Discover an innovative mix of inspiring brands at this year’s Downtown Design

Downtown Design is the commercial centerpiece of the inaugural Dubai Design Week and the only platform in the Middle East for the region’s trade professionals and design enthusiasts to discover original, high quality design from all over the world. 

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. 

“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, returning exhibitors include 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 a 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 leaders across design and related industries provide insights on how design is transforming the world.

With the growth of Downtown Design, along with the establishment of Dubai Design District (d3) and the first Dubai Design Week, Dubai is the only place to be for industry and design enthusiasts alike in the last week October.