The Association of Professional Interior Designers (Apid), an organisation of interior designers in the Gulf region, is urging local firms to showcase emerging talents in an upcoming interior design show in Dubai.

The first edition of the Festival of Interior Design (FoID) will be held from October 22 to 25 across Dubai.

The call is part of Apid’s move to inspire a more UAE-wide participation for the festival from key organizations like cultural associations, schools, artist collectives, consular trade groups and art galleries, and inspiring them to launch events to help increase awareness of the region’s thriving interior design industry.

Apid is currently accepting proposals for events and activities from different members and organizations of the UAE design community that can help inspire and lead to the discovery of new trends and designs in the industry.

The city-wide partner events will include special exhibitions of design portfolios and installations; city centric design trails and visits to key landmarks, hotels, schools and art galleries; lectures from world renowned designers; open master classes; workshops; and screening sessions of interior design based films at restaurants and venues with offerings that fall in line with the festival themes.

Festival partners can also host and organise open houses or open studio events and can also invite international designers to showcase their latest designs and give industry specific talks related to these latest projects.

Further, all partner events will be able to use the FoID brand and logo and will be integrated into key FoID communication platforms like the FoID and Apid website, the FoID feature at INDEX Dubai 2011, and other printed materials, the statement said.

“Apid is looking towards making the first edition of FoID a truly memorable one by enjoining the region’s design community to hold events that can help us put the spotlight on unique talent in design and creativity,“ said Farida Kamber Al Awadhi, president, Apid.

“One of the key objectives of FoID is to allow the participants more access to key opportunities created and also to provide the necessary attention and focus on innovations and new design trends being introduced in the industry today.”

“These partner events, which will run under the FoID umbrella of activities, are also key to Apid’s commitment to unify the region’s interior design industry and act as a strategic venue for young local creators, designers or artists, local retailers and design firms to demonstrate their talent and their vision alongside internationally renowned design experts,” she added.

According to guidelines issued by Apid, festival partners can submit their proposals on any design-related event/activity and organisations, individuals and firms submitting their proposals will be given the privilege to pursue their won objectives.

The deadline for the submission of Event Partner’s participation forms is on September 22.

“We are very excited with the preparations that we are making for this landmark event. The first Festival of Interior Design will feature a calendar of activities that have been carefully planned and thought of - all with the chief aim of making Dubai and the UAE the next global hub for interior design,” Al Awadhi continued.

“Rest assured, Apid will remain steadfast in its commitment of being an association that best represents the interests of interior design professionals in the Middle East region by continuously providing a strong platform for education and development within the design community,” she concluded. – TradeArabia News Service