Qatar may be hosting this year’s football World Cup, but Dubai Design Week promises to bring some colour and atmosphere to the nearby UAE.
Running from November 8 to 13, the annual design and creativity event welcomes over 90,000 visitors from all corners of the globe to the Dubai Design District, a corner of the city devoted to art, design and innovation.
Dubai burst onto the international design scene back in the early 21st century when an explosion of civil and commercial projects cemented its place as the premiere Middle Eastern destination for travellers, business people, international artists and designers.
Despite exporting oil in its early days, today it makes up just one per cent of Dubai’s GDP. An incredibly technologically and architecturally advanced city, most people will know Dubai primarily as a layover for international flights. However, the city’s impressive contemporary architecture, massive shopping centres and glamorous developments make it worth extending your stopover.
Home to the tallest building in the world as well as the second most five-star hotels, Dubai is the ultimate city for architecture, design and luxury. Dubai Design Week is the city’s central event for disruptive design, cutting-edge ideas and groundbreaking art.
Downtown Design
Well-designed clothing, architecture and engineering are keystones of Dubai’s future-oriented philosophy and the Downtown Design fair fosters meetings between producers, designers and customers.
An eclectic mix of local and international brands and manufacturers offer their interpretation of delineation in the setting of a modern, well-resourced community of creators.
Taking place on the d3 Waterfront Terrace in Dubai Design District, 200 brands and designers are being represented from across the globe at Downtown Design.
Downtown Design features wares from up-and-coming designers | Source: Downtown Design
The fair provides a commercial element to the Dubai Design Week, a boutique section, Downtown Editions, gives visitors the chance to witness an exposition of individual designers and studios, galleries and collectives.
Design Market
Home to bustling bazaars, a centre for innovation and industry makes Dubai the perfect place for exciting young brands to display some of the cutting-edge products and wares they have been working on.
Presented by FLTRD, the Design Market offers those attending Dubai Design week a taste of the future of design. Everything from sustainable fashion for toddlers to premium leather goods and even large-scale interactive art will be on display.
Monkeys Everywhere is a fashion label which promotes a positive attitude and movement that promotes a “chill outlook on life.” Based on the hypothetical 100th monkey effect, clothing and accessories by the brand are relaxed and lighthearted, the definition of comfortable chic.
If you’re looking for an activity for the kids, take them to Klug Toys. Specialising in interactive, educational products, Klug offers kids the chance to learn through play and stocks a range of fun toys for babies, toddlers and young children.
The Design Market features something for all ages | Source: Klug Toys
Dubai Design District
Dubai Design Week is centred around the recently completed Dubai Design District, a centre in the city for design, art and fashion.
Welcoming and enabling disruptive thinking, it’s the region’s first city district devoted to everything design and boasts a long list of internationally-renowned brands and exciting events on its calendar coming up very soon.
The area is home to gorgeous offices with views, attractive studios, authentic dining experiences and homegrown lifestyle boutiques. It’s a melting pot of innovation, exciting ideas and up-and-coming businesses.
Break The Block street party
Break The Block is a two-day block party featuring street food, live music, DJs, an open skate jam, hip hop and break dancing. The event promises to bring designers, visitors and residents together for some festival fun.
Exhibiting visual artists include Middle Eastern locals like Stainz, Yaz and Satwa 3000. The party gives visitors a taste of the creative side of Dubai and the community of artists and designers changing the face of the city.
International and local visual artists like Stainz, Veerpp and IPOT will be exhibiting | Source: Facebook/Twitter
The party will include the Grub Hub, a selection of delectable street food dishes ranging from philly cheese steak to bao buns and even creamy gelato.
Dubai is quickly becoming the glamorous base for attendees to the football World Cup this month. Check out our luxury guide to the best Persian Gulf resorts, hotels and experiences.
This article originally appeared on Fancy and do not necessarily represent the views of australiaexploring.com
