Downtown Design

Now in its third edition and double the size of last year, the Fair will be hosted for the first time at the Dubai Design District (d3) in a 6,000sqm purpose built venue that will present 90 brands: from international heavyweights to emerging upstarts from some of the world’s burgeoning design capitals.

Curated from a long list of applicants, the exhibiting brands have been carefully reviewed to ensure a mix of brands that cover a wide breadth of product categories – from lighting and furniture to kitchens and bathrooms –70% of which will appear for the first time as exhibitors, with many never before seen in the region.

“Downtown Design is increasingly becoming a focal point in the design calendar that attracts active professionals from around the world. With the pace of development in the region, and so many new players looking to enter the market, we provide a crucial platform for brands to meet key players in the industry and grow their business,” says Fair Director, Rue Kothari.

Of this year’s brands, some 13 exhibitors are returning, such as Bohemian lighting brand Lasvit from Czech Reuplic, Dubai’s Nakkash Gallery and climate controlled cellar environments from Canadian Vin de Garde.

Leon Jakimic, President, Lasvit comments: “We debuted at Downtown Design last year and were very impressed, not only with the turnout of key decision makers from the industry, but also of high net worth consumers who have visited our stand.”

New exhibitors include premium Italian bathroom company Antonio Lupi, Denmark’s premier silver brand Georg Jensen, Kartell, Walter Knoll, Moroso, Hacker Kitchens and Rolf-Benz UAE. Hacker Kitchens and Rolf-Benz, this year celebrating 5 years in the UAE and a 30% year on year growth for the two German brands, see their participation in the fair as a further opportunity to grow market share in an exciting market:

“Exhibiting at Downtown Design is a real milestone in our development and we see the event as a platform to help to grow our business in the UAE and the region. We’ve made a real contribution to the rapidly expanding UAE interiors market and we feel confident that the market will continue to grow. Consumers in the UAE are not afraid to take chances with their homes, they are brave and adventurous when it comes to interiors. When you add in the fact that many properties here are larger than those in Europe, it makes for some very exciting kitchen creations,” said Samir Ranavaya, MD of Hacker Kitchens and Rolf-Benz UAE.

The 2015 edition of Downtown Design will also unveil ‘Destination’, a unique Dubai Design Week alliance with six international Design Weeks: Beijing, Helsinki, Istanbul, Melbourne, Mexico City and San Francisco. Uniting at one ‘Destination’: Dubai, each Design Week, in cooperation with Downtown Design, will present three of their most exciting emerging brands for the first time on the global stage, allowing visitors to discover innovative new talent from around the world and enabling these smaller, creative design brands to connect with the region's trade professionals and influencers.

“We want the fair to be one of discovery and opportunity: For the professional visitor to discover brands and products that work for their projects, the opportunity to establish professional relationships; and for the design enthusiast – it’s always our ethos to educate and inspire,” says Downtown Design Fair Director, Rue Kothari.

Downtown Design sees the industry converge on the city for an opportunity to meet key industry players and foster new relationships. As a dynamic business platform, Downtown Design is encouraging a greater number of the region’s buyers to engage with exhibitors via the first Buyers Programme. Working with the latest in VIP matching software, Downtown Design’s dedicated Buyer Team is able to facilitate a smooth and productive experience, with wide array of benefits including access to closed events, talks and a Buyers Lounge.

Finally, with Downtown Design being the commercial nucleus of the inaugural Dubai Design Week, both visitors and exhibitors will be able to experience its groundbreaking initiatives including: regional design pavilions, the world’s first Global Grad Show, installations by world famous designers and an extensive programme of talks, to be held in the Downtown auditorium, that will see luminaries from the design, business, fashion and tech industries provide insight on how design is transforming the world.

This October, Dubai will be the only place to be for industry and design enthusiasts. “I believe that the growth of Downtown Design along with projects like the Dubai Design District, and the launch of the inaugural Dubai Design Week, with all the top tier brands, designers and concepts that will debut here in the last week of October, will help further our goal – to establish Dubai as a global hub for design,” says Rue Kothari.

The full list of exhibitors will be announced in September

@downtowndesing | @dubaidesignweek
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For press enquiries, please contact:
Ciara Phillips, Tel: +971 (0)5 5650 7431 |
Ciara@downtowndesign.com | Ciara@dubaidesignweek.ae

Key facts:
- The fair celebrates its 3rd edition this October
- Downtown Design has doubled in size from last year to 6000 square meters
- It will take place for the 1st time at the Dubai Design District
- The fair is the largest element of the inaugural Dubai Design Week
- There will be over 86 exhibitors this year
- The far will host emerging design brands from 6 international Design Weeks
- From 27th to 30th October 2015

ABOUT DOWNTOWN DESIGN

Downtown Design is the only platform in the Middle East for the region’s trade professionals to discover original, high quality design from all over the world. In its third edition, the Fair will take place at the Dubai Design District and present a carefully edited roster of established and emerging brands across a variety of product categories; including furniture, lighting, bathrooms, kitchens, textiles and accessories. Fostering greater interaction, connectivity and commercial opportunity, Downtown Design is dedicated to providing a dynamic environment for buyers and brands to do business easily and efficiently. Downtown Design will run from October 27th to 30th as part of Dubai Design Week and will be held at Dubai Design District, d3.

Dates & Opening times

27th October
15:00 - 18:00   VIP Preview (invitation only)
18:00 - 21:00   Trade and Public visitors

28th October
13:30 - 18:00   Trade visitors
18:00 - 21:00   Public visitors

29th October
13:30 - 18:00   Trade visitors
18:00 - 21:00   Public visitors

30th October
13:30 - 21:00   Trade and public visitors

Location
Dubai Design District - d3

ABOUT DUBAI DESIGN WEEK

The city of Dubai is a global meeting point for the international design community and is regarded as the regional capital of design. The establishment of the Dubai Design Week creates a cultural focus for design with the region’s leading design fair, Downtown Design, at its heart. The geographical position of Dubai makes it an ideal hub for international designers and brands to take advantage of the city and its newly constructed Dubai Design District (d3) as an ideal location for showcase design innovation and new products. Dubai Design Week will provide a platform for international design weeks to bring established and emerging brands to a new audience. Dubai Design Week will also provide an opportunity for the MENASA countries to demonstrate their design talent within d3, for ground-breaking installations to highlight many of the iconic buildings and locations within Dubai and to promote design education through a programme of talks, discussions and workshops.

ABOUT DUBAI DESIGN DISTRICT

Dubai Design District, better known as d3, is dedicated to fostering the growth of the Emirate’s design, fashion, art, and luxury industry. It offers businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals a creative community that will be at the very heart of the region’s design scene. Phase 1 is delivered throughout 2015, which, once complete, will host over 10,000 creatives. Currently 4 buildings have been handed over and business partners have already moved in. d3 is a purpose built environment catering to the full value chain of the design, fashion and luxury industry – and all with the vision of creating a world class creative community that engages, nurtures and promotes local, regional and global design talent.