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INDEX

16 Nov 2009

Next generation of interior designers compete in the Al Habtoor ISG Student Design Challenge at INDEX 2009

CLICK HERE to read this press release in Arabic

The UAE’s outstanding young design talent will be put to the test during the Al Habtoor ISG Student Design Challenge at INDEX 2009.  INDEX, the Middle East’s largest interior design show, is sponsored by Al Nakheel, and is currently taking place until 17 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).     

Students from the region’s leading design universities, including Abu Dhabi University, American University of Sharjah, Ajman University of Science and Technology, Manipal University, Preston University Ajman, and Zayed University, are working together to complete a design challenge live on the INDEX show floor each day. Working in two teams, the students have been tasked with designing and creating a specific object out of a single material every day live on the stand, which is located in Hall 8 of the DWTC, stand number 8D321.

The challenges, which are being set each day by Al Habtoor ISG, also include a community element, with one of the challenges being to create an object, such as a special chair or table, for a charitable organisation in the region.  INDEX and Al Habtoor ISG are working closely with TASMENA, a recently formed non-profit organisation, whose mission is to raise awareness about socially responsible design, in order to formulate a specific brief for the students which will address the needs of local charities.

The design items from each day will be judged on the closing day of INDEX by a panel of leading interior design professionals as well as a representative from dmg and Al Habtoor ISG. 

As well as the student challenge, the students will also be showcasing their design work at the Al Habtoor ISG exhibition stand, so that the industry’s leading companies and professionals who will be exhibiting at and attending the exhibition will be able to view their work.

Speaking about the competition, INDEX Show Director Lu Buchanan said, “The region has some excellent design universities, and we believe that it is extremely important to encourage the next generation of home grown talent.  The student design competition will not only be fun, but working with TASMENA will ensure that local charities will benefit.  Most importantly for the students, it will provide them with exposure to the leading interior design companies in the region.” 

Alan McCready, Managing Director of Al Habtoor ISG commented, “Al Habtoor ISG has a long standing relationship with INDEX, having sponsored students at the exhibition for several years. It provides these students from local universities with exposure to international experts and gives them an insight into the interior design business. We hope that this year’s Design Challenge produces work which we at Al Habtoor ISG can then take further as an initiative to benefit the community.”