Tashkeel calls for UAE-based Designers to Participate in 2015-16 Design Programme

Dubai, United Arab Emirates; March 18, 2015:  Tashkeel, the non-profit independent contemporary art organisation in Dubai, is looking for UAE-based designers, makers and artisans to join the third edition of its Design Programme, starting May 2015.  The initiative, which encourages collaboration of designers and local manufacturers throughout the country, will feature a development course with an established design organisation, Small is Beautiful; as well as participation at the next Design Days Dubai fair to showcase final works and will mark the culmination of the 2015-16 programme.

Small is Beautiful, led by Roanne Dods, is a research programme and annual international conference supporting and inspiring creative micro businesses.

Applicants are selected by a panel of internationally-established contemporary design experts. Requirements decree designers must live and work in the UAE and consider their proposal to involve processes and inspiration innately from the Emirates. The selected designers will have the opportunity to take part in workshops conducted by reputed designers including Roanne Dods, design collective Glithero, and Fi Scott, founder of Make Works, over a course of ten months – by being involved in undergoing experimental and collaborative practice, with continuous evaluation of the process throughout the programme.

“This initiative demonstrates Tashkeel’s commitment to fostering local designers and talents in the Emirates through facilitating art and design practice. In partnership with Small is Beautiful, we provide emerging and young designers with the opportunity to develop pieces, which can be showcased at an international platform like Design Days Dubai,” says Anabelle de Gersigny, Strategy and Partnership Development Manager at Tashkeel.

The 2014-15 Design Programme had selected four designers, whose bespoke pieces are being showcased at Design Days Dubai -- Talin Hazbar for creating an innovative lighting piece called ‘Lithic’; Rand Abdul Jabbar for creating ‘Forma,’ a series of furniture including chairs and table; Saher Oliver Samman, for his hammock that identifies with sadu aesthetic, ‘Woven’; and Latifa Saeed  for kinetic objects inspired by toys, ‘Kinetic Khoos.’