Design Days Dubai is the first and only design fair of its kind in the Middle East, to showcase, unique and limited-edition design to collectors in the region. Design Days Dubai will run from 16 – 20 March 2015, coinciding with Art Week, the city’s premier art event. A record 44 exhibitors from 20 countries will bring an impressive selection of original pieces by established and emerging designers to The Venue, the fair’s purpose-built exhibition space near the base of the iconic Burj Khalifa in Emaar’s Downtown Dubai.

Apart from offering visitors the chance to view contemporary work by leading designers presented by some of the world’s best galleries, the fourth edition of Design Days Dubai will offer a wide range of special projects and a public programme to engage with visitors. There will be free, hands-on design workshops, designer Q&As and demonstrations of some of the latest design processes. The nightly Audi Design Talk will provide an opportunity to speak directly to some of the region’s leading creative practitioners and a schedule of films, inaugurated this year, will put the focus on some of history’s most iconic design products.

Cyril Zammit, Fair Director of Design Days Dubai, says: "The special projects and installations at Design Days Dubai open the fair to broader audience. These captivating and often large-scale works push the boundaries of design as we know it and will impress design aficionados and enthusiasts alike. Design Days Dubai creates an opportunity for many global design studios and individuals to exhibit in the Middle East, enabling regional audiences to experience their internationally-acclaimed works."

INSPIRED BY ESCHERA highlight of this year’s Design Days Dubai will be the unveiling of 10 huge sculptures by acclaimed Canadian designer Andreas von Zadora-Gerlof who has created puzzling pieces inspired by the work of Dutch artist, M.C.Escher. Zadora Gerlof created monumental three-dimensional sculptures of the mathematician’s drawings.

DESIGNS WITH LIGHTLumiere, the world premiere of an installation designed by Commonplace Studio from the Netherlands, presented by Victor Hunt DesignArt Dealer promises to thrill and delight visitors. The form and feel of clouds has been stunningly conveyed through twenty-eight suspended pendant lamps which have moving images projected onto their inner surfaces.

PIONEERING GLASS CRAFTSMANSHIPPreciosa, based in Prague, is presenting works which have been made in collaboration with the renowned glass artist, René Roubíček, the legend of modern Czech glass. Preciosa will present a collection of pieces which blend traditional and pioneering craftsmanship

LIVE INSTALLATIONS AND PERFORMANCESPosa Project pays homage to the Emirati culture of falconry. Carwan Gallery has commissioned Italian designer Massimo Faion to create luxurious and versatile perchs for hawks which will be demonstrated as part of a live installations performance.

TRADITIONAL TABLE SETTINGHozan Zangana, the Iraqi-Dutch designer, will recreate Sofraye Haft Sin, which references a ceremonial table setting which is set out on a Persian carpet or table to mark the start of the Iranian New Year (Nowruz) which falls on 21 March.

CELEBRATING TEN YEARSNada Debs, the celebrated Lebanese designer, will mark ten years as professional designer with a retrospective of some of her iconic creations. She will also unveil a new piece which signals the direction she will be taking in the future.

DESIGN CAPITALS AND DESIGN WEEKSThere is strong participation from Asian organisations including World Design Capital – Taipei 2016 and Beijing Design Week.

PUBLIC PROGRAMMEA free, educational public programme, supported by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Dubai Design District D3, offers the opportunity for hands-on experience of design for students and children as well as design enthusiasts and professionals.

For example workshops will be run by designers from the UK’s Crafts Council, Tashkeel, the design studio based in Dubai and Beirut’s House of Today will be presenting designs inspired by local crafts and materials.

LETTERS TO WEARInternational accessories brand, Baraboux, joined forces with the Khatt Foundation to invite artists and typographers specialisign in Arabic type to enter the Letters to Wear competition. More than 180 entries by 89 designers from around the world were reviewed. The winning design will see their designs produced as a prototype in 3D leather and metal.

TALKS, WORKSHOPS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONSCut & Paste, led by Rana Salam, encourages visitors to explore visual elements which surround us, from geometrics hapes, to letterforms, packaging and textiles. Kevin Chou from Taiwan presents a new look at the craft of bamboo weaving, Sara Ouhaddou demontrates the moroccan art of mosaic and Ilia Poetmine from Turin will create hand-crafted furniture.

Speakers at the Panel Discussions, held every evening of the Fair include international design experts such as Benjamin Aranda, Rogier Van der Heide, Birgit Lohmann, Guiseppe Moscatello, Huda Abi Smitzhuijzen Abifares, Shamsa Alabbar, Cherine Magrabi and Amer Aldour.