Each year, the UAE Designers Exhibition is one of the highlights of the annual Downtown Design event, showcasing conceptual creations from talented, upcoming designers based here in the UAE.
Now in its fifth edition, the 2024 UAE Designers Exhibition was curated by Dubai-born designer Omar Al Gurg, who, in 2021, was one of the designers selected to showcase as part of the same exhibition. Now, three years later, Al Gurg is running his own design company, Modu Method, and is a testimony to the success of the Downton Design showcase. As this year’s event kicked off, we met with Omar Al Gurg to find out more about this year’s showcase as well as the success of his own brand.
Tell us about this year’s UAE Designer exhibition at Downtown Design.
The brief for this year was about comfort and function. All of the pieces had to be comfortable in one way or another and functional, of course. That didn’t have to be just physical comfort. It could be emotional or mental comfort, too. It could be nostalgic in some way or another as well. We sent out an open call and rounded up 33 designers. Some of them are in collaboration with each other, and they come from all around the world. It’s not necessarily that they are all Emirati – there are seven Emirati designers – but they are all based here in the UAE.
This year, we wanted to make the exhibition feel like it was more of a living room setting than a sterile space. I wanted the products to interact with each other, and that way, the designers were more inclined to speak to each other and build a community among themselves. This could open up doors in the future for further collaborations.
How did you go about selecting the final lineup of designers?
I looked at the things that worked with each other when they all came together. It wasn’t necessarily the things that I liked (although I do like a lot of the pieces), but I looked at the selection, and I saw what could work well in one space.
Tell us about the design of the space itself.
I like cosy spaces, and I’m very much a homebody. I wanted people to feel welcomed into the space. We are very used to seeing bright, white light spaces that are clean-cut. I wanted this space to look a little more lived-in and used so that people could see more of the potential of each product. And I wanted to use a bold colour that would stand out and draw people in.
You were part of the exhibition yourself in 2021, tell us more about your journey to where you are now.
Yes, I started in the exhibition in 2021, and because of the exhibition, I got a lot of exposure and good feedback, which was then implemented. I then participated in Downtown Design for the next two years, and this year, I was approached to curate the same exhibition that kicked me off.
How do you think this exhibition will help raise the profile of upcoming designers?
I think it’s important to showcase the work of these designers because it shows the potential of what we have here in the UAE. It shows how many great minds we have. It’s a great platform for designers to learn not only from each other but also from the rest of the market. They get to look at the work of other designers and brands, learn from their craft and design, and maybe implement it in their own future. It gives them a taste of what the market could look like for them and it also gives them an idea of whether or not they want to pursue this field. If you are not passionate about what you do, you are not going to get very far in this field, so I think it helps with that.
How do you feel the industry is today for upcoming designers in the UAE?
Things are becoming a little easier now for aspiring designers. We have a lot of great programmes that educate people on product design, industrial design, and that kind of thing. It’s around the UAE, not just in Dubai. What’s great is that there are a lot more people now that are more supportive of designers. I think it took a while for people not to gate-keep their suppliers, but now everyone is sharing information, so if you really want to know something, all you have to do is ask. It’s great that designers have the free will to ask other people in the field for recommendations. When I look at my personal experience, I could not have done it without the support of the community here. I wouldn’t have been able to come as far as I have so far without the support of other people.
What’s the biggest challenge?
Here in the UAE, the biggest challenges are manufacturing and funding. Funding is important because we have a lot of great minds and many people with amazing ideas, but they never find the funding for it. And I’m talking about designers of all nationalities who are based in the UAE.
Manufacturing things here is quite expensive, and that’s a big challenge. That’s why these design fairs are important because people who come are willing to pay more money, but if someone wants to introduce their product to the mass market, it’s a little bit more difficult here.
Tell us about the vision for your own brand.
My company is called Modu Method. It’s very much a passion project. I also have a job with the family company, where I work as an architect in the real estate division. Modu Method is where I let all of my creative juices flow. Modu stands for Modular, and Method is the way of living. We make modular designs that are inspired by the seventies. We try to make everything as interactive as possible because we believe that the more you interact with your piece of furniture, the more you develop a sentimental relationship with it. And the more you have a sentimental relationship with it, the more you are attached to your product, and you want to keep it with you throughout your life and maybe pass it down to someone you love. So, that gives it a long-lasting lifespan.
What’s the vision for your brand?
That’s a really broad question because I’m one of those people that likes to do everything! I want it to be a place where people can learn and more of a community-based space. I want people to come to our brand to be able to share ideas and fall in love with our products at the same time. Obviously, I want to sell products and see it work as a business, but I also want it to turn into a community.
We have started to do this already. We have a show villa, which is kind of like a majlis where creatives can gather. We have game nights there; we exchange ideas – it’s a casual space for people to share, and everything in the space is from our brand.
Looking ahead, what’s in the pipeline for you?
At Modu, we are working on developing some smaller products that are more accessible. Accessories, things that are fun to play with. Of course, we’re always looking for collaborations. We have quite a significant amount of large products now, so we are trying to cater more to people who might be in love with the brand but can’t afford our larger pieces.
