Registration opens for Sustainable Design Summit, returning to London on 28 November. Now in its second year, the summit will spark sustainability conversations across cruise, hotel, and aviation design industries in a new location, Museum of London Docklands. Designers and specifying experts from across these three sectors will be united by the common goal of making hospitality interiors more sustainable in a series of talks and roundtable discussions that will encourage cross-sector insights and learning.
SBID Members receive 20% discount on event passes!*
Email [email protected] to claim or click here to discover the benefits of SBID membership.
Sustainability is today's most urgent topic for interior designers. In 2021, the World Travel and Tourism Council established an ambitious roadmap to reach net zero by 2050. This set out guidelines suggesting sustainable design practices for hotels, airlines, and cruise lines. These three sectors are already making progress, with prominent changes including key industry players setting sustainability targets and initiatives, adoption of circular product lifecycle schemes, and the cruise interiors community collaborating to establish a Sustainable Maritime Interiors initiative.
The inaugural Sustainable Design Summit (SDS) built strong foundations for the event, with many meaningful conversations and insights taking place across the day’s plenaries and roundtable discussions. These offered a variation from the standard conference format, providing an increased focus on collaboration and in fostering new connections between delegates.
“Fantastic venue, great mix of people and some really interesting speakers. A really timely and important event,” Ben Orson, FlyZero Cabin Lead at Orson Associates comments. “It was both enjoyable and highly useful for making new contacts and picking up new ideas and insights. I certainly hope to make it a regular item in the diary.”
Now in its second year, SDS attendees will be turning their attention from conversation to action. This will be catered to in a curated agenda featuring interactive breakout sessions. Here, representatives of these three industries will converge to hold deep cross-sector conversations ranging from product lifespan planning to creating a more collaborative supply chain across all stakeholders. Sustainable Design Summit will also host a Product Showcase featuring the most environmentally responsible products within the cruise, hotel, and aviation design sectors.
Expert-led conference sessions will navigate a variety of topics including understanding, analysing, and using emissions numbers to drive improvement. Delegates will also gain insight into how they can avoid greenwashing in marketing and understand the regulations and legislation sustainable products must comply with. Speakers already confirmed include Zuzana Hrnkova, Vice President & Head of Marketing, ATR, André Pettersen, President of Hotel Operations, Hurtigruten Norway, Sam Hall, Director, Interior Design - Europe - IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Siu Lie Tan, Founder, Circular Symbiosis.
Register for your Sustainable Design Summit Early Bird pass today!
About Sustainable Design Summit
Sustainable Design Summit is here to make sustainable choices easier, challenge existing practices and together create practical solutions. The Summit is organised by Elite Exhibitions, organisers of Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas and Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe.
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Hotel & Resort Design South, the premier event for hotel and resort design professionals working within the Southern States and LATAM, is excited to announce its Conference Program, supported by NEWH.
This year's program features a dynamic line-up of speakers and panel discussions covering topics ranging from travel horizons and design trends to shaping hospitality through regional influences. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to gain insights from, and network with some of the industry's most innovative leaders, while also earning continuing education credits.
The conference will kick off with a keynote featuring; Francisco Jove, Principal Owner – Modus Operandi, Kavitha Iyer, Head of Design, Americas – IHG Hotels & Resorts; Emilio Perez, Senior Continent Leader Global Design – CALA, Marriott International.
Following this, marine and land-based design collide in the joint session ‘A tale of design – creating an emotional connection’, panelists include Christopher Stubbs, AVP Sailor (Customer) and Crew (Employee) Experience – Virgin Voyages, Trisha Poole, President – Design Poole Inc. and Kristin Cullen, Interior Design Director – Dash Design.
Other highlights of the program include ‘Shaping hospitality design through regional influences’ and ‘What's new in fast design, guest loyalty and micro experiences?’.
"The Hotel & Resort Design South Conference is a must-attend event for anyone involved in the design and development of hotels and resorts in the Southern States and LATAM," said show organizer, Toby Walters. "The program reflects current topics and trends emerging from this vibrant region, and we are excited to bring together such a talented group of speakers and attendees for the very first time."
Visitors will also have access to the schedule of content at the co-located CSI Design Expo Americas providing even more opportunities to leave the show inspired.
Secure your complimentary conference and networking pass here to join the hotel & resort design community in Miami on 6 – 7 June.
About Hotel & Resort Design South
Hotel & Resort Design South is exclusively dedicated to connecting the suppliers of the global hospitality design community with the South and LATAM purchasers and decision-makers.
Over 18 cruise ship interiors design experts representing cruise lines and design firms will be sharing their expertise at Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas (CSI), taking place 6 – 7 June at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Running on the second day of the cruise interiors trade show, the IDCEC certified CSI Conference & Workshop Program, partnered with NEWH, offers extensive insight into the current and future talking points of the industry.
The program offers an expansive range of topics covering storytelling in design, visual brand identity, and understanding the next generation of cruisegoers whilst providing a unique opportunity to hear insights from industry leaders within this niche market.
Among the esteemed speakers are Sascha Lang, Vice President, Architectural & Design – Newbuild & Innovation – Royal Caribbean Cruises; Jennie Drummond, Head of Art – SMC Design; Willie Trager, Design Manager – Interior Asset Management at Holland America Group; Christopher Stubbs, AVP Sailor (Customer) and Crew (Employee) Experience – Virgin Voyages.
This year, the CSI conference will be debuting a new format. The overhauled program will feature a combination of keynotes and workshop sessions taking place on the second day of the event – which will be themed on learning and development – instead of being spread across two days as in previous iterations. This offers a more interactive program which allows for a full day of uninterrupted knowledge sharing.
The CSI Conference & Workshop Program is now accredited by the International Design Continuing Education Council Inc (IDCEC). Each CEU-accredited session is tailored to suit all players across the cruise interiors supply chain.
This year’s sessions include Marine Design 101 where industry newcomers can submit their questions to a panel of CSI Advisory Board members. This provides a unique opportunity to break into a lucrative industry, guided by experts, while returning keynote, Leaders Debate – State of the Industry, provides an exploration into the biggest trends and opportunities facing the industry from sustainable sourcing to taking corporate responsibility, led by design experts from leading cruise lines and design firms.
Design focused sessions that will inspire and help designers to upskill and take their projects to the next level include Spaces: Supporting guest Experience Using Visuals, Branding & Artwork and A Tale of Design. Here, the panel will share how to create emotional connections with guests through design storytelling, featuring Trisha Poole, President at Design Poole Inc, past International President at NEWH, an award-winning design visionary who crafts projects that tell stories through thoughtful, interpretive design.
Register today for your free two-day pass.
About Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas
Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas is the world’s only exhibition and conference exclusively dedicated to connecting the buyers and suppliers of the cruise design industry!
Welltek is thrilled to announce their participation in Clerkenwell Design Week, happening from May 23rd to 25th. Each morning in our Clerkenwell showroom, we will be starting the day with a Nordic breakfast hosted by our partner, Martela. You will have the opportunity to meet our team, the designers and discover what we have in store for the event.
On Wednesday 24th, from 4pm onwards we’ll be opening up the showroom for drinks and discussions with another of our partners, Loook who will be sharing their unique perspective on the storytelling of design. Discover how Loook continues to push the boundaries of innovation with their latest developments. Come for a spin in the Vroom lounge chair, and check out the versatile Nugget chair, and the elegantly understated A Normal Sofa. Kevin and Ivar, the Loook designers are always willing to listen to their customers’ feedback on their products. One example of this is the latest adaptation to the Neuron Activation Pod (N.A.P) which will be
shown for the first time in the UK during CDW. N.A.P 3.0 can now be easily delivered to locations where access is tricky thanks to its modular design.
Thursday will also feature Martela, who will be sharing how they have aligned their company strategy with a strong focus on sustainability. Last year, EcoVadis awarded Martela a Gold rating in sustainability for the second time. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from industry leaders on how to advance your business while promoting sustainability and social responsibility. We will be launching Martela’s Ella
chair to a UK audience during Clerkenwell Design week. Designed with a focus on circular design and sustainability, and to minimise its environmental impact, Ella features 100% recycled raw material for the seat and backrest to. We are delighted that Ella has been chosen to be part of the Sustainability Trail in partnership with OnOffice Magazine at Clerkenwell Design Week this year.
To celebrate the end of a week filled with creativity, we would like to bring together architects, interior designers, and industry specialists for an exclusive talk by a leading expert in the field of AI research and consultation. We believe that AI has the potential to revolutionise the design industry. We will cover a variety of ways in which you can harness the power of AI to unlock new opportunities and drive growth; enhancing human creativity, rather than replacing it.
Taiga has taken the UK design world by storm since we launched them at the Workspace Design Show earlier this year. With their unique soundproof pod designs that evoke a strong connection to nature, Taiga has pushed boundaries and captured the attention of design enthusiasts across the country. Immerse yourself in true Nordic calm inside a Taiga and meet the designer, Pekka Eskelinen to find out what makes Taiga Concept’s philosophy so unique.
Finally, we are delighted to announce our exciting new partnerships with Bulo and Inno. Bulo, a renowned Belgian brand, is committed to producing premium office furniture solutions with a focus on sustainability and a circular economy. Meanwhile, Inno is a leading Finnish furniture company that specialises in innovative designs for public spaces, hotels, and offices, using eco-friendly materials and minimising environmental impact.
For more information on Welltek’s participate in Clerkenwell Design Week click here and register.
About Welltek Ltd
The Founders of Welltek feel strongly based on their own experiences that it’s not enough to design interiors that look amazing. Obviously, everyone wants to live and work in an environment that looks great but whether a space is healthy is often overlooked. Welltek believes that the built environment should do us good, not harm. So we provide solutions that enhance air quality and natural light, as well as award winning, *multi-functional* furniture designed to reduce noise pollution and everyday stress – the elements which we believe most affect human health from the moment you step into the building.
Refocus, regroup, indulge your senses, reconnect with your inner self, with others and with the environment. January 2023 will be all about taking care of each other, of our expertise and of our planet. From 19th to 23rd January, Maison&Objet Paris is set to shine a light on these highly meaningful forward focused values. The theme is set to sweep across the entire trade fair, even rippling out to the talks and the trend zones.
Where: Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center
When: 19-23 January
Email [email protected] to claim yours! Non-members can click here to register now.
The major social, economic and political upheaval we are all currently experiencing is inciting everyone to stand up for their convictions. It is also encouraging brands to be more transparent, inclusive and responsible when reaching out to consumers, who are themselves more invested than ever in the way in which they engage with brands. Now is a time for straight talking, taking action and being open minded, even if that means beating a drum in order to drive forward change. The design on show at Maison&Objet will look to challenge the modern day aesthetics of what is Beautiful and provide a springboard for what is Good.
Taking care is something that has become a veritable necessity at a time when we are all actively seeking meaning and tranquillity. The January edition of Maison&Objet Paris is set to breathe life into something that is now deemed an absolute must.
"When deciding on our themes, taking a close look at modern day society always serves as our starting point. Today, the second we step outside, we are hit with cultural, environmental and identity issues. Society is craving new models, and that is something that brands can deliver, providing solutions that target the environment, safeguard expertise, or encourage us all to care for others or focus on our own wellbeing. What we are interested in is the rising voices that are picking up that gauntlet. The under 25s that make up Generation Z are impatiently waiting for something
to be done. Today, a new set of ethics are dictating the type of consumer activity we are seeing." - analyses Vincent Grégoire, Creative Director at the NellyRodi design consultancy.
Above and beyond the increasingly responsible approach being adopted by the trade fair itself (recycling 50% of waste, using more and more LEDs, storing and reusing signage, donating unsold food to the Red Cross, sourcing water locally and turning down the heating), an ever increasing number of exhibitors at Maison&Objet Paris are themselves keen to defend these pivotal values with a view to shaping a desirable and inclusive future.
There is Noma, for example, the French design house that works solely with recycled materials. Or la Ciergerie des Prémontrés which perpetuates the traditional expertise inherited from the Pères blancs monks at l’Abbaye des Prémontrés. Other good examples would be Care by me, the Danish brand that designs soft and warm clothing ranges and accessories, or Laines Paysannes whose rugs are crafted solely from locally sourced materials. These are all just a tiny handful of so many stands that bring joy to our hearts and meaning to our interiors.
Taking care of yourself
Brands and designers are now looking beyond simple aesthetics to come up with increasingly meaningful creations that invite us to take care not only of our bodies, as is the case with Waterrower’s wood and metal sports equipment, but also of our mental health. "There is a huge trend for solutions dedicated to wellness and physical health, which suffered so much during the pandemic," explains Vincent Grégoire.
The January trade fair will encourage visitors to take their time and clear their heads in spaces such as the 'What’s New?' trend zone, curated by Elisabeth Leriche and appropriately named "In the air" as an invitation to openly embrace lightheartedness and relaxation. Trend spotter François Delclaux will encourage us to get onboard with "Slow Hospitality" by whisking us off on a journey that inspires us to take the foot off the accelerator. The soon to be announced "Designer of the Year" meanwhile, will put together a peaceful and atmospheric space to help us disconnect from the stresses of daily life.
Taking care of nature
"Whilst some visitors come to the trade fair to hunt for exciting new finds, others browse the aisles looking for benchmarks, meaning and ways of tackling social issues, notably ecology," Grégoire explains. For a number of years, the trade fair has been awash with up and coming socially minded brands, who are proactively embodying a "brand new ethic that is finding a foothold amongst consumers, echoing the slow living trend", the trend hunter continues. These include La Fabrique à Sachets, which inspires us to give nature a helping hand by sowing our own seeds, or Dopper which is highly committed to fighting the good fight against single use plastic bottles with its own attractive, ingenious and sturdy vessels. Knife maker Jean Dubosc meanwhile, designs pieces whose handles are made from waste plastic that has been collected and recycled in France.
For the past few years, the brands that boast the most exemplary CSR initiatives have, indeed, been singled out by an independent jury of experts to feature on the trade fair’s "Sustainable" itinerary.
It is also worth noting that as of December, Maison&Objet’s digital platform, MOM, is set to showcase products that can help us save energy, a testament to just how red hot - or perhaps that should be green hot - the topic is this season.
François Bernard’s zone 'What's New?' that helps visitors home in on new trends will shine a light on the relationship between raw materials and nature in an installation titled "Grounded", illustrating a new kind of luxury that sees gold and glitter make way for simplicity.
Taking care of and showing an interest in others
"A huge number of brands are now committed to reforging links between generations, social classes and cultures, and as such are looking beyond simple aesthetics," Grégoire explains.
Maison&Objet tracks down and celebrates hot new talent every single year, and the January edition will place seven Spanish "Rising Talents" firmly in the spotlight, all hand picked from the country’s vast pool of up and coming talent by some of its more well established design names. These talents all represent a socially minded generation, with their creations echoing the widespread desire to care for the world around us. Those self-same values are shared by the three design talents that have been invited to be part of the new "Future on Stage" program, which allows recently launched brands to showcase their convictions.
Also, in a carte blanche given to Ukrainian designers entitled "The art of resilience", Maison&Objet wants to show that Ukrainian design, like all of us, no matter where the war has dispersed us, survives and even grows. Designers are still creating, launching new collections and producing. A tribute to the courage and spirit of freedom of this generation that is helping to write the history of design.
Taking care of our heritage and expertise
"The world boasts an abundance of expertise that we all turned our backs on for a good many years. Today, however, brands are increasingly placing the accent on all things local. Reine Mère works with wood from the Jura region. Cristel’s saucepans are 100% Made in France. Then there are designers such as Samuel Accocebery who collaborates with craftsmen in the Basque country, or Youssouf Fofana from Maison Château Rouge, whose creations celebrate this French capital’s district. They all reflect a mindset that is underpinned by a sense of commitment and the desire to root design in a specific region, drawing on local expertise and culture", explains Vincent Grégoire.
Young brands and centuries old firms present at the trade fair are all keen to ensure this valuable heritage gets passed down to future generations. In France, brands such as Drugeot, Delavelle and Sollen are giving French cabinetry a resolutely twenty first century spin with collections that flaunt overtly contemporary silhouettes AS’ART, meanwhile, selects pieces from South Africa, encouraging and promoting traditional expertise with a view to contributing to the socio-economic development of artisan communities.
Build bridges between the world’s different cultures, facilitate new ways of creating and enjoying interiors and design, perpetuate exceptional artisan trades and propel them into the future, shine a light on new and meaningful initiatives that drive forward innovation that is precisely what the January edition of the Maison&Objet Paris trade fair promises to do from 19th to 23rd January 2023.
About Maison&Objet
For 25 years, Maison&Objet, organised by SAFI, has been engaging with and bringing together the international design, home decor and lifestyle communities. Maison&Objet’s trademark? Its unique ability to generate connections and accelerate business, both during trade fairs and via its digital platform, but also through its unique talent for highlighting trends that will excite and inspire the home decor world. Maison&Objet’s mission is to reveal talent, spark connections and provide inspiration, both on- and off-line, thereby helping businesses grow.
If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more.
Cruise Ship Interiors Expo Europe (CSIE) has released the itinerary for the cruise ship interiors industry’s best opportunity for in-person learning, Cruise Conversations Live. Cruise lines, interior designers and outfitters can learn from their peers at topical conference sessions, while intimate workshops explore the challenges specific to cruise ship interior design with pinpoint precision. From blue sky thinking for leaders and buyers to practical takeaways for suppliers, every participant in the cruise ship interiors supply chain can learn from this free conference programme.
Cruise brands leading the conference and workshop programme include Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean Group, Damen Shipyard, Meyer Turku, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and MSC Cruises.
Shipyards are the heart of the European cruise ship interiors industry and CSIE will be welcoming Vesa Uuttu, Director, Head of Architectural Design & Outfitting Turku site, Newbuild and Innovation, Royal Caribbean Group to moderate the keynote conference, The Modern Shipyard. Project managers and owners alike know that a strong relationship with their shipyard is one of their biggest assets. In this session, essential for project managers and owners alike, Bas Loohuis, Commercial Director Maintenance & Upgrade Services Cruise, Damen Shipyard and Petteri Heimo, Head of Hotel Outfitting, Meyer Turku will share their perspective, exploring: how shipyards can add value to newbuild and refurbishment projects, top tips for ensuring both quality and efficiency and how to combine reference ship requirements with innovation.
Anyone hoping to launch their business into the cruise ship interiors industry must attend the workshop Marine Design 101: How to Break into the Marine Market. Led by Beatrice Siri, AVP Architectural Outfitting Europe, Royal Caribbean Cruises, this intimate session decodes the language of marine design and will guide attendees through the seemingly labyrinthine specification process. Practical takeaways will include the top ten questions to ask cruise lines when pitching your product, the different routes to market and, crucially, how to become an authorised supplier.
Designers with an eye for the future will be found at the day one keynote The Futurist: Cruise Design in 2030 and the day two conference session Young Designers: Designing for Gen Z and Beyond. From those who track trends to those who are currently shaping the trends, the CSIE conference presents two insights into trapping lightning in a bottle and getting it right before its even happened.
Cruise Conversations Live takes place over the two days of Cruise Ship Interiors, 30 November – 1 December. It’s completely free to visit and one of only two opportunities in the year to attend a live conference and workshop programme dedicated to exploring the cruise ship interiors industry.
Register to receive your free pass here.
If you’d like to feature your project news here, get in touch to find out more.
Opening in the heart of Clerkenwell’s design quarter during Design Week 2022, RAK Ceramics is launching their inaugural Design Hub – a go-to destination for designers, architects and developers looking to explore the possibilities of choosing RAK Ceramics products for their projects.
The Design hub will feature the first UK display of a brand-new collaboration with renowned fashion designer Elie Saab which will feature a range of edits from the Elie Saab Maison collection.
To mark the opening several renowned European designers will provide their Design Insight in a series of inspirational talks and seminars during Clerkenwell Design Week.
These include Giuseppe Scutella, who collaborated with RAK Ceramics on its luxurious RAK-Cloud and RAK-Petit collections and Federico Sandri, one half of the design duo behind the beautiful RAK-Variant collection. Guests at the Design Hub opening events can also hear from Patrick Norguet, on the thinking behind the RAK-Valet sanitaryware range.
Tours of the Design Hub will take place during the launch party on Tuesday 24 May, with guests invited to enjoy a cocktail and evening entertainment to mark the opening ceremony.
For a full list of events and to book visit the Clerkenwell Design Week website.
About RAK Ceramics
RAK Ceramics is one of the largest ceramics’ brands in the world. Specialising in ceramic and grès porcelain wall and floor tiles, tableware, sanitaryware and faucets, the company has the capacity to produce 123 million square metres of tiles, 5 million pieces of sanitaryware, 24 million pieces of porcelain tableware and 1 million pieces of faucets per year at its 22 state-of-the-art plants across the United Arab Emirates, India and Bangladesh. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, RAK Ceramics serves clients in more than 150 countries through its network of operational hubs in Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia, North and South America and Australia.
After a year of virtual events, Surface Design Show is getting ready to host the design industry again enabling people to meet, be updated on the latest surface materials and designs, be enthused by its unique content and educated by a range of talented speakers who have come to tell their inspiring design stories.
When: 8-10 February, 2022
Where: Business Design Centre, London
With over 160 exhibitors signed up to participate, including over 35 New Talents, the UK’s leading event for architects and designers to explore the best in surface material innovation is getting ready to make up for lost time and is back with some much-loved areas as well as some new ones for visitors to discover.
Many of the exhibitors will bring to the show an abundance of new product launches, inspired by the theme ‘Sense of Place,’ with the goal of putting humanity and the planet's wellbeing at the heart of all decision making.
In the realm of new product launches, Armourcoat, a decorative surface finishes specialist, has just announced the launch of its new natural clay lime plaster ‘Clime,’ adding to their ever-growing sustainable product range.
Surface Matter will also be displaying its sweet materials pop-up shop stand. The stand is inspired by Surface Matter’s material studio in London Fields which is described by architects and designers as a ‘sweet shop for materials.’ Visitors to the stand will find anything from LED lights sprinkled like 100s and 1000s, to chocolate bars made of compressed paper composite Richlite and circular Plasticiet lollipops.
There will be a comprehensive talks programme with over 50 speakers from diverse design backgrounds. New for this year are the ‘Legends Live’ sessions, taking place on the Main Stage and involving industry leaders interviewing someone in or connected to the industry who is their ‘Legend’.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy the Stone Gallery, which in partnership with Stone Federation GB, brings to Surface Design Show an exclusive preview of natural stone. The Stone Tapestry, curated by Squire & Partners, is a bespoke installation piece exploring innovative textures, light, colour and pattern to create a tapestry of inspiring materials from around the world.
Italy’s Confindustria Marmomacchine will, for the first time, be bringing a pavilion of 10 natural stone companies to exhibit in Stone Gallery.
One of the highly anticipated and unique parts of the show is the New Talent section. Supporting new talent is a key focus for Surface Design Show. This year over 35 participants, will display a range of sophisticated and innovative designs, from textile designs featuring augmented reality to 3D tiles of eco resin and waste materials. Many of the participants this year also show a recurring focus of using natural materials and dyes.
New Talent is curated by Trendease International and held in Partnership with Canon UK.
Each year visitors also look forward to Surface Spotlight Live, a focal point of inspiration for designers to touch and compare the very latest material prototypes. Sustainability is the key for SSL as developers look to bring to market an extraordinary range of materials.
Surface Spotlight Live will highlight the Show’s ‘Sense of Place’ theme and will be curated again by trend and colour expert Sally Angharad and held in Partnership with CD (UK).
About Surface Design Show Surface Design Show is the UK’s leading event for architects and designers to explore the best in surface material innovation. It is the place where people immerse themselves in the latest materials for the built environment, gain new insights and network with like-minded designers and specifiers. Revealing the latest innovations in surface design, over 175 UK and international suppliers will showcase their materials at the Show.
If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here to find out more.
Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and member of Dubai Council, registrations are now open for Downtown Design, the region’s leading fair for high-end and quality design. The fair returns this November and will take place in its purpose-built venue on the waterfront terrace in Dubai Design District (d3).
David Ross, Director, Downtown Design, comments: “With the return to a live, in-person edition of the fair this November, coinciding with demand for interior design and architecture services at levels not seen across the region for many years, Downtown Design will provide a perfectly timed, exciting and purposeful platform to reconnect the industry and celebrate original and high-quality design.”
Downtown Design Dubai
When: 8-12 November 2021
Where: Dubai Design District (d3) waterfront, United Arab Emirates
SBID Members can access exclsuive brand activations & tours with the Trade Connect Programme. Email [email protected] to find out more.
Over the past decade, Dubai has established itself as the design capital of the region, with Downtown Design as a key meeting point bringing together the region’s interior designers and architects who this year are enjoying a post-pandemic boom, fuelled by some of Dubai’s highest property sales in 12 years.
The fair will showcase more than 150 international and regional exhibiting brands and designers, complemented by extensive collateral activities that include an interactive talks programme featuring global industry experts, conceptual exhibitions by leading designers and interactive installations.
A key feature of Dubai Design Week, the fair will host 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, will once again uncover the latest in design by individual designers, studios and creative collaborations, with a spotlight on the region.
Downtown Design will showcase the latest global interior design trends, ideas and inspirations featuring over 150 leading international and regional brands, with highlights including furniture from LEMA, Minotti, Giorgetti and Vitra; textiles from Illulian, Kvadrat and Verdi; major kitchen and bathrooms brands including Grohe, Villeroy & Boch, Laboratorio Mattoni and RAK Ceramics as well as lighting brands including Lasvit from the Czech Republic, Baranska Design from Poland and Shakúff from the USA.
The Italian national presentation, 'Luxury Interiors – The Art of Italian Design' from ICE, will be the largest in the fair’s history, featuring over 40 Italian companies showcasing their latest work whilst the French presentation by Business France will bring fine examples of the 'Art de Vivre' – with over 15 companies that combine traditional savoir-faire with avant-garde innovation. Spain’s design sector will present a united installation from ICEX with eight leading brands curated by Dubai-based Spanish architect Juan Roldán; WKO, Austria Economic Chamber will showcase seven leading homegrown furniture, lighting and accessories manufacturers and the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency will present the work of emerging national designers under their ‘Budapest Select’ umbrella brand.
Downtown Editions will present a boutique showcase of limited-edition and bespoke pieces from designers and brands including Aline Hazarian, The Line Concept, Nakkash Gallery and Zieta Studio alongside emerging regional creative talents. These individual exhibits will be complemented by a range of showcases uncovering the latest in design from the region, including The Beirut Concept Store, which will feature works by 50 established designers and emerging creatives based in Lebanon, while the UAE Designer Exhibition 2.0 is set to unveil works by 25 emerging and undiscovered creative talents based and producing locally. The works of four designers selected by Tashkeel for the 2021 Tanween Programme will also be unveiled at the showcase.
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.
Staged in a dynamic amphitheatre specially designed by ema to promote interaction and engagement, The Forum is a space where professionals can engage in energising and candid design dialogue, with topics ranging from changing industry dynamics, behaviours and opportunities to how architecture and design can truly embody authenticity and place, and from implementing sustainability in the real world with real clients to placemaking and the future development of Middle Eastern cities.
International speakers contributing to the Forum include design studio founders Sebastian Herkner, Elliott Barnes, Gregory Gatserelia, Massimo Iosa Ghini and Adrien Gardère. In addition, Micael Calatrava, CEO of Calatrava International LLC, will discuss the current flow of their global projects with particular emphasis on their creation of the UAE Pavilion and the Qatar Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
More than a dozen areas of key importance to the broad spectrum of visitors to Downtown Design will be addressed in panel discussions, with contributions from leading lights of the regional architecture and interior design community including Jonathan Ashmore, Founder & Principal Architect, ANARCHITECT; Laura Bielecki, Group Design Director, Ellington; Pallavi Dean, Founder & Creative Director, Roar; Andy Shaw, Managing Partner, AMA and Chair, RIBA Gulf Chapter; Diane Thorsen, Design Director, Gensler and Isabel Pintado, SVP Design & Innovation, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
Visitors will be immersed in an interactive installation at the entrance to the upcoming fair, which will bring together contemporary design and technology in a unique multisensory experience. Designed by award-winning Dubai-based studio NIU, the highlight of this year’s entrance will be an oversized mosaic clad caricature by artist Antonello Blandi, which will be decorated by Fantini Mosaici, one of Italy's leading brands of hand-cut mosaics found in luxury boutiques, homes, hotels, and palaces. The installation will also be strategically illuminated with sustainable, innovative lighting from Artemide.
Dubai-based Broadway Interiors has designed The Lounge Bar for Downtown Design 2021, creating an eclectic, stimulating environment inspired by the Dubai landscape and vista. Situated in the main exhibition area, The Lounge Bar will provide another important yet informal meeting space for brands and buyers to connect, and comprises two distinct sections including an outdoor water-facing terrace.
Downtown Design will also give visitors the opportunity to comfortably network and foster contacts in The Lighthouse Café created by prominent Dubai-based practice Lulie Fisher Design Studio and inspired by Virginia Woolf and her Bloomsbury Set contemporaries. Featuring a large, boldly patterned and richly coloured mosaic feature wall by Trend Middle East, the café will include a custom-built bar counter clad in matching mosaics and topped by a timber canopy that will sit beneath the tented exhibition roof.
About Downtown Design
Downtown Design is the leading platform in the Middle East for the region’s trade professionals to discover original, high-quality design and the commercial centrepiece of Dubai Design Week. Alongside brand debuts, product launches and the latest collections from contemporary international and regional design brands, Downtown Editions, the fair's boutique showcase for limited-edition design presents established and emerging designers, collectives and individual studios from around the world, with a spotlight on the Middle East. Offering visitors a dynamic design experience, Downtown Design’s curatorial approach encompasses large-scale installations and specially commissioned projects by leading designers. The fair’s programme of talks, The Forum, annually brings global design leaders, strategists and editors together to discuss the industry’s most pressing matters.
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Lorenzo Tondelli Collection is delighted to invite you to the official launch of Hyperborea: a contemporary and intuitive family of decorative pieces.
From 11 to 15 October, you will have the opportunity to preview the latest products, enjoy a private digital tour of the showroom and satisfy your curiosity: the event will be exclusively dedicated to you!
To ensure everyone who will join the event the best possible experience, allow an exchange, and give you the opportunity to ask specific questions, Lorenzo Tondelli Collection has decided to host individual meetings, a moment dedicated to you and your team. For this reason, places are limited.
Booking your appointment is very easy: just go to the link below and choose your preferred date and time according to availability. You will receive an email with all the information you need to access the presentation.
For any enquiry: [email protected]
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