Moutamarat's inaugural International Design Forum attracts top global and regional leaders

The IDF, which is under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Executive Council of Dubai, will be the first event of its kind to take place in the Arab world.

Organised by Moutamarat, a Joint Venture of Tatweer, a Dubai Holding company, and Saudi Research and Publishing Company, the three-day Forum will host the members of the IDF's Design Advisory Board, a select group of local and international design luminaries, as well as a host of influential leaders of the international and regional business and design communities.

The program of the IDF will be based on three main themes: The "Design Connects" agenda will introduce the concept of design to a broader audience and profile design as a connecting element among different industrial sectors; the "Urban Design" agenda will examine the traditional Arab city and the challenges faced by modern-day urban planners; and the "Industrial Design" agenda will provide unprecedented insight into the Arab market and designing for the Arab consumer, while highlighting the latest developments in industrial design with an eye on innovators of the industrial process.

Raghida Dergham, Senior Columnist and New York Bureau Chief of Al Hayat, will open the IDF with a discussion with members of the Design Advisory Board on their design challenges and the influence of designers on the development and life of regions, communities, organizations and individuals.

The urban design program track will be driven by prominent IDF Design Advisory Board members including, among others, Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas and Bernard Khoury—all of whom are currently working on a variety of high-profile international projects, including some in the UAE—as well as Omar K. Maani, Mayor of Amman; Nasser Rabat, Aga Khan Director of Islamic Architecture at MIT; Lawrence Bloom, Chairman of EcoCities; Hani Rashid, Principal Architect of Asymptote Architecture; Greg Lynn, Designer at Greg Lynn FORM; and Rashad Bukhash, Dubai Municipality.

The debate on promoting creativity and innovation in the Arab world will be guided by Oliviero Toscani, the renowned photographer who built 'United Colors of Benetton' into one of the world's most recognized brands; Hans-Ulrich Obrist, Co-Director of Exhibitions at London's Serpentine Gallery; and Design Advisory Board members Sheikh Majed Al Sabah, Chairman and CEO of Villa Moda and Stefano Boeri, Editor-in-Chief of Domus magazine, among others.

The key participants in the industrial agenda will include renowned international Designer and Design Advisory Board member Karim Rashid; Peter Zec, Chairman of Red Dot and Design Advisory Board member; Michael Young, Chairman of Michael Young; Alice Rawsthorn, Design Critic for the International Herald Tribune; and Dilki de Silva, Secretary-General of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) .

Throughout the IDF, participants will focus on the challenges of design in the Arab and global contexts. "For the Arab world it will be a big challenge of the future to develop design beyond its boundaries," said Peter Zec. "How is it possible to connect design much closer with other disciplines like architecture and urban planning or IT? For this it will be absolutely necessary to establish the most advanced design education as possible. The Arab world should draw a distinction towards a new understanding of design and the cultural and social aspects of life."

The IDF will be held at the prestigious Madinat Jumeirah hotel in Dubai.