Middle East Emergent Designer Prize Returns for Sixth Edition

High-end jewellery designer Van Cleef & Arpels is collaborating with art hub Tashkeel for the sixth edition of the Middle East Emergent Designer Prize 2019.

The prize will be judged by members of Van Cleef & Arpels, Tashkeel, Hani Asfour – dean of the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DiDi), and an established professional designer from the region. The prize presents a unique opportunity for designers to showcase their work to a global audience with manufacturing and production support from the two leading organisations.

Launched in 2013, the Middle East Emergent Designer Prize is a partnership between the two leading organisations focused on supporting regional designers and exhibiting unique design pieces that respond to the given theme every year. Cultivating talent across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, the Middle East Emergent Designer Prize intends to encourage and support designers to elevate their ideas to reality. The deadline for submission is June 2.

The sixth edition of the prize encourages designers to look towards nature and celebrate the cyclical patterns through conceptual interpretations of the process. The organisations are looking for work that incorporates unique perspectives on the cyclical aspects of life, time and nature while enforcing the aspect of form and function. This year’s theme, Cyclical, aims to inspire designers to develop functional design displaying a strong concept and practical purpose.

“Tashkeel is delighted to collaborate with Van Cleef & Arpels on the sixth edition of the Middle East Emergent Designer Prize. This important initiative has played a vital role in the careers of emerging product designers and artists including Salem Al Mansoori, Vikram Divecha and Hamza Omari,” said Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel.

“The aim of The Middle East Emergent Designer Prize is to draw attention to the region’s innovative design industry and continue to create new avenues for emerging designers in the region that will help them achieve international recognition,” said Alessandro Maffi, managing director Van Cleef & Arpels, Middle East and India.

The winner of the prize will receive a production budget of $8,168 as well as a seven-day trip to attend courses at the Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery school L’ECOLE, school of jewellery arts, in Paris. The winning piece will be unveiled in a prominent location in the UAE, giving the designer an opportunity to showcase work to an international audience.

Courtesy: Trade Arabia