Dubai Design District
Dubai Design District, d3, has been carefully developed to provide a creative ecosystem that surpasses the expectations of a typical creative neighbourhood. It has its own beating heart; its own spirit and its own very personal style. This is a place where bohemians can live, work and play. Where aspiring designers can cut their teeth and learn their trade; where local talent can work alongside international design, art and fashion houses. It is, at its heart, a place where creative minds can come together to realise their dreams.
In 2013 the UAE’s Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum, unveiled his vision to create a purpose-built design district that could nurture emerging local talent and provide a home for the region’s creative thinkers.
Many of the world’s creative hubs have grown organically over many years, the result of evolving fashions and cultural trends. The creators of the Middle East’s design district are undertaking an ambitious and innovative approach to creating a regional centre for creative design. From the ground up, d3 has evolved to become the primary destination for creatives from all over the Middle East – and it is still evolving.
The development of d3 is important – it answers a real need amongst the design thinkers in our region. The design industry in the Middle East is thriving and is now an important part of the economy, worth around $2.3 billion in 2014. And, whilst for some this industry may go unnoticed, it is there, in industrial warehouses and side-street art houses, pop-up galleries and individuals running their own cottage industries.
For the thousands of artists, fashion designers and creative minds across the region, there has been a desperate need for a real, living community. A community that provides space, collaboration and opportunities for our regions designers and that also attracts exceptional talent from across the globe.
