Nine designers participate in Tashkeel’s annual Tanween Design Programme
Amna Bin Bishr, Duna Ajlan and Dania Ajlan.
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Tashkeel, one of the UAE’s key cultural incubators, has announced that nine designers are taking part in its 11th annual Tanween Design Programme – the largest cohort selected to date. Aimed at fostering the growth of design in the UAE and the production of sustainable furniture and home goods in-country, Tashkeel’s Tanween initiative welcomes the select group of emerging UAE–based designers, offering them a transformative journey of skill enhancement and creative exploration.
The mandate is for the designers to engage in immersive training, mentorship and research opportunities, culminating in the development and production of commercially-available design pieces that are made in the Emirates. “Given that this is Tashkeel’s largest group of Tanween designers to date, we can see the growth of the regional design sector in the last decade, as well as the increased demand for creativity and production emanating from the UAE,” says Karam Hoar, Marketing & Communications Manager at Tashkeel.
“These nine new Tanween designers are poised to make significant contributions to the local and global design community.” In 2024, Tanween participants will refine their craft, expand creative horizons and engage in critical discourse, fostering regional design innovation. With opportunities to showcase their work through a prestigious design exhibition in Q4 2024, it is Tanween’s aim to empower designers to make meaningful contributions to the evolving design landscape.
Tashkeel’s Tanween cohort for 2024 includes: Khadija Almazimi, an Emirati designer and researcher specialising in UAE heritage and sustainable materials, who has pursued painting since childhood. With qualifications in Graphic Art from the Sharjah Higher College of Technology and Science Design (Interior Design) from the American University in the UAE, she has built a diverse portfolio, working in various roles including graphic designer, architecture drafter, and freelance interior designer.
Majid Al Bastaki, a Senior Architectural Engineering student, who has established himself as a creative force in innovation. Alongside his studies, he is a freelance Architectural Photographer since 2018, capturing images that strive to showcase architectural beauty. Khaled Al Shaer, Emirati multidisciplinary designer and strategist, who holds a degree in design management from the American University of Sharjah.
His professional journey spans various dimensions in the technology sector, including roles as an interaction designer. He works with architect and designer Mohammad Samara as a design duo united in their interest in contextual design, light touch, and place making, investigating coexistence with nature, vernacularity, and the exploration of a regional design philosophy.
Mohammad Samara is a design architect from the American University of Sharjah, who centers his professional endeavour on innovation and sustainability. Research is a pivotal driver for him, influencing his approach to challenge standard design notions. He sees design as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and positive change, aiming to create a distinct design identity in the region.
Amna Bin Bishr, Duna Ajlan, and Dania Ajlan, owners of One-Third Studio, are a dynamic trio of female designers on a collective mission to redefine the field of design. United by a shared passion for creating impactful and aesthetically compelling products, their aim is to bring fresh perspectives and diverse experiences to the design table.
Osama Rashad, an architect and technical partner at Atoms Studio in Dubai, holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University. Specialising in earth construction, he has led various projects in South Sinai, Egypt, emphasising community engagement and knowledge dissemination through seminars and workshops. In 2022, his work was exhibited at Cairo Design Week.
Rimsha Kidwai, is a product designer with an interest in urban research, materiality and indigenous production methods. Based in the UAE since 2006, she graduated from the National College of Arts in Pakistan and has since worked at Dubai-based design studios Tinkah and Aljoud Lootah Design. Tanween 2024 introduces an innovative approach to furniture design, underlining functionality and sustainability. Each piece is not only inspired by the culture and heritage of the UAE, but is also entirely crafted within the country, reflecting a commitment to local craftsmanship and ingenuity.
The initiative aims to merge traditional Emirati design elements with modern aesthetics, producing pieces that are not only visually appealing, but also environmental conscious. “Through Tanween 2024, Tashkeel showcases its dedication to promoting sustainable practices while celebrating its unique identity in the realm of design and craftsmanship,” says the latter.
Tashkeel is an incubator of visual art and design and a commercial consultancy rooted in the United Arab Emirates. Established in Dubai in 2008 by Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, its annual programme of training, residencies, workshops, talks, exhibitions, international collaborations and publications, focuses on practitioner development, public engagement and lifelong learning.
Tashkeel’s commercial services seek to embed UAE-made art and design in society and the economy. By nurturing the growth of contemporary art and design, it seeks to empower the country’s ever-growing creative and cultural industries.
Tashkeel’s commercial services include consultancy, ranging from advisory, sales, design and production services and special projects for clients; training, which is the development and delivery of art-based learning for the education, cultural, public and private sectors; membership, which provides access for the creative community to facilities and studios to research, experiment, make and collaborate; printing and cutting services, including laser-cutting, fine art/photography and risograph printing; and retail, which involves selling UAE-made art and design products instore and online as well as across a nationwide network of partners.
