Award-winning architect inspires budding designers with launch of UAE student competition

One hundred interior design students from four UAE universities will attend a seminar this Thursday at the American University of Dubai to hear about the latest trends in office design and products. The seminar is also open to professional designers from across the UAE.

Bellini is in Dubai to officially launch the 2009 Loft Student Design Competition, part of the Office Exhibition from 3-5 March in Dubai. The competition aims to inspire the next generation of designers and is sponsored by renowned Italian office furniture company, Frezza SpA.

Now in its second year, architectural and design students from the American University in Dubai, the American University of Sharjah, the Ajman University of Science and Technology and Sharjah University will compete to win an educational visit to Italy.

Sinead Bridgett, Exhibitions Director at dmg world media, organisers of the Office Exhibition, said:

"The Loft Student Design Competition provides a great opportunity for interior design students from across the UAE to create new and innovative office furniture, and the chance to win a week-long trip to Venice and Milan."

Entrants will submit two A2 boards showing conceptual sketches, dimensions and a rendered 3D model of a cluster workstation, new filing system or office chair.

The competition is open to all interior design students at participating universities. Twenty four students will be short-listed and their works critiqued by an esteemed judging panel, comprising Claudio Bellini and Sergio Lion, Managing Director and Architect at Frezza SpA. The finalist's office designs will be showcased at the Office Exhibition at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, where four winners will be announced.

The winning students will travel to Italy to visit Frezza's furniture factories to learn the secrets behind manufacturing high-end office products and the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, one of the largest interior design shows in the world, as well as get the opportunity to tour Italy's most famous cultural sights.

Dr. Linda Nubani, Director of Mazari Consultants, co-organiser of the competitio, said:

"Participants in last year's competition found it extremely beneficial, as it helped them to put what they were learning in their respective design courses into practice. The winning students found meeting celebrity designers and seeing signature products first-hand at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan to be an invaluable experience."

"The student design competition is one of several unique features of this year's Office Exhibition. Students visiting the show can meet some of the world's leading office designers, suppliers and manufacturers, and see some of the latest designs on the market," Bridgett continued.

Now in its eighth year, the event has attracted over 250 local and international exhibitors and will feature 12 national pavilions, including Italy, Spain, Germany, UK, Turkey, Cyprus, France and Korea.

"The show will also provide vast networking and business opportunities for visitors and exhibitors alike. The Indy Lounge, a new feature of this year's show located on the main show concourse, will allow key industry contacts to meet and do business, away from the busy exhibition floor," said Bridgett.