On the cover is the remarkable Pallavi Dean, founder of Dubai-based Roar, which has made a significant contribution to the industry for more than 12 years. Born and raised in Sharjah, UAE, Pallavi has recently expanded her studio’s presence to Saudi Arabia. For the cover shoot, we knew we wanted to pay homage to Pallavi’s connection with Sharjah. Dean suggested Mleiha, reflecting her love for the desert. Inspired by themes of flow and reflections, we sought to capture the designer’s dynamic essence. In our feature on page 22, she opens up about her journey, sharing insights into how financial acumen fuels creative freedom and revealing her cleverly coined ‘10 C’s’ of success.

identity is also thrilled to be a media partner at this year’s highly anticipated Maison&Objet in Paris, France. With its theme of Sur/Reality, the event promises new design innovation and discoveries. From 16 to 20 January 2025, we’ll bring you highlights from the fair, sharing stories that connect the Middle East’s design narrative with a global audience, and vice versa. Follow our social media on @identityae for updates.

In this issue we also explore what’s new in home décor and spotlight the technological innovations shaping the industry, with Gensler’s insightful design forecast offering a fascinating glimpse into the latest trends and innovations.

Here’s to designing a future full of possibilities.

Read the January edition on ISSUU.

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In this issue, we journey across various disciplines, from interior design to architecture and various design practices that are bold not only in their final outputs, but through their inspirations and processes too. As you flip the pages, you will find different iterations of these ideas – like how Natalia Ortega from Spain is seeking Emirati materials to use in her practice, or how Gio Bressana brings ancient fresco techniques to modern living.

On our cover, we are thrilled to spotlight Rim Guirari and Thomas Castagnet, the founders of Mustard & Linen for this issue as they commemorate the 10th anniversary of their brand. The duo brings a perfect blend of bold and earthy to their projects; creating spaces that are as functional as they are aesthetically striking. We also celebrate the unveiling of their new headquarters on Saadiyat Island. This space not only exemplifies the brand’s design ethos but also sets a new benchmark for creative work environments.

In our interiors section, we delve into Onda, a unique ‘replenishment bar’ by Bone Studio, a luxurious Burj Khalifa penthouse by Etereo Design that plays with a variety of eclectic colours and textures, a coastal luxury penthouse by Abboud Malak of Studio M, and Eliza House by WALA, where black is truly, bold.

Our design focus this month is on walls, floors and surfaces. These elements are often the unsung heroes of design, providing the foundation and context for our living and working environments. We explore the latest brands, trends, materials and techniques that are transforming these essential aspects of interior design.

We are also excited to announce that in early August, we will be opening submissions for the identity Design Awards 2024. The criteria for the design awards will seek to reward design excellence, originality, sustainability and aesthetics in the MENA region. We look forward to receiving your entries! 

From innovative workspaces and architectural marvels to inspiring interiors, let’s celebrate the transformative potential of design in all ways.

Read the July/August 2024 ‘Bold Design’  issue online here.

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Our journey begins with iconic architects who are revolutionising urban spaces. These visionaries are not just creating buildings; they are reshaping cities and influencing how we live, work and play. From Dubai’s shimmering skyline to Jeddah’s growing cultural neighbourhoods, these urban masterpieces inspire us to think beyond the conventional.

We then step into the world of textile art with Iwan Maktabi, where we interview Mohamed Maktabi on what legacy means to him and how he blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary designers. 

Our cover story showcases Kohler’s story, including how the brand continues to redefine the status quo with its tech-forward approach. Kohler’s innovative solutions in bathroom design set a new benchmark for luxury and functionality, making everyday living a seamless blend of comfort and style.

Kitchens then take centre stage in our design focus, where we explore the concept of social kitchens by looking at co-living spaces by VSHD Design, where community and culinary art intersect. These kitchens are not just for cooking; they are designed to foster connection and creativity. We also browse through unique kitchens that have caught our eye with their cutting-edge technology and ingenious designs, proving that the kitchen is the perfect canvas for innovation.

We also feature artists who are exploring themes of redesign and transformation, pushing the limits of their mediums to create works that challenge our perceptions and inspire us to think differently.

As you turn the pages, let yourself be inspired by beautifully designed homes in Dubai, London and Beirut. Each of these homes tells a story of transformation, creating spaces that are both timeless and avant-garde.

We hope this issue ignites your imagination and encourages you to embrace the spirit of redefining the status quo in your own spaces.

Read the June 2024 ‘Redesigning the Status Quo’  issue online here. 

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In the same vein, our cover story features the remarkable Khalid Shafar, an Emirati designer whose work beautifully intertwines local culture and crafts with contemporary aesthetics. His designs, both functional and creative, resonate deeply, reflecting a harmonious blend of past and present. Alongside Khalid, we spotlight a curated selection of craftworkers from the Gulf, each infusing their creations with their own distinctive third-culture sensibilities.

In our design focus segment, we consult architects, interior designers, furniture designers & interior stylists to share invaluable insights into harmoniously integrating cherished crafts with modern aesthetics, offering you inspiration to craft your own unique living spaces. 

Venturing into the realm of interiors, we invite you to explore Dubai home where opulence meets elegance, and where spaces are designed to inspire.

As you immerse yourself in the pages of this issue, I invite you to celebrate the transformative power of craftsmanship and the artisans who continue to push boundaries. Here’s to embracing the beauty of design – wherever it may lead us.

Read the May 2024 ‘The Craft Issue’  issue online here.

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From smart homes equipped with AI-driven systems to sustainable building materials crafted using state-of-the-art techniques, the possibilities seem limitless. Not only are these advancements making spaces more functional and efficient, but they are also putting the craft of design at the forefront.

In this edition of the magazine, we are celebrating the designs/designers who brought an edge to their projects/products or are changing up the processes. From ground-breaking developments to the latest trends, there’s a whole world of possibilities out there waiting to be explored.

We’re also seeing a big push towards sustainability. From energy-efficient lighting to eco-friendly building materials, architects and designers are making sure their projects are kind to the environment.

As we ride this wave of innovation, it’s important to keep pushing the boundaries of creativity. So, for this edition of the magazine, we chose to shine a spotlight on the upcoming edition of Salone del Mobile, which is set to take place from 16th to 21st April 2024, in the Rho Fiera Milano spaces, Italy, as is tradition.

With so much happening globally, we also wanted to understand the growth of the regional design sector. For the feature, we spoke to experts from the hospitality, commercial and residential spaces, to get insights into the dynamic region’s design sector.

Here is to the future.

Read the April 2024 ‘Innovation in Design’  issue online here.

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In the heart of the MENA region, a design renaissance is essentially underway – an extraordinary transformation has been taking place, especially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with massive projects being announced every minute. Known for its rapid urbanisation, the region’s ambitious infrastructure projects, and increasing emphasis on cultural development, has led to massive changes in the way architectural and design is viewed. It has also led to an influx of global talent which has further created an environment for new ideas and exploration. In this ‘Power Issue’, we talked to some of the design firms that are behind a number of the biggest projects on the region, to know more about the boom that we see while also analysing the opportunities and challenges relating to the same.

It clearly is an exciting time for me here at the office amidst the planning and the finalising of the judging panel for the identity Design Awards 2023. While we are compiling an expert panel of judges, you can be part of the event by nominating your projects via our awards portal. It’s easy to do so and you can nominate multiple projects, as long as those are completed within the time period of 1 August 2022 to 1 August 2023. This year we have introduced a new category to the list to pay tribute to the youth of the region. The Emerging Designer Award is given those who are below 30 years of age and have worked or been a significant part of their company’s projects. If that’s you or someone you know, please do enter – we are keen to see what the industry has been up to in the last year! The deadline for all submissions is 6 October 2023, so be sure to mark your calendars and enter your nominations on time.

I am thrilled to embark on this journey with you, chairing the editorial of identity and delving into the captivating world where innovation, creativity and functionality converge. Here is to the September edition of the magazine…

Read the September 2023 ‘The Power Issue’  issue online here.

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“I think art collectors are becoming design collectors now – it is becoming more and more similar,” says Guillaume Excoffier, one of the two founders of collectible design gallery, Galerie Gabriel et Guillaume. In the following pages, we tour its latest exhibition – which also graces this month’s cover – that is set inside a penthouse in the newly completed Fifteen Fifty residential building designed by SOM, where the duo has curated high-end, rare pieces of mid-century modern furniture alongside contemporary pieces of design and art, in their signature eclectic style.

However, even with the case of collectible design, this month’s contributor, design expert and advisor Cyril Zammit, stresses that although design may be valued the same as a piece of art, it is still something that is functional and should be made use of – and that’s one of the reasons Excoffier and his partner Nancy Gabriel choose to show their pieces in a residential space instead of a gallery: it removes a sense of intimidation and allows one to imagine the pieces within one’s own home.

“Never forget that design has a function,” Zammit insists, “and you should always be able to use what you buy. If not, then it is a ‘design-art’ piece that you put on a pedestal and look at, the same way you would with a painting.”

American designer Ini Archibong is the subject of our main interview this month and a great example of someone whose works take on an artistic quality that goes beyond their function, tapping into the realm of the intangible – filled with mystery and emotion. While it is often art that is considered emotive, who is to say that design can’t fulfil the same purpose? And if the question arises of why design should mirror art at all, the answer, to me, is quite simple. In this world, we need beauty – be it beauty that reminds us of nature, beauty that celebrates our heritage, or even beauty that helps us escape. It also means that because we find these pieces beautiful, we buy them to last, hopefully moving away from purchasing mass-produced items that fulfil short-term needs. It makes us more conscious of what we buy and how those items make us feel.

“I think it is impossible to create an object that has no feeling or emotion to it,” Archibong told me the first time we met during his visit to Dubai in 2018, when he was giving a talk at Downtown Design. “I think the difficult thing is to have control over the feeling you want to express. There is a lot of design being created that doesn’t consider the emotional effect of the object, and the difference might just be that I do think about it. And once you think about it, it is very difficult to design things without emotion.”

Read ‘The Art Issue’ on ISSUU. 

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This month’s ‘Land Issue’ sheds light on some of these conversations, be it with regional or international practitioners. Many of these concerns are global and, considering various contexts, universal. Here, the idea of land expands from its literal translation of its physicality to a wider, sometimes metaphorical allusion to the way it relates to communities and other species that inhabit it.

In our interview with Simone Farresin, one of the founders of Netherlands-based design studio Formafantasma, we discuss the reconciliation between contemporary radical design movements and industry, and the ways in which design can shift its stance to holistically contribute to positive change within the discipline and of the environment. Farresin remains positive about this possibility, especially in handing the baton over to younger architects and designers, whom he says express a passionate (and possibly somewhat idealistic) demand for more meaningful contributions from the design discipline.

“It is a very interesting moment for design because I would say that, even for designers who are already in the discipline, we are almost not ready for this level of complexity and engagement. So, there will be a lot of mistakes and a lot of naïveté for some years – but it doesn’t really matter because the discipline will develop according to these needs,” he told me during our Zoom interview.

In other areas of the magazine, we look at the notion of ‘repair’ – a tradition that has become lost but, interestingly enough, one that was raised across several conversations while putting together this issue: from Hans Tan’s ‘R for Repair’ exhibition in Singapore to my conversation with Farresin, who positioned repairability as a sustainable approach that businesses across a variety of industries can employ. It also came up in discussion with Jordanian-Palestinian designer Abeer Seikaly, who spoke about looking back at how ‘mending’ objects can once again be brought to the fore to help us rethink our stance on waste – the same call that Tan’s exhibition makes.

“I think if we look at the way our ancestors used to work and live, it was more in tune with this whole idea of a circular economy,” Seikaly said. “I think we need to begin understanding this idea of zero waste, and building with natural materials that can go back into the earth. We also need to think consciously about what we are consuming, and how – and the only way for us to truly start thinking about that is if we interact with nature.”

Some of the projects in this issue also place architecture in servitude to its landscape and community, as in the case with the Presence in Hormuz project in Iran by ZAV Architects, which graces this month’s cover.

I hope the conversations and projects in this issue (some of which also respond to using natural materials in lifestyle concepts, such as with Bone’s Terra café in Dubai) prove interesting but, more importantly, spark discussions around these topics which are critical to the future of the design and architectural disciplines.

Read ‘The Land Issue’ on ISSUU. 

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