Open Call for Tamween design programme

The Open Call for Tashkeel’s impressive (and successful) Tanween design programme closes 11 April.

It’s open to any designer over the age of 21 who lives and works in the UAE; there’s no restriction on medium or discipline, and while in the past most Tanween projects have been interior fittings or furniture, it would be interesting to see more video or 2D graphics – perhaps even a building or two.

Ultimately the aim is commercial, to create work for exhibition (and hopefully sale) at Design Days Dubai 2018, under Tashkeel’s design product label Tanween.

What you get is several months’ support in research and experimentation with materials and process, followed by development of actual prototypes. This is delivered via a series of interactive ‘LABs’ at Tashkeel plus supporting working sessions, and these will involve collaborative practice, facilitation, workshops, mentoring and constructive criticism.

Some of the LABs will also include input from members of the design community in the UAE and the UK. Previous contributors have included design collective Glithero; Fi Scott, founder of Make Works; London-based designer Gareth Neal; and designer Jumana Taha of Studio Muju.

The British connection is relevant. There’s an ongoing UK-UAE “Year of Creative Collaboration”, and the Tanween programme has been developed in collaboration with Helen Voce – originally a furniture/interiors designer, she has become a go-to programme organiser for initiatives in the craft and design fields. Voce will be running the four LABs in May, July, September and next January. She was also associated with Small is Beautiful, the project co-producer by the late Roanne Dods; the Tanween Design Programme was initiated in 2013 by Roanne Dods with Tashkeel.

To apply, you need to submit a CV, a statement, and pics of up to ten recent works. The deadline is 11 April and all applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 16 April 2017. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend an interview on 22-23 April, and the selected three or four will be informed by 27 April.

More information here.

 

Last year’s Tanween designers: Hamza Omari (industrial designer at the Dubai-based studio LOCI Architecture + Design);  Hatem Hatem (Iraqi architect and designer); Lujain Abulfaraj (co-founder of a Dubai design studio as well as co-founder and design director of WTD Magazine); and Lujaine Rezk (interior design graduate, at the time interning for the UAE Pavilion at the Venice Biennale)

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