Held under the patronage of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Downtown Editions will take place on the 13 – 16 November 2018.

After six successful years of showcasing collectible design, Design Days Dubai will be reformed and moved to November to evolve into a key element within the Downtown Design trade fair, uniting the region’s two leading design exhibitions, as an integral part of Dubai Design Week, the region’s largest creative festival.

Downtown Editions, held in partnership with Dubai Design District (d3) will build on the legacy of the city’s first collectible design fair, to be a curated exhibition of bespoke design, capsule collections, individual studios and designer collaborations. By joining forces with the commercial design and furniture showcase of Downtown Design, it will emphasize Dubai’s position as a thriving design destination and offer an enhanced platform for introducing the international industry to opportunities in the region, whilst presenting local and regional designers to the global scene.

“Our design fairs are where commerce and creativity come together and uniting the two successful exhibitions into one event is a natural progression and will provide an enhanced platform for exhibitors as well as visitors and further broaden the programme of Dubai Design Week, which in just three years has become the largest creative festival in the region “, says Benedict Floyd, CEO and Co-Founder of the Art Dubai Group that owns and manages Dubai’s leading arts and design events.

“Design Days Dubai was the platform that supported the launch of my career as a designer and being showcased amongst the best design galleries in the world helped me to better understand how to develop my craft. Exposure to the international industry is crucial for the Aljoud Lootah brand and the unifying of the region’s two main design fairs will provide greater opportunity for the commercial success of local designers,” said Aljoud Lootah, Founder and Designer of Aljoud Lootah Studio and exhibitor at Design Days Dubai 2017.

Visitors will be able to experience a broad spectrum of design, from high-end manufactured furniture to handmade limited-edition objects. Curated to ensure quality, originality and relevance, both trade professionals and consumers can discover the latest trends from around the world and connect with the regional creative community to buy, commission and engage with contemporary design.

“We are excited to announce this new phase in the development of Downtown Design. On the foundation of the fair’s growth in size and reputation, this new element will expand our footprint again to incorporate limited edition design in a dedicated section. Living alongside Downtown Design, Downtown Editions will present diverse design talent from around the world, with a spotlight on the region. Uniting commerce and creativity, this new platform will connect brands and designers from around the world to the buyers of the Middle East, and help educate a new generation locally about the creative and commercial potential of design,” said Rue Kothari, Fair Director of Downtown Design.

Downtown Design and Editions in 2018 will once again take place at its custom-built venue at the unique d3 waterfront under the lead support of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and sponsorship of Audi Middle East.

Downtown Design will run from November 13 - 16 2018 as the commercial centrepiece of Dubai Design Week. The fair is open to both trade visitors and public and entry is free to those that pre-register online. Exhibitors will be announced later in the year alongside programme highlights that are set to make Downtown Editions an essential element of the fair and the Dubai Design Week programme.

Website: www.downtowndesign.com

Social media: @downtowndesignd #DowntownDesign #DowntownDesign2018