Downtown Design, a leading platform for contemporary original design in the Middle East, has announced its final line-up of keynote speakers at the event's second edition to be held from October 28 to 31 in Dubai, UAE.

Headlining the line-up this year is Mario Bellini, an international icon of design and architecture. Bellini has won numerous prestigious awards including the Medaglia d’Oro and has also worked on milestone projects in the UAE, including the Dubai Creek Complex.

Most recently, he worked on the Department of Islamic Arts at the Louvre. “It’s very exciting to be back in Dubai and to be part of Downtown Design; in my opinion this fair is key to positioning Dubai as the design hub it is becoming what a wonderful place for the design community to meet, inspire and be inspired – there is no better to way to create good business opportunities” said Bellini.

The worlds of design, collection, curation and preservation are also being addressed with two speakers from East and West: Aric Chen, former creative director of Beijing Design Week and the curator of architecture and design at M+ museum, Hong Kong and Giovanna Castiglioni of Fondazione Castiglioni.

Chen will discuss creating a global museum from an alternative perspective, while Castiglioni will share the story of her way of design, and how inspiration can arise from daily and random objects to become functional objects of original design.

The four-day event to be held at the foot of the iconic Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai, Emaar’s flagship development, will also feature a talk series named “Original Talks” held in partnership with Dubai Design District (d3), that offers brand perspectives, business insights and keynotes designed to provide valuable insights into the industry’s hottest topics and trends.

The Original Talks will give delegates an opportunity to interact with some of the most influential individuals that have shaped the industry with their creativity, business acumen and unique perspectives.

Designer and educator Ab Rogers will speak on the closing day about key projects across hospitality, leisure and retail that he has worked on, as well as the burgeoning London design scene.

He heads the Interior Design Programme at the most influential design postgraduate college, the Royal College of Art in London which is showcasing three student projects making their mark on the design world with solutions to global problems from recycling to clean air.

Commenting on these projects, Rogers said: “We are now using design and technology to build responsive solutions, to change the way environment responds with its user. There is real potential to create digital inventions that work as part of intelligent, sustainable spaces to offer the occupant an immersive and multi-sensory interior landscape which they can influence and control.”

The business of design takes centre stage throughout the fair, with exhibitors looking to create new business opportunities and unveil their latest collections. The Downtown Design ‘Business Insights’ section  is a daily talks programme offering visitors the opportunity to understand the business of design from leading international authorities.

The key speakers include Claudio Luti, the president of Milan’s Salone del Mobile and world-renowned Italian furniture company Kartell; Philippe Zuber, the chief operating officer, Emaar Hospitality Group; and Stefania Lazzaroni, Altagamma’s secretary-general who will present key data and trends from the Bain & Company’s Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Study.

“We have been following with great interest the region’s rapid growth and are thrilled that there is finally a platform like Downtown Design that brings together all the key players facilitating business relationships. The region is undeniably an important market for the sector and offers brands excellent growth opportunities,” remarked Lazzaroni.

Each day five brands exhibiting at the fair will give the insights into their products in a section ‘Brand Perspectives’ that will include talks from the world’s most exciting and cutting edge brands in furniture and interiors including Sicis, Lasvit, De Vecchi, Vitra, Gaggenau, and Bang & Olfusen as well as Fritz Hansen, Emeco and Axor.-TradeArabia News Service