Post modern vision takes top prize at Index Dubai 2008

"We set out to create something out of the ordinary," said Shant Krichelian, one of the two final year students of the School of Architecture and Design at the American University of Sharjah whose entry won the top prize in Al Habtoor Interior's Young Designers Award. The awards were presented today at Index, the region's biggest interior event at Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Index is hosting the winners of Al Habtoor Interiors' Young Designers Award on a specially designed stand featuring a mock up of the hotel room and artists' impressions of work by the winners and runners up. "Their work shows much hope for the future," said Guy Roukaerts, a design journalist and one of the judges for the awards. "The quality of presentations was striking," he added.

Shant, from Armenia but born and brought up in Sharjah, co-operated on the winning hotel room design with fellow interior design student Nazaneed Azarbaijani, from Iran. "Our design is post modern and all about function and comfort," said Shant. On plans for an interior design career on graduation, Shant said: "I haven't decided yet but I will go wherever the flow takes me."

Second placed in the awards were a team from Ajman University made up of interior design students Tarek Karaly, Ahmed Hamdy and Mohammed Ziddan. Third placed was a team from MAHE Manipal University that included Gurpreet Kaur, Sabrina Kenssous and Sherin Samuel.

Sponsored and organised by Al Habtoor Interiors, a pioneer in interior design solutions, the awards are aimed at encouraging creative talent within UAE universities. Paul Watson, General Manager of Al Habtoor Leighton Group Associated Business, congratulated the winners and wished them the best for their future careers.

Bernard Walsh, Managing Director of dmg media Dubai organisers of Index, said:

"It is the responsibility of everybody involved in the industry to encourage young talent and we are delighted to be able to help open doors that may lead to a big break."

The world's major suppliers of furniture, fixtures and fittings are taking part in Index. Nearly 1800 companies from 60 countries are exhibiting in this year's event, which runs until Sunday 7 December 2008. Index is open each day to professionals and trade visitors. The show is open to the general public after 5 pm. There is a special evening opening from 5-10 pm on Friday 5 December.