Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Dubai Culture, the emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, has organised a series of Islamic design workshops as part of its programme for the sixth edition of ‘Dubai Next’ in London. Entitled, ‘An Evening of Design and Dialogue’, the workshops were led by Emirati designer and entrepreneur, Salem Al-Qassemi, and London-based calligrapher and architect, Taha Al Hiti, who shared their insights into Islamic design with an audience of London-based designers and students.

Salem Al-Qassemi, who also acts as Assistant Professor of Design at the American University of Sharjah, led participants through a workshop entitled, ‘Understanding Through Experimental Image-Making’, which explored how the process of design can be used to break down stereotypes, build bridges, and create new collective narratives. The workshop was followed by an evening talk with Taha Al Hiti, Director at Squadra Architects, who explored the subject of proportions, starting with the human body and its fundamental relation to and influence on art and architecture.

‘Dubai Next’ is the authority’s international platform for showcasing the emirate’s cultural and artistic landscape abroad, and this year took place in London from 18th to 20th September in support of the 2017 #UK/UAE Year of Creative Collaboration and as part of the 15th edition of the London Design Festival. The initiative is part of Dubai Culture’s ongoing efforts to enhance cultural exchange and cooperation across the globe, and in its sixth successful edition it featured a rich programme of panel discussions, workshops and talks around the launch of Dubai Culture’s new book, ‘Global Perspectives on the Islamic Creative Economy’.

By launching ongoing global cultural initiatives like ‘Dubai Next’, Dubai Culture aims to share Dubai’s cultural scene with the world and draw attention to the emirate’s rich heritage throughout the year. The authority’s mandate is to build bridges of constructive dialogue between different civilisations and cultures through enriching initiatives that benefit the emirate’s citizens, residents and visitors