Returning for its sixth edition in a new location at Dubai Design District, with the largest number of exhibitors to date, Design Days Dubai is the Middle East and South Asia’s only annual fair dedicated to collectible modern and contemporary design works.
Positioned as a fair of discovery and with a primary focus on contemporary creations, the unique format provides an international platform for the region’s emerging design studios and solo designers to debut their furniture, lightings and design objects, featuring them alongside a diverse mix of the world’s design galleries. Known for its eclectic global selection of design and range of price points, Design Days Dubai appeals to the aspiring next generation of collector and seasoned collector alike and is proud to retain a loyal following amongst visitors, exhibitors and the international design community.
“Reflecting Dubai’s unique position as a global meeting point, Design Days Dubai showcases design from around the world and we keep design diversity as one of our main features this year. There is exciting, and often experimental, work being produced by designers who aren’t necessarily represented by galleries and the fair offers an opportunity for solo designers and independent studios to exhibit at an international level. For design enthusiasts, Design Days Dubai is an annual fixture to meet designers from all over the world and acquire collectible design not seen anywhere else,” said Rawan Kashkoush, Head of Programming.
A record number of design galleries and studios based in the Emirates, GCC and wider region will exhibit in March. Alongside this year’s first-time regional exhibitors, an additional strong regional representation can be seen through the high number of returning exhibitors.
The fair remains a catalyst to the development of the design community in the UAE and the wider region and is a well-known launch pad for nascent designers. In previous years, UAE based designers have been spotted at Design Days Dubai by international museums. In 2015, Aljoud Lootah had two items from her debut collection acquired for the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, and, in 2016, two of Amar Kalo’s pieces were acquired by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York. Other designers that achieved international press and industry acclaim through Design Days Dubai include david/nicholas from Lebanon, Studio Swine from the UK, and Art Factum, now Joy Mardini Gallery, from Lebanon, which after launching the fair has gone on to exhibit worldwide.
Design Days Dubai manages and supports initiatives that focus on a brand-new generation of UAE-based designers. These include partnerships with Van Cleef & Arpels, and their fifth edition of Van Cleef & Arpel’s Middle East Emergent Designer Prize, Audi and the Audi Innovation Award, art and design organisation Tashkeel, with the fourth season of Tashkeel’s successful design programme, Tanween, and Dubai Culture and d3, with the third Urban Commissions competition.
