Amman Design Week invites participants

AMMAN — Amman Design Week announced on Monday it will be back for its second edition in the period October 6-14.

The event — which includes exhibitions, workshops, talks, and cultural activities — is supported by Her Majesty Queen Rania and aims to support local design and innovation in Jordan, while also acting as a platform for regional designers, according to a statement from the organisers.

This year, Amman Design Week will introduce the theme of movement under the slogan “Design Moves Life Moves Design”, which “revolves around the idea of collaboration, exchange and the transfer of ideas, expressions and stories”.

Organisers of the nine-day event have extended an open call for participation, through Amman Design Week’s website and various social media platforms, to designers wishing to showcase their work and talent at its exhibitions.

This year, visitors will witness a student exhibition, which will be “the first of its kind in the country”, inviting Jordanian high school and university students to produce work through their participation in a mentorship programme that will match them with industry specialists, according to the statement.

An open call has also been extended to individuals wishing to propose a programme for the main event, or activate their own creative space with an independent programme as part of Amman Design Week’s city-wide programming.

The deadline to apply to participate in the 2017 Amman Design Week is April 2, organisers said.

With plans to “activate” several spaces around the city, the week’s main exhibition and programme will be held at the Hangar/Ras Al Ain Gallery in downtown Amman. The Hangar exhibition will be curated by Ahmad Humeid, founder and CEO of Syntax.

“I aim to produce an exhibition that connects designers across different disciplines with decision makers. I want to highlight to the general public the value and impact of design on their everyday life,” Humeid was quoted in the statement as saying. 

“My goal is to showcase design works that produce impact on commercial, governmental and environmental levels.”

“Building on last year’s success, Amman Design Week will continue to grow annually to become a hallmark for educational and cultural programming in the city, and establish Jordan as a recognised hub for design, creativity and modern Arab culture,” the organisers said.