Leading regional and international experts will come together to discuss the latest issues and trends in the architecture and design industry at the upcoming 'Index 2011' expo in Dubai.

One of the largest interiors and design exhibitions in the region, Index will run from October 22 to 25, said the organisers.

“While Index is an established platform for exhibitors to showcase their products and services, it also serves as an opportunity to come together and discuss the future of the design industry,” said Paul Al Chami, event director for Index.

The event will offer a platform for industry leaders, exhibitors and visitors to speak about the future of the industry including topics such as sustainability, innovation, youth and finance.

“We have a series of conferences, panel discussions and seminars that raise for discussion the key issues influencing the growth of the industry,” he added.

This year’s speaker platforms include design talks seminars. Now in its fourth year, the talks will include an interactive series of seminars throughout the event, said Al Chami.

These sessions will be open to all visitors and will have themed sessions each day of the show, which include:

Day 1: ‘Real Life Environment’ – Panel to discuss preparing Interior Design graduates for the demands of the work place
Day 2:  Focus on the industry’s business and financing
Day 3: ‘Forward Thinking’ sessions presented by the Middle East chapter of the American Institute of Architects
Day 4:  Presenters touching on the industry’s key topics – Talk Innovation, Talk Green, Talk Trends and Talk Technology

The key speakers lined up for the design talks include Ali Al Suwaidi, senior facilities manager, Abu Dhabi Ports Company; Eames Demetrios, director, Eames Office; Yann Jolivet, deputy GM of Café Division, Bateel International; Mick Kent, co-founder and   partner, Kinnersley Kent Design; Jordi Milà, designer Barcelona; Shelley Pond, creative director, Scarlet Opus; Nathan Savage, principal lighting designer, partner, Light Touch; Victor Schoone, country manager ME, Roca Sanitario; Matteo Vercelloni, architect; Padmaja Yadav, consultant, Vaastu for Art of Living; Karim Zaki, chairman, Archimedia and from Insight With Passion, senior partners Kate Hardcastle and Richard Gomersall.

The event will also see the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID launch the region’s first Festival of Interior Design (FoID).

Index and Apid have partnered to host an exclusive one day congress at Index during the Festival of Interior Design which will attract constituents of the interior design industry and up to 400 delegates.

A three-day InRetail Summit alongside Index will unveil retail innovators, personalities and organisations that have not only survived the industry’s most difficult years but used the downturn to grow and strengthen their brands and drive growth and transformation in the market, said Al Chami.

The programme focuses on innovation as key solutions to today’s market challenges and will highlight key retail projects and regional round-ups from the biggest retailers across the Mena region.

Index comes at a time when the industry is stabilising from the economic downturn and is witnessing a steady growth in the GCC, said Al Chami.

Index recently announced from a report with Ventures Middle East that in the GCC $4.5 billion was spent on interiors and fit-outs in 2010, and is expected to increase by more than a quarter (26 per cent) this year.

The report, which focussed on the four key pillars of the real estate sector - commercial, hospitality, residential and retail – also showed that interiors accounts for up to 30 per cent of GCC real estate project values, he added.-TradeArabia News Service