Fuorisalone.it is the main and official information platform for Milan Design Week that provides stakeholders including exhibitors, designers, and participating companies, with event updates, communication channels, and collateral services for the globally renowned event. Brera Design District is Milan’s most iconic design district and an international brand that fosters networking, develops events, and provides consulting services to companies and professionals.

The strategic partnership, officially signed during Milan Design Week, will enable collaboration, knowledge sharing, industry networking, and joint initiatives.  The new partnership elevates the profile of Dubai’s creative economy at the global stage, further strengthening the city’s position as an internationally renowned hub for the design and creative industries. Aligned with the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy, Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’, and the Design Sector Strategy 2033, the partnership also expands gateways for Italian creative talent and businesses to tap into the Middle East and North Africa region with new ideas and opportunities through d3.

“Milanese design lies at the heart of Italy’s renown as an epitome of design, and Fuorisalone.it and Brera Design District are the lifeblood of this vibrant design legacy, as we saw once again at this year’s Milan Design Week,” said Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3), part of TECOM Group. “Collaboration and creating bridges for cultural exchange are at the forefront of d3’s vision, and this new partnership highlights our ecosystem’s growing presence as a valued ally of global design leaders. We look forward to a fruitful partnership comprising a prestigious programme of events and initiatives with Fuorisalone.it and Brera Design District to enable industry excellence and knowledge-sharing pathways.”

“The collaboration with Dubai Design District (d3),” adds Paolo Casati, Studiolabo’s co-founder and creative director, “represents for Studiolabo, Fuorisalone.it and Brera Design District an important growth opportunity in new and strategic markets for the development and internationalisation of the Fuorisalone.it format and the Brera Design District brand. The operation is part of a system of valuable connections that aims to open up new markets for Italian companies in the design/furniture sector and to develop solutions for training, research and development capable of creating virtuous systems of exchange and collaboration between countries. The theme “Mondi Connessi” (Connected Worlds) proposed by Fuorisalone.it for the 2025 edition declares this attitude and the desire to directly relate worlds, cultures, knowledge, experiences, markets and the public, imagining how diversity can always be a new opportunity for design.”

The first element of the new partnership commenced in February with the announcement of Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of d3, as the newest member of the esteemed jury for the Fuorisalone Awards, which honour the most memorable installations and events of Milan Design Week.

The partnership builds on d3’s recent partnerships with Italian design leaders, including with Isola Design Group, which has a base at the district, in 2024. d3 also partnered with the Milano Durini Design Association and the Associazione Italiana Professionisti Interior Design (AIPi) interior design organisation in 2023. The Italian Trade Agency also hosted a special exhibition showcasing its homegrown talent during the Spring/Summer 25 edition of Dubai Fashion Week at d3 in September.

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The often-detached concepts of office and home life have come to a collision in recent months, with many questioning the boundaries and intersections of the two distinct realities. Interior design practice Styled Habitat tackles these precise boundaries in the renovation of its studio in Dubai Design District, creating a space that encourages the best of both worlds.

Opening up to an airy yet casual living room-like space, the studio emulates a sense of being in a private loft that aptly overlooks Dubai’s Downtown and Burj Khalifa. The large, inviting space acts as the central core of the studio, serving as a welcoming lounge, meeting and collaborative space.

“We studied different models of office spaces but we found that traditional models didn’t represent Styled Habitat’s aesthetics or values,” says founder, Rabah Saeid. Instead, she decided to marry elements of both to create a space that felt authentic to Styled Habitat; one that is welcoming, personal, calm and contemplative.

“The studio environment allows for team members and guests to step back and be able to see the whole space while still being able to zoom in on how individual moments play together,” Saeid explains.

The result is a studio comprising fluid spaces that adapt to its various uses. The hybrid model combines both open and closed office plans teamed with a selection of finishes, textures and furniture that further contributes to the feel of a comfortable and inviting living space.

The open central core overlooks a series of beautifully plastered arches that separate the public space from the individual offices on one side, while on the other side, a tall, floor-to-ceiling custom materials library establishes an anchor between public and private spaces.

“Good design has to be functional and meet the actual needs of the users,” Saied explains. “Pulling a space together is all about building character. The series of arches create a visual boundary for the lounge area and emphasise the thickness of the openings and walls with an old-world plaster finish. This is further balanced by the European herringbone wood flooring. All these elements collectively melt together to give the studio a sense of character and history, but more importantly, an approachable and inviting feeling.”

Another area that has been given meaningful attention is the pantry that was once an isolated storage room but has now been transformed into a dramatic space. The decadent room features custom joinery, integrated appliances, rich four-season marble countertops and a marble ledge, that acts as both a functional shelf as well as a display to showcase beautiful collections of handmade ceramics. Much like other areas of the office, interwoven spaces take precedent over closed doors, with the pantry similarly spilling into the studio using a cosy bench dressed in vintage velvet set at the end of the counter, creating an alluring spot to enjoy a cup of coffee.

“The pantry becomes more of a flow-through from the rest of the studio,” says Saeid. “It is not choppy or an afterthought or purely utilitarian.”

Saeid’s attention to detail and nuanced design choices is also expressed in the endless curiosity of “honest” materials, textures and objects that are carefully curated and positioned across the studio. From natural oak herringbone floors, pitted travertine tables and marble countertops to textured linen fabrics and a plush rug area all, all chosen elements are used to enhance the lived-in narrative of the space.   

“I love the challenge of adhering to a limited palette of whites, linens, warm wood and a few hints of black,” Saeid comments. “To achieve a curated, well-lived in space, we layered tones and textures in a way that was super considered yet minimal. We also needed to energize the deepest parts of the studio where there was little natural light such as the pantry by painting the back wall a rich burgundy colour and carefully placing lights to draw attention to the vintage framed artworks.”

The studio also boasts a range of brands and products that are showcased in a manner that feels collected and admired, celebrating their quality and craftsmanship. From locally-made custom designs to classic pieces and contemporary works, each of these serves their intended function and highlight Styled Habitat’s creativity in seamlessly mixing different styles.

One example of this is the classic CH20 Elbow Chair designed by Carl Hansen & Son whose curvy and graceful form fits beautifully against the pure and simple lines of the Fredericia-Mesa table. Other brands that grace the studio include lighting from Flos, furniture pieces from Ikonhouse – who’s Alserkal Avenue showroom is also designed by Styled Habitat – as well as pieces from Cassina and DesignItch.

“I find that allowing the design to unfold piece by piece, material by material, is when the magic of design can take you by surprise. This unfolding is what stimulates comfort and excitement in design,” Saeid points out.

“In my opinion, there are no hard-and-fast rules. Anything that truly makes your heart sing should find its rightful place in your space,” she adds.

Photography by Oculis Project

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To facilitate logistics, d3 is set to host a unified distribution centre, to store and deliver the protection gowns and surgical masks produced by d3 designers as well as other designers based in the UAE. This will turn the d3 community into a strategic hub for personal protective equipment (PPE) made by luxury brands.

“With six d3-based designers, we aim to aid the life-saving work of vital medical staff by contributing to the UAE’s stockpile of gowns and facemasks,” said Khadija Al Bastaki, executive director of d3.

“d3 is well placed to be able to cater to the needs of the local population, as well as export to the rest of the world, heralded by the strong logistics and infrastructure of Dubai.  This will enable #Athread4cause to quickly receive the PPE carefully produced by highly skilled, luxury fashion designers across the Emirate,” she added.

“Due to this uncertain time, the Arab fashion industry has been able to highlight its strong capacity to operate a purely local value chain” said Jacob Abrian, founder & CEO of the Arab Fashion Council.

Dubai based couture label, Michael Cinco, is among the seven d3 business partners taking part in the initiative.

“In exceptional circumstances such as this pandemic, it’s more important than ever to stand together. The future is not bleak and it’s crucial that we provide people with something to believe in. We need to demonstrate the sense of belonging, community spirit and light that only fashion can bring to our world. We are proud to be part of d3’s response to #AThread4Cause and believe it demonstrates the value of fashion and design in Dubai,” Michael Cinco and his business partner Sayed Ali said in a joint statement.

Yasmine Yeha, founder & creative director of Maison Yeya, who has been instrumental in working on the project since its inception, added: “We are facing an unprecedented situation and we are all in this together. The UAE has worked extremely hard to address the current situation and the creative community stands ready to support these efforts because it’s our duty to stand united against this challenge.”

Cinco is joined by couture labels, Maison Yeya, and Amato, brainchild of creative designer Furne One are among the seven. Emirati designer Yara Bin Shakar, Egypt’s Marmar Halim, Arab/American designer Zaid Farouki and women’s clothing retailer Si Fashion make up the seven-strong group.

To provide the designers with ample material and to support local suppliers, d3 has established a partnership with a Dubai-based Saudi Arabian fabric manufacturer who will supply over four tonnes of technical fabric to the participating brands.

d3’s participation in #AThread4Cause comes after creatives, cosmetic brands and industry suppliers were called upon to join the Arab Fashion Council’s emergency network and support the community by producing PPE for frontline heroes. The initiative was established by the council’s charitable arm.

Companies that want to enroll in the initiative and contribute positively to the UAE’s efforts to curb coronavirus and protect the vital medical professionals across the country can apply through the Arab Fashion Council’s website.

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Running until 16 November, Dubai Design Week – of which identity magazine is a media partner – is presenting an exciting line-up of free-to-attend talks, exhibitions and workshops across design disciplines including architecture, product design, interiors, multimedia and graphic design. The event will also feature art installations and pop-ups.

Open to industry professionals and the public, Dubai Design Week is an accessible meeting point for regional designers and creatives.

More than 200 events are taking place in venues across Dubai, while several specialised exhibitions will run throughout the festival, including the fifth edition of Abwab, the seventh edition of Downtown Design (12-15 November, in a custom-built exhibition space on the d3 Waterfront) and the Global Grad Show.

The Making Space, Re:Urban Studio and the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) will host workshops and innovative installations across d3, new initiative MADAR will highlight the current state of regional design and provide a platform to exchange design-related knowledge.

Product-focused exhibition INSIGHT/ONSITE is showcasing the latest productions and innovations of emergent and independent local and regional designers, in a standardised equal space format. Here, new designers will be able to get real-time feedback on the viability of their concepts.

Dubai Design Week will also feature a multitude of talks, workshops, installations and exhibitions, and the announcement of the winner of the fourth Audi Innovation Award.

Coinciding with Dubai Design Week 2019, the inaugural edition of Sharjah Architecture Triennial opened on 9 November, reinforcing November as a key month for design in the region. The Sharjah Architecture Triennial aims to serve as a platform for architecture and urbanism in the region, while advancing the contemporary practice and preservation of the region’s rich modern heritage.

For more information, head to dubaidesignweek.ae

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In an expanded exhibition space, Global Grad Show will house the largest gathering of universities to-date, featuring 150 projects and showcasing innovations from universities in emerging markets including Chile, Uganda, Egypt, Pakistan and Thailand, next to the work of students from global institutions such as Harvard, Stanford and Imperial College. From the UAE, leading regional institutions such as Zayed University and NYU Abu Dhabi will present advanced solutions for problems ranging from ageing populations to food security.

HE Mohammed I. Al Shaibani, Executive Director and CEO of Investment Corporation of Dubai commented: “For the past year, the Investment Corporation of Dubai has supported Global Grad Show in growing the reach, diversity and latitude of its programme. More young innovators across the world have now the opportunity to showcase and develop solutions for society and the environment.”

On Monday 11 November the show will also present ‘Innovating for Social Impact’ – a conference for industry professionals and academics, curated by Community Jameel, which will promote knowledge exchange between institutions and explore how universities can be catalysts for sustainable development across the world.

A new initiative in 2019 is an Entrepreneurship Programme, which supports graduate projects through their next steps, up to market launch.

Projects for Global Grad Show are selected based on how they respond to a range of criteria, including how they respond to the four tenets of the exhibition; Innovation, Impact, Equality and Exchange. The students will be in Dubai throughout the week and will bring prototypes, films and original research material for visitors to engage and interact with.

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Colab aims to offer an unbiased venue for the design community to see, touch, research and discuss materials

Central to Colab’s mission is its commercial sample library comprised of a growing collection of innovative materials from around the world.  It is open to architects, designers, creatives, manufacturers and other material enthusiasts to explore.

“Materials come first,” says Richard Wilson, Creative Director of Colab. “What’s more, designers should care about their design as much as the materials they choose. With this in mind, we want to help the design community understand the importance of material selection. By offering access to some of the best material solutions and by providing an insight into tomorrow’s opportunities, we hope to act as a catalyst for new material and product ideas.”

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The images of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his son His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum are presented back to back in a technique called mise en abyme to encourage visitors to reflect on the culture of leadership across generations. The parallel gradient layers were accomplished with pixels and vectors, 2D and 3D software and by simplifying the contours yet modelling maximum details to create an intriguing, realistic amalgamation of the two leaders.

Mustafa Khamash

“The sculpture pays homage to Dubai’s leadership and cultural values through the prism of two generations,” says Mustafa Khamas, CEO and founder of Kart Group and the creative talent behind Vision / Mission. “Sheikh Mohammed and his son Sheikh Hamdan are symbolically represented in this 3D multidimensional sculpture, with a fusion of layers that merge their portraits into one.”

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Focusing on the importance of human experience in the design of the built environment, it also shines a light on their integrated approach to design that combines expertise from several disciplines. This approach brings unique design solutions that are tailored to the site, its context, users and culture. A wide overview of the practice’s work, the exhibition also asks pertinent questions about the future of the built environment, inviting the audience to creatively speculate about what their surroundings may be like over the next fifty years and beyond.

Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners commented, ‘Promoting the sustainable design of our built environment is essential if we are to rise to the challenge of climate change. The Middle East has shown remarkable vision in endorsing a green future and we are delighted to have the opportunity to host this exhibition in Dubai showcasing our sustainable approach to architecture and urbanism’.

The exhibition includes models, photographs, drawings and films that illustrate the depth of research and analysis that goes into designing and building some of the most complex and innovative projects in the world.

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Urban Commissions is a Dubai Design Week initiative that presents an annual opportunity for designers living in the UAE to produce an urban furniture product, unveiled at Dubai Design Week and installed permanently at d3. The 3 finalists: Davide Antonante, Khalid Al-Tamimi and  Idil Kantarci.

For edition 4.0 the challenge designers need to respond to was ‘Water Feature’. Dubai is synonymous with water, the shoreline that extends along the length of the city, the Dubai Creek, the mammoth Dubai Water Canal project, the Dubai Fountains, and is rooted in its culture of giving as the refrigerated potable water cabins outside of private residences for passersby who require thirsts be quenched.

‘Fayyd’, which means overflown, is a concept fountain that aims to create a dynamic water sculpture. Inspired by the Japanese Shishi Odoishi fountains, it aims to capture the qualities of the bamboo fountains by recreating the natural sound of cascading water. The steel frames carry small lily-like pods through which water flows. Two out of the four pods act like seesaws when emptied and filled.

Davide Antonante – Tree of Life

Made to celebrate the vitality of Dubai, the ‘Tree of Life’ is a modular installation abstracting the city landscape as 5 towers ranging from 2.5 to 4.5 meter in height. The colorful stacked beads represent the diversity of people and culture in Dubai. Each totem acts as a misting device that doubles as a circular bench at the base.

Idil Kantarci – Seamless Blossom

Historically, beneath the Ghaf Tree is where bedouins rest due to their cool seamless leaves providing shade. Today, Dubai Design District (d3) is a destination for today’s nomads of emerging designers.  ‘Seamless Blossom’ intends to invite users into a multi-sensory moment inspired from the heritage of Dubai. The form of the base comes from Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve’s topography. The vertical sculptural elements emerge out of the existing waterhole locations in the Dubai Desert and spray out the mist to create a hovering canopy, similar to that of the Ghaf Tree.

When: Today!

Where:  Dubai Design District(d3), Between Buildings 2 & 3

 

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Season highlights include the launch of the Tashkeel After School Arts Club, the return of the Khatt Foundation, two intriguing exhibitions exploring UAE design, plus the worldwide release of the latest products from the Tanween design programme.

‘In an age when everyone needs to nurture their imagination and creativity both for their personal well-being as well as for school or work, Tashkeel offers plenty of inspiration for all ages and abilities’, says Lisa Ball-Lechgar, Deputy Director of Tashkeel.

‘This season has something for everyone, from absolute beginners to established professionals. It is packed with workshops from illustration and calligraphy to oil painting and fashion design. Plus, our talks and exhibitions will broaden the mind as we explore the innovative work being conceived, designed and created here in the UAE’.

For Young Creatives

Accompanying the exhibition ‘Telling Tales’, children from 4 years and upwards can enjoy Saturday Storytelling and Screenings at Tashkeel in Nad Al Sheba, 10am-11am until October 6.

The all-new Tashkeel After School Arts Club kicks off on September 25 with a fun silhouette workshop led by ‘Telling Tales’ artist Debjani Bhardwaj. Sessions will be held every Tuesday, 4–5.30pm.

Tashkeel also continues its workshops and talks for ages 15-30 at Youth x Hub, Jumeirah Emirates Towers. Led by leading artists Osama Khalaf, Judy Shinnick and others, sessions delve into pastel drawing, realistic drawing, oil painting and arts sponsorship.

Workshops & Talks

Debjani Bhardwaj’s solo exhibition ‘Telling Tales’ (which opened on September 18) presents intricate drawings, papercuts and installations rooted in traditional Emirati and Omani folklore until October 30. The show is accompanied by a programme of talks, workshops and screenings for all ages as well as a catalogue and booklet of illustrated stories. Tours are available upon request.

Tashkeel’s workshops for beginners and advanced take place on Saturdays and weekday evenings. This season, participants explore sketchbook illustration at the monthly ‘Drop in and Draw’ as well as Arabic calligraphy, photo-etching, colour theory and fashion design. Highlights include Wissam Shawkat’s four-part course on Jali Diwani script, and the third edition of the highly popular ‘Critical Dialogues’ course with Kevin Jones.

The Khatt Foundation (the cultural foundation and research centre that works to advance design and typography in the MENA region) returns with workshops led by Dr. Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès on Arabic Lettering (November 16), Arabic Poster Design (November 17) and Bilingual Publication Design, (November 22–25).

Exhibitions & Fairs

From November 6 to December 13, Tashkeel presents Voices of Design at its gallery in Nad Al Sheba. Featuring innovatively designed pieces by 12 UAE-based designers and artists, the exhibition explores the evolution of a UAE design aesthetic through the Tanween design programme and five years of the Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East Emergent Designer Prize.

From November 12 to 17, find Tashkeel at Dubai Design Week with Design+Making UAE – a specially designed showcase exploring design practice in the UAE from concept to completion. Featuring a dynamic programme of workshops, talks and conversations with Khatt Foundation and the Dubai Network for Art, Architecture & Technology, visitors will also be able to explore exhibition stations and pick up affordable products by UAE creatives at the pop-up shop.

From November 13 to 16, find Tashkeel at Downtown Editions at Downtown Design with the latest products designed and manufactured in the UAE by emerging designers from its Tanween design programme – Alya Sultan AlEghfeli, Hala Al Ani, Myrtille Labrune-Ronteix and Renad Hussein.

www.tashkeel.org

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