Catalan craftsmanship is taking part for the first time in Downtown Design in Dubai, the most important contemporary design and interior design fair in the Middle East. This event is taking place this week as part of Dubai Design Week.

Catalonia’s participation was organised by the Government of Catalonia, through the Ministry of Business and Labour. It has selected 14 works for the fair by craft and design professionals from various disciplines, which form part of the exhibition “Visions of Catalonia. Designing Craft”, an exhibition which is beginning an international tour in Dubai.

This exhibition, which will be on display at Catalonia’s stand, highlights craftsmanship as a method for producing objects for household use, as well as for decorative purposes and aesthetic enjoyment, and explains the role of design in making them useful. The exhibition presents projects at the point of convergence between craftsmanship and design, with factors including the reduction of materials and/or objects, the use of local raw materials, zero waste production processes, durability of the products and dignified ageing, and an easy return to the circular economy cycle. It includes everyday objects, from hydraulic tiles to water jugs, seats, lights, and switches on coffee makers.

The tenth edition of Downtown Design takes place from 8 to 11 November in the city’s design hub, the Dubai Design District, and brings together over 300 exhibitors from internationally renowned design brands, individual designers, collectives and studios from all over the world for four days, with over 21,000 visitors from 30 different countries expected to attend. This fair is the only one in the Middle East specialising in innovative high-end design, with the participation of professionals from various sectors covering all types of decoration and design products: furniture, lighting, textiles, kitchens, bathrooms and accessories, among others.