String theory: DIDI’s grand opening

To celebrate their back-to-school opening, the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) unveiled a bespoke art-design installation, Khayt, that explores past and present Middle Eastern culture and design practices at The Dubai Mall.

As a first of its kind in the region, DIDI offers a unique design education, in the form of a four-year Bachelor of Design Degree (BDes), the curriculum of which has been crafted in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Parsons School of Design. Khayt will be the first installation in The Dubai Mall from a leading design school in the region.

Mohammad Abdullah, President of DIDI comments: ‘We are delighted to mark the opening of DIDI, the regions first design university of its kind, with this unique design installation at The Dubai Mall. Khayt’s theme of collaboration between traditional practices, digital techniques and the community, highlights DIDI’s core values of innovation and sustainability as well as ethical design. The exhibit also represents the cultural theme of design in the UAE at present, which not only positions Dubai as a design hub for the region, but also connects the city to the global stage of design, which is our aim with DIDI’.

Hussain Aljabi weaving at DIDI’s Khyat Launch

Left to right: Leigh Ann Jones, Khosla Mohammad Abdullah, Sandy Tinari, Maggie Jonk, Ayesha Tayyeb, Hussain Aljabi, and Sass Brown

Created by a multidisciplinary team of creatives and students from DIDI, Khayt reinvents the traditional string weaving culture of the UAE, Sadu, for the modern day, through innovative practices and technologies such as 3D printing. Designed to celebrate the official opening of DIDI, Khayt – meaning string in Arabic, is a reflection of Dubai’s own innovative transformation by drawing connections between heritage and modernity.

The live art installation located on the Ground Floor in The Dubai Mall’s Grand Atrium, is made up of 14 kilometres of string and 110 metres of powder coated steel and will be open to the public until 11th September. Khayt will transform and evolve throughout its two-week residency as members of the public are invited to view large-scale 3D printing live and contribute to the mass weaving project, elements of which will later be displayed at DIDI’s university campus in Dubai Design District.

didi.ac.ae / thedubaimall.com