashion or product design, creating something genuine and original is the ultimate reflection of who you are, helping you stand out in a crowd. I spend time looking at catalogues of design auctions on the off chance I can purchase the iconic piece that will crown my interior. It’s a piece that will likely be more expansive than the rest of my furniture, but it is bought as personal treat—something that every time I see it, will give me intrinsic pleasure in a way that, say, a mass-produced cheap item won’t.
“Today the internet is your best friend – if you’re seeking original design creations you will more than likely find your luck on the web.”
Unfortunately, in most cases, if you buy cheap, you get cheap. Today the internet is your best friend. If you’re seeking original design creations from the Emirates or supporting Palestinian, Lebanese, Jordanian, Egyptian or Saudi designers, you will more than likely find your luck on the web.
By purchasing original design from local manufacturers or designers, you are not only buying into more exclusive—sometimes original—pieces, but you are also directly supporting an eco-system that includes jobs, the circular economy and potentially a political statement too. You can commission designers to produce fresh and specific pieces for you, making you the proud owner of something unique.
Intrinsically, I’ve found it important to try create and compose my interior space with original creations. Not only could it help (or even create) jobs, but it could support local talent and impress your guests with something different, something unique, just like you.
Cyril Zammit is design consultant and design expert based in Dubai. Follow him @cyrilzam; cyrilzammit.com
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