Dubai Design District (D3) launches ‘Design for Good’ project
Collaboration between Emirati designer Roudha Al Shamsi and FBMI first of two 2018 projects
The Dubai Design District (d3) has announced ‘Design for Good’, an initiative that aims to connect the design community through creative collaborations that promote social change in the UAE.
According to a statement, the ‘Design for Good’ project is based on three key pillars; Design for Placemaking, Design for Sustainability and Design for Empowerment. The first pillar prioritises design solutions that encourage creativity and collaboration in public environments, while the second establishes that the design solutions presented should maximise long-term economic, social and environmental value. The last pillar reiterates that design solutions should empower people and challenges perceptions.
Under the Design for Good programme, two projects will be rolled out in 2018. The first, known as ‘The Mesh’, will include a collaboration between the Fatima Bint Mohamed Bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI) and Emirati designer Roudha Al Shamsi.
“Design offers solutions to any problem and through the power of design we can ensure a positive impact on various communities. Collaboration has also proven to achieve greater creativity and improved solutions. Our decision at d3 to launch Design for Good is based on these fundamentals. We are confident such efforts will bring the local design community together to work towards the cause of supporting and encouraging social change,” explained Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, CEO of Dubai Design District.
d3 commissioned Roudha to design three shading structures for the d3 community, which will be produced by women from Afghanistan through FBMI. The funds will be used to educate the women in a bid to build their skillsets further. The three structures will be displayed during the Dubai Design Week in November and will then take up permanent residence in the freezone.
The ‘Design 100’ project will see d3 invite designers from across the UAE to design furniture or a functional object. A jury will convene to select the winning piece, following which 100 pieces are to be produced by d3 in alliance with knowledge partner the American Hardwood Export Council and sold to the public during Dubai Design Week. All proceeds from the sale will be allocated to Dubai Cares towards Syrian refugees.
