APID promises more exciting design-centric events and activities for next edition in 2012

November 16, 2011

The successful culmination of the Middle East’s first ever ‘Festival of Interior Design (FoID) has consolidated the UAE’s position as the region’s premier design hub, according to a statement issued by the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), an organization representing professional interior designers in the Gulf region. The pioneering event, which was held from October 22, 2011 to October 25, 2011, not only drew Dubai-wide attention and participation from the local design community but was also joined in by people coming from all walks of life. The festival fell in line with APID’s chief mission to increase awareness on the significance of interior design in everybody’s lives and providing the region’s design industry with a key venue to discuss timely issues while also showcasing the works of emerging talents and design firms in the region.

As a result of the strong response generated from major events like the FoID Shopper, the Interior Design Congress, the Product Design competition accompanied by the exhibition of the top entries at ‘thejamjar,’ the workshops and presentations given at the Pavilion, Downtown Dubai and the FoID gala dinner at The Address Hotel, APID has announced its plan to prepare more exciting and design-centric events and activities for next year’s edition of the festival. APID also announced the success of the first ‘Interior Design Congress, which was held on October 22, 2011 at the Dubai World Trade Centre and featured keynote addresses from world renowned figures in architecture and interior design such as David Trubridge, Rogier Van Der Heide, Hadi Teherani, Francesc Rife and Bruno Triplet.

FoID played host to successful partner events held at The Pavilion Downtown Dubai. The activities held at the venue included a special movie screening of the ‘Greenhouse’ movie, a presentation entitled the ‘8 rules of light’ given by Danilo Mandelli from Viabizzuno and a special lighting workshop and lighting themed soiree by multi-award winning lighting design expert Beau McClellan. Scarlet Opus, a leading trend forecasting and business development firm for interior products and services, also gave a presentation on the latest design trends along with industry forecasts for 2012. The Pavilion Downtown Dubai also hosted a standing room networking event featuring the Nomad Chandelier and a live urban art wall session by leading young British artist Amarty Golding.

“The excitement and momentum generated from the many events of FoID has given us the confidence to start planning and preparing for next year’s edition of the festival, promising a more design-centric and interactive set of activities for the whole of Dubai and the UAE,” said Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi, President, APID. “We would like to thank our partners who have been instrumental in the success of FoID. Their support and patronage played a key role in the execution of the many events and activities that we lined up for the festival. We look forward to working closely with them again in FoID 2012.”

The exciting festival kicked off a week early with the launch of FoID Shopper, an initiative held in partnership with the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE) and joined in by some of the country’s leading retail facilities. In addition, ‘thejamjar’ hosted the exhibition of the winning entries for the FoID Product Design Competition and was followed with a special FoID gala dinner at The Address Hotel where the winners were announced and the products were auctioned off. Bersun Erturk won the Platinum award for his entry ‘LOCT’ a coffee table, while Norah Al Twaijri received the Gold award for her multi-functional chair called ‘Rest and Read.’ Shersha Sarith grabbed the Silver award for his decorative light fixture called ‘Azpire’ and Rami Al Khatib took the Bronze award for his uniquely designed table called ‘Loop Concept Table.’

“The successful turn of the festival’s events has ably reinforced the UAE’s leading position as an established design hub for the Middle East. This has been a wonderful and memorable festival that has truly met our objectives of highlighting the importance of interior design in our daily lives and showing the immense pool of talented and creative designers coming from this region,” concluded Al Awadhi.

In recognition of the strong show of patronage and support for the pioneering festival, APID extended their thanks and gratitude to the FoID partners and sponsors. Special ‘Certificates of Appreciation’ were handed out to Marwan Juma Bin Beyat, General Manager for the office of H.H. Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Laila Suhail, CEO, Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE) and Ali Ibrahim, Deputy Director General for Planning and Development, Department of Economic Development.

FoID 2011 was held in association with DEPE and was highly supported by key partners and sponsors. Platinum sponsors included INDEX 2011, the American Hardwood Export Council and Philips. The Gold sponsor for the event was Woodflors, while Silver sponsors were Roca, Poggen Pohl, RAME, OAK, Linder, Interfaceflor and Grand Royal. Tour bus sponsor was Moody Design. The main sponsors for the FoID Gala Dinner were Greenline Interiors. Support sponsors for the festival included Schulz, Design Design, Samuel Creations, Barrisol, Natuzzi, Techno Mec Building industries, Al Fara’a Interiors, Al Khaznah Tannery and the Pavilion Downtown Dubai. Event partners included ‘thejamjar,’ Viabizzuno, Manipal University, Beau Mclellan, Scarlet Opus, NCS Color System, Joost, the Shelter, Showcase art, antiques & frames, the British Contract Furnishing Association and the American University of Sharjah.

David Trubridge, Hadi Teherani, Rogier van der Heide, Francesc Rife and Bruno Triplet to speak at inaugural event

October 22, 2011

The first ‘Interior Design Congress, one of the major events that will be taking place during the inaugural ‘Festival of Interior Design’ (FoID), opened today (October 22, 2011) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event is being graced by world-renowned figures in architecture, fashion and interior design including David Trubridge, Rogier van der Heide, Hadi Teherani, Francesc Rife and Bruno Triplet, who are all set to speak at the one-day congress. According to the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), an organization representing professional interior designers in the Gulf region, the ‘Interior Design Congress’ is being held with the key objectives of highlighting the significance of interior design and providing a key venue where the region’s design professionals can converge and discuss timely industry trends and issues.

Award winning furniture designer David Trubridge leads the pack of speakers for the congress and will also be showcasing his latest design,’Gallery Bench,’ which is an example of his blend of creative contemporary design and immaculate craftsmanship. Trubridge will talk on how design speaks for here and now and the creation of design that is fresh, new and relevant without being novel, contrived or superficial. Also expected to bring in a lively discussion about architecture and interior design is Hadi Teherani, who is considered to be one of the most prominent architects of our times. He studied architecture from the Technical University of Braunschweig and taught at the Technical University in Aachen. Teherani’s works can be seen from Dubai to Hamburg and from Moscow to Istanbul, reflecting designs of modern cityscapes in international cities.

“The ‘Interior Design Congress’ is definitely one of the ‘must attend’ events for the Festival of Interior Design. We are very pleased that this inaugural congress is being participated in by some of the world’s leading names in interior design and architecture and will be rendering key talks on the design industry,“ said Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi, President, APID. “Our invited speakers will also be a part of the discussions on timely topics like fashion and interior design and participants will surely gain the advantage of learning from world-class design masters.”

Francesc Rife is a leading interior and industrial designer originally haling from Sant Sadurni de´Anoia. Rife ventured early into the industry by accepting independent commissions for various architectural and design studios, even though he was still an undergraduate at that time. It was also during this early period of learning the ropes of the industry that he started taking on his own projects. Meanwhile, Bruno Triplet is one of the world’s leading interior designers with a more contemporary yet simple and pure focus on home decoration. His strong sense of colors, which have been inspired by so many sources, times and places, combined with his preferences for discreet yet luxurious textures have set him apart from other home interior designers.

“The presence of these leading icons in architecture and interior design not only adds prestige to the ‘Interior Design Congress’ but also shows that the global interior design industry has put the spotlight on the Middle East and is eager to tap into the many emerging talents that we have here today. We are confident that the congress will prove to be both a learning experience and an inspiration for local designers and creatives to create more innovative and world class products and designs,“ concluded Al Awadhi.

The ‘Interior Design Congress’ will also feature a panel discussion on Fashion and Interior Design. Discussions featured during the congress will be led by local and regional professionals with the aim to address timely issues and trends in the world of interior design and its related areas. The congress is being held in conjunction with the five pillar objectives of FoID, which are to ‘Educate’; to ‘Celebrate’; to ‘Encourage’; to ‘Highlight’ and to ‘Collaborate.’

Rogier van der Heide is a designer based in the Netherlands and has contributed to public and commercial places all over the world. He studied at the Institut Superieur des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Belgium and the Amsterdam School of Arts. He started his career as a theatre lighting designer in The Netherlands, doing light design for a number of Dutch theatre groups. In 1990, he joined the Amsterdam-based design practice, Hans Wolff & Partners (HWP), who specialize in architectural lighting design and theatre consulting. His most notable work in light design for the firm was the renovation of the Royal Flemish Opera in Ghent, Belgium.

Under the patronage oh His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (DCAA), ‘Festival of Interior Design’ (FoID), will be held from October 22 to October 25, 2011 across Dubai. The event is being organized by The Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), an organization representing professional interior designers in the Gulf region, with aims of highlighting the integral role of interior design and to provide a key venue where the region’s design professionals can discuss timely issues and showcase the works of emerging talents and design firms in the region. The announcement complements the recently announced partnership between APID and the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), which aims to attract greater participation from the retail sector during the festival.

The support of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the Festival of Interior Design is in line with the objective to position Dubai as a vibrant and global Arabian metropolis that shapes culture and arts in the region and the rest of the world. Culture, arts and heritage have been identified as vital elements essential to Dubai’s expanding economy and are also recognized as the key building blocks of civil life and public dialogue. His vision and efforts include the development of a massive collective of the most passionate minds in the region and of the rest of the world, working together to realize the objective of a thriving artistic and cultural scene in Dubai. The support towards FoID brings Sheikh Majid’s vision one step closer towards its aim of packaging Dubai as a key destination for arts and culture.

“Dubai has strategically positioned itself as a global hub for arts and culture, playing host to many cultural and artistic endeavors and home to a thriving artistic community,” said Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi, President, APID. “The first Festival of Interior Design is an important undertaking that seeks to highlight Dubai as a creative centre for today’s interior design industry and place the spotlight on the emerging talent of individuals and firms in the region. The presence of world class interior design products and services fit accordingly with the growing number of major projects in Dubai and help in positioning ourselves as a strategic centre for design, art and culture.”

The patronage is the latest in a line of developments on the Festival of Interior Design. With only a few weeks left, APID officials have confirmed that preparations for the events and activities are right on track. One of the main attractions for the festival is the ‘Interior Design Congress,’ which will run alongside this year’s edition of the Dubai International Design Exhibition (INDEX 2011) and will also feature two panel discussions touching on key topics in the design industry. The festival will also host a ‘Product Design’ competition with the top entries to be placed on exhibit at ‘thejamjar’ and at the FoID Gala Dinner on October 22, 2011. In addition, The Pavilion - Downtown Dubai will also host four exciting days of activities featuring design talks, movie screenings, live art and networking events.

“We express our extreme gratitude to H.H Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his support and patronage for FoID. Through his able leadership and long term vision, His Highness has championed major steps in bringing culture, arts and design to the forefront of Dubai life. Accordingly, the festival not only aims to strengthen the region’s interior design industry but also sets out to complement current efforts being made to rend Dubai as a premier venue for all things artistic, design and creative. The strong seals of approval and support from key government bodies like the DEPE also give us the confidence that FoID will truly be a remarkable event not only for the interior design industry but for the UAE as well,” concluded Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi.

Exciting three-day program to feature leading designers including Beau McClellan, Joost Bakker, Danillo Mandelli, Amartey Golding and Scarlet Opus

October 4, 2011

The Pavilion Downtown Dubai, a leading artistic venue for the local UAE artist community, has announced that it will be hosting three exciting days of design-centric events for the inaugural Festival of Interior Design (FoID), which will be held from October 22 to October 24, 2011 throughout Dubai. The three-day program will include design talks, movie screenings, networking events and other activities under the themes - ‘Prognostication’ day, ‘Preservation’ day, and ‘Illumination’ day. FoID is being organized by the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), an organization representing professional interior designers in the Gulf Region, and will run in conjunction with this year’s edition of the INDEX International Design Exhibition 2011, which will be at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICE).

“We are very excited to host these events as part of the inaugural Festival of Interior Design as this will also allow us to live up to our vision of being a prime venue where local artistic community can meet, hold art exhibitions and host lectures and workshops,” said Yasmine Rasool, Art Coordinator, The Pavilion Downtown Dubai. “Our partnership with APID reflects a common goal of being able to showcase the creativity of emerging talents in the UAE and act as a strategic platform to discuss new trends and issues in the artistic community.”

According to FoID organizers, ‘Prognostication’ day will be held on October 22, 2011 and will include a seminar titled ‘Catch the Color’ by NCS, movie screenings, and a presentation on the latest design trends by Scarlet Opus, a leading trend forecasting and business development firm for interior products and services. The second day will be ‘Illumination’ day and will feature a presentation by Danilo Mandelli from Viabizzuno on the ‘8 rules of Light’ in addition to a special lighting workshop and lighting themed soiree by multi-award winning lighting design expert Beau McClellan. The third and final day called ‘Preservation’ day will include a screening of the ‘Greenhouse’ movie followed by a special video teleconference with ‘Greenhouse’ creator Joost Bakker. The day will conclude with a special networking event featuring leading young British artist Amartey Golding who will create live art at The Pavilion Downtown Dubai.

Joost Bakker is a discipline-crossing creative who constantly draws on his ‘horti-culture’ to make artful commentary on the world’s wasteful ways. Working exclusively with the discard of human activity, he has been commissioned to design furniture, vertical gardens and event spaces in his trademark style juxtaposing nature and industry. In March 2006, Joost set about the construction of a new home for his family, employing a unique building system; a contemporary take on a great sustainable construction method utilising straw bales set into a 100 per cent recyclable steel framework. In 2008, the same building principles were utilized to construct the first ‘Greenhouse by Joost’, an exhibition and event space at Melbourne’s Federation Square.

“Being able to reach out to a Middle East audience allows me to convey my vision of a more environment friendly world to live in,” said Joost Bakker. “Despite not being able to physically present at the event, the wonders of modern technology will give me the chance to share my experiences and views on the world’s wasteful ways and how we can start making a difference by adopting and implementing more green initiatives.”

Beau McClellan is a widely renowned artist and multi-award winning lighting design expert. Under his design firm, Beau McClellan Design, he has created a wide collection of lighting based products and has also been commissioned to render lighting design services for film, set design, music and advertising. When a chance commission to create an artwork involving illumination came along in 2000, Beau threw himself into researching the world of lighting design, which later resulted in an emotive, exciting and expressive medium that has changed his perspective forever. McClellan’s work can be seen across major projects in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Scarlet Opus is a leading business development and trend forecasting company specialising in Interior Products and Services. The company, which offers strategic services like trends forecasting, business development and product design, works closely with its diverse clientele to help achieve sustainable increases in profits, revenues and market shares. Meanwhile, Amartey Golding is a young British artist who draws large figurative portraits on paper and canvas mixed with photography, a key focus being the thoughts and contemplations of the individual and their identities. He puts his art on the streets as well as in galleries, which resembles his feeling of being at home and working in any environment or crowd. In 2009, he had his first solo exhibition entitled ‘Charcoal Diary’ at Showcase Gallery in Dubai, and has followed this up with 2 more successful solo exhibitions, ‘One for Sorrow, Two for Joy’ in 2010 and ‘Thorns have Roses’ in 2011.

“We are delighted to be taking part in the first FoID as it gives us an opportunity to talk about the key trends and changes in today’s interiors market sector,” said Phil Pond, Dream Weaver, Scarlet Opus. “The Middle East region has a wonderful cultural heritage demonstrating a wonderful synthesis of vibrant hues and colors in traditional Arabic elements. Our presentation at The Pavilion Downtown Dubai will focus on talking new trends and sharing a view of the future in consumer motivation, design direction and color.”

With less than a month to go before FoID, APID has revealed that it is right on track with regards to the preparations of activities and events for FoID. Some of the major events for the festival include a Product Design competition, with the top eight entries to be showcased at ‘thejamjar’. The top four finalists will later be auctioned off at the FoID Gala Dinner on October 22, 2011. APID has also revealed its partnership with the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), which is set to attract strong participation from the UAE retail sector. The activities during the festival reflect its objectives to bind and unify interior design professionals in the Middle East region and provide a strategic venue to showcase the designs and work of emerging individuals and firms while also allowing access to key opportunities created by the event.

“The partner events at The Pavilion Downtown Dubai are the results of the extensive preparations that we have been making for FoID. Our goal is to hold these activities with the intention of getting the whole city involved, giving us a wider extension and allowing us the opportunity to showcase emerging creative talent and host engaging lectures and discussions on the latest in interior design trends today,” concluded Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi, President, APID.

Leading company’s latest range of decorative paints reflect strong sense of Arabic culture and life style

August 24, 2011

Ashish Vasudev, Marketing & Retail Manager, Jotun Paints

Jotun Paints, one of the world’s leading producers and suppliers of paints and coatings, has revealed its partnership with Home Centre, the Middle East region’s prominent furniture retailer. The strategic new alliance will allow Jotun to promote and highlight ‘Colour Trends 2011’ across all the Home Centre retail branches in the Middle East. ‘Colour Trends 2011’ is strongly based on current interior design trends that reflect Arabic culture and life style. Conceptualized by a select group of design professionals, the new colours and hues are the result of an intensive research and analysis of global and Middle East interior design trends. The new line is made up of four trends — 24 trendy colours; six colours per palette in each trend that can be achieved through using Jotun’s Fenomastic and Lady Essentials paints.

The new Colour Trends 2011  are expected to set a beautiful tone to the home space this year with inspiring and trendy colours of ‘Festival of Colours’; ‘From the Earth’ and ‘The Princesses’ and ‘Generations.’ ‘Colour Trends 2011’ also aims to complement this year’s growing trend of more eco-friendly raw forms of design; focusing on basic elements like greenery, mud, wood and stone. ‘The Princesses’ provides users with a more chic and romantic look while ‘Generations’ pays tribute to age old ethnic patterns. ‘Festival of Colours’ provides a back draft for celebrating life and creates an ambience for eternal festivities.   

“Our strategic partnership with Home Centre will allow us to promote this year’s edition of ‘Colour Trends.’ Home Centre’s strong presence across key locations in the Middle East gives us the confidence of hitting our target markets,” said Ashish Vasudev, Marketing & Retail Manager, Jotun Paints. “‘Colour Trends 2011’ strongly reflect modern Arab culture and lifestyle and is perfect for different interior design possibilities in today’s modern home. This new line is the result of the effort and time rendered by our designers in trying to come up with the perfect line of colours and hues that can best create different atmospheres and ambiences that best reflect the MENA region.”

Jotun’s ‘Colour Trends 2011’ range aims to give customers an early insight into this year’s fashionable colour schemes and wall designs, enabling home decorators and renovators to select the right shades and combinations. Each year, the company adds several new shades to the range, which are based on extensive research and customer feedback. Customers can know more about the ‘Colour Trends 2011’ by visiting Jotun Multicolor and Inspiration Centres, where they can also get a copy of the ‘Trend’ brochure to help them choose the suitable colours they require. Customers can also choose trend colours on the ‘easy to use’ colour inspiration tool Jotun ColourAdvisor at www.colouradvisor.com.

“Our customers in the Middle East are slowly ushering in new trends like the use of more earthy colours and patterns, however, bright colours and interplay between dark and light hues will still be fashionable. Our new collection also strongly shows the Arabic characteristic of love for tradition and culture–that is why we also have a fourth trend for 2011 known as ‘Generations’ or ‘Ajiyal’,” concluded Vasudev.

‘A new pulse for a new life’ campaign to redefine interior design by infusing positive energy into living spaces   

July 23, 2011

Goblan Gallery, a leader in interior decoration and furniture arrangement, recently opened its second branch in Dubai in response to the excellent outlook for the UAE’s interior design industry. The Emirates’ strong economy coupled with the launching of a series of high-quality real estate development projects is expected to further increase demand for interior design services across the country.

The new branch reflects Goblan Gallery’s ongoing expansion in the UAE market aimed at gaining better access to its target audience. The company will introduce customers to the latest trends in interior decoration to help realize their aspirations of living in a home that exudes comfort, class and luxury.    

Goblan Gallery’s unique ‘A new pulse for a new life’ concept focuses on creating positive energies in its designs. Under this innovative approach, Goblan Gallery identifies the basic needs of each home they service and uses designs and colours that complement the unique interests of each family member. This produces spaces that are filled with both comfort and sophistication.

The company emphasizes its commitment to providing high-quality solutions and services at affordable prices to cater to various segments of society. It offers several facilities for people with limited income via the supported by Islamic banks in order to make its innovative designs available to all.

“We are pleased to announce the recent opening of our second branch, which will build on the success of our first facility at the Bin Sougat Centre. We want to change how the UAE and the entire region perceive interior design by making energy an important part of the process. We also want to raise awareness on the role and the effects of the surrounding environment on the choice of colours and designs and on our lives as well. Our vision is to breathe new life into homes, to bring about positive change, and to create homes with distinctive furniture that provide beauty, comfort and happiness,” said Lulwa Ibrahim Al Humidi, Founder and CEO of Goblan Gallery.

“Our services are not limited to new decorations alone. We also provide advice and assistance on creatively rearranging existing furniture. We can also suggest the removal of some pieces that may generate negative energy in terms of colour or shape. Our main goal is to contribute to the happiness and well being of our customers who are always foremost in our minds. We have full confidence in our new branch, which embodies comfort, stability, love, intimacy, safety and warmth. Through it we will continue to abide by our promise of ‘A new pulse for a new life,’” Al Humidi added.

Goblan Gallery was established in the UAE in the year 2000 as a specialty shop for antiques, furniture, and high-quality home accessories. Over the past few years it has managed to achieve rapid growth, becoming the first company of its kind in the UAE to base its decoration and interior design services on the concept of cosmic energy. This unique approach enables Goblan Gallery to build elegant and soothing residential environments. The company’s vision is to serve all segments of UAE society.

Competition to showcase creativity and talent of local design community with winning entry being auctioned off at FoID gala event

July 19, 2011

The Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), an organization representing professional interior designers in the Gulf region, has announced the launch of an exciting ‘Product Design’ competition open to members of the design industry and local community including individuals, groups or any design-based firms. The competition is one of the many events that will take place during the inaugural Festival of Interior Design (FoID), which will run in conjunction with INDEX International Design Exhibition 2011 from October 22 to 25, 2011 across Dubai. Deadline for the first phase of the competition, which covers the submission of scaled drawings and rationale via email, will be on September 8, 2011. Meanwhile, the deadline for the second phase, which covers the production and submission of the actual life-size product, will be on October 16, 2011. The best four products will be auctioned off at the FoID Gala Dinner on October 22, 2011, with the proceeds going to a charity (TBA). All product designers including the overall winner will also walk away with the distinction of being recognized by peers from the region’s thriving interior design industry.

The competition requires the submission of a product design that is relevant to the Interior Design industry and fits one of three interior categories, which are: innovative interior finish, interior furniture and accessories. During the judging and evaluation process, the judges will shortlist entries based on form, function and innovation. Further, contestants entering the competition are encouraged to consider the five underlying objectives of FoID during the design process which are: ‘Educate’, to increase awareness of the interior design industry within the general public and among industry professionals; ‘Celebrate’, to give homage and celebrate the significance of the industry in both traditional and modern Arab culture; ‘Encourage’, to promote and discover emerging talent in interior design; ‘Highlight’, to focus on innovation and new design trends in the industry today; and ‘Collaborate’, to promote and strengthen partnerships with similar interior design based groups and associations.

“APID is encouraging members of the local design community to put their thinking caps on, get their creative juices flowing and start coming up with a winning design concept for the first FoID product design competition,” said Farida Kamber Al Awadhi, President, APID. “The competition will allow us to tap into a cross section of designers, firms and groups and showcase their talent to the rest of the region. Winners will not only have the opportunity to have their design auctioned off but will also receive extensive exposure in design publications, the APID and FoID web portals and on social sites including Facebook and Twitter. The competition reflects APID’s aim of giving local designers the chance to demonstrate their talent and their vision alongside internationally renowned design Masters.”

As part of the first round, participants will be asked to submit a detailed drawing and the rationale behind their design concept in PDF format via email. Judges for the competition will then announce the top ten entries on September 15, 2011. The chosen ten will then be asked to produce and create an actual life-size product that will pack to a maximum size of two cubic metres, which needs to be submitted by October 16, 2011. A second round of judging will be made to choose the top four entries. Guests attending the FoID Gala Dinner will be invited to vote for the winning concept. In the event of a tie, a designated ‘reserve guest’ will be asked to vote to break the tie. Winners will be announced with the categories - Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze and auctioned off using these designations. The identity of the overall winner will be revealed at the dinner and the winner will receive a certificate, APID membership valid for one year and publicity through the support of APID, FoID, INDEX and industry publications.

“We are looking forward to the entries for the competition, which will allow us a peek at the creativity and design skills of the region’s emerging designers. Winners will not only be awarded with one year free membership to APID but will also gain the opportunity of meeting new contacts and fellow designers, allowing them more opportunities to hone and develop their skills and talents. Rest assured, APID will continue to live up to its commitment of being an association that best represents the interests of interior design professionals in the Middle East region,” concluded Farida Al Awadhi.

According to the organizers, all applicants need to be at least 18 years of age and will be required to submit a PDF version of the scaled drawings of the product design, a rendered drawing of the design and a clear concept design rationale as part of the initial submission. A registration fee of AED 250 will be charged, which can be paid online or in person. APID will then issue a code number to be used on all submitted materials for judging purposes. In addition, all collaborative entries should include the names of all contributors to the entry at the time of application. Only one entry per individual or group will be allowed.

APID to complement upswing with adoption of new strategies and creation of more opportunities for interior design professionals

July 14, 2011

Total spending for the GCC’s interior design segment is expected to grow in 2011, signifying a dramatic increase from last year’s recorded figure of USD 56.9 billion, according to a recent report from Proleads, a leading business intelligence and research firm. In line with this positive forecast, the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), an organization for professional interior designers in the Gulf Region, has also shared that there is an increased demand for interior design services across the GCC in general and the UAE, in particular. The increase in services can be seen in the UAE’s current batch of world-class development projects like hotels, mixed-use projects and villas. The strong growth balances the number of projects from 2009 to 2010, which totaled USD 21.8 billion - with the UAE representing two-thirds of the total project value.

The Proleads report has also revealed that the total spending for the UAE interior design segment is forecasted to grow to USD 22.5 billion this year. The spending refers to fixtures and facilities like curtain walling, doors, windows, canopy and skylights, stone cladding, swimming pools, garbage disposal, window cleaning, parking management, lifts, sanitary fittings, light fittings, external lighting, car park, landscaping, signage, kitchen, laundry and furniture. The projected increase has encouraged APID to launch and adopt new strategic initiatives and programs that primarily aim to create more opportunities for interior design professionals based in the Middle East region. Further, the move will allow APID to reinforce its ties with the interior design industry, connecting with new markets, strengthening existing business relationships and forging new partnerships.

“The GCC’s interior design industry is currently witnessing rapid growth and development and is strongly reflected in the high number of design projects that accompany the current batch of world class development projects in the region,” said Farida Kamber Al Awadhi, President, APID. “The increase in world-class development projects and the influx of leading interior design brands into the region is a reflection of the industry’s robustness and resilience amid the global economic downturn. APID affirms its commitment towards representing the best interests of the GCC’s design professionals and to provide them with a strategic platform that will allow them to strengthen business relationships and provide key opportunities for the region’s interior design community.”

APID is currently preparing for the region’s first ‘Festival of Interior Design’ (FOiD), which will be held from October 22 to 25, 2011 across Dubai. The event is part of APID’s strategic initiatives to highlight the key role of interior design in everybody’s lives and act as a platform to discuss the industry’s timely issues and also highlight the works of emerging talents and design firms in the region. The festival will be accompanied by the ‘Interior Design Congress, which will run on October 22, 2011, and will entail a program including four keynote speakers and two panel sessions featuring well-known design personalities. FOiD is slated to become a catalyst event that binds and unifies all interior design professionals in the region and allowing them access to key opportunities created by the event.

“APID remains steadfast in its commitment to improve the status and work environment of interior design professionals in the region, by implementing strategic initiatives and programs that are aimed at further developing and improving their interior design skills. These strategic programs also aim at giving the region a better understanding of the interior design segment and the design professionals that make up the industry. We are upbeat of this projected growth and have set our sights on reinforcing our presence in other areas in the region, envisioning a wider reach for APID members,” concluded Farida Kamber Al Awadhi.

- art flooring specialist demonstrates techniques in resin flooring design -

Dubai, UAE, 4th April 2011 – Modula-conceptio, Dubai based contemporary interior boutique amalgamating unique styles of design from around the world, played host to the final year interior design students from Manipal University, Dubai. The soon to be graduates were introduced to the Italian art flooring specialist Mino Longo, who demonstrated to them the extraordinary technique of art of resin flooring. A hand-crafted process that requires years of mastery, Mino Longo was able to take the students through the application process required in the development of a seamless resin flooring systems.

An Italian artist from Milan school of art, Mino Longo discovered the medium to express his artistry in 1995. He has dedicated over 15 years working with Resin and creating new and innovative ways of decorating floors, walls, panels, tabletops, stairs and more. A pioneer in using Resin for artistic décor flooring, Mino Longo is the most renowned artist in this field. Having worked in several commercial and private projects, Mino Longo works are famous throughout Europe, Dubai and the Middle East.

“It is very important to expose students to the practical aspects that showcase different processes and techniques in interior designing world. The art of resin flooring is fairly new and we are not familiar with the technicalities of the process and it was a privilege to meet Mino and see his style of work. A great opportunity for the students and we are privileged to receive the invitation from Modula-conception” said Ms. Indira Barve, Asst. Professor, Interior Design Dept., Manipal University.

Currently designing a complete residential project on the Palm Jumeirah, Mino Longo brings the dynamics of this art flooring exclusively through Modula-conceptio whose approach is to offer design solutions that give life to ideas and expressions. Whether its flooring, furniture or lighting, each item at Modula-conceptio possesses its own well-defined characteristics, and boasts a shape that is simple yet complex, contemporary yet timeless, and always luxurious.

Modula-conceptio plays a key role in fulfilling the brand’s mission of offering the very best of interior design solutions to a market that is constantly redefining its impeccable standards of quality and design. Standing apart from today’s trends of mass-produced machine made solutions, Modula-conceptio’s hand crafted collections invoke individuality and the ability to customize interiors to reflect each ones personality.

March 28, 2011

RAK Ceramics, the world’s largest ceramic tiles & bath ware manufacturing company, has revealed that it has extended the deadline of RAK Ceramics Design Award 2011, which is instituted to honour the best tile and bathware concept designs and its creators, to 30th April 2011.

The theme for the competition is a presentation of wall/floor design (matching wall and floor) inclusive of related decoration such as décor tiles, borders and listellos. The top three winning entries will be rewarded with attractive cash prizes, in addition to significant media publicity. Further, RAK Ceramics has revealed that the winning designs may also be used in the company’s new range of tiles that will be launched later this year.

Abdulla Mahmood, Head - Marketing and Corporate Communications, RAK Ceramics, said,       “The interest generated by the Design Award 2011 has been overwhelming so far, and we have extended the deadline owing to requests from colleges and students. The key tenet of this award is to reward architecture and interior design students who can best depict the versatility and innovation of ceramic tiles made in the UAE, which are known for their perfect blend of heritage and contemporary outlook, attributes that also perfectly sum up the country’s style of architecture.”  

More information about the award, registration details and submission requirements can be found on http://www.rakceramics.com/uae/designaward.html.

RAK Ceramics is a USD 1 billion global conglomerate in the ceramic industry, offering a product portfolio comprising over 8,000 designs in ceramic tiles, Gres Porcellanato, and several models in bath ware. RAK Ceramics was recently honoured by the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) for complying with good governance and transparency according to best international practices. The company has also been conferred the SuperBrand 2010 Award and continues to be a global pioneer in the world of ceramics through innovative products such as the RAKSLIM, a new brand of 4.5-millimetre thick tile that sets new industry benchmarks in thickness, strength, cost and ease of use. RAK Ceramics is also founding member of Emirates Green Building Council, which supports the development of sustainable buildings in UAE.