Workshops and seminars on everything design-related, from colour forecasts to marketing make Interiors UAE a must-visit

The organisers of Abu Dhabi’s flagship interior design event, Interiors UAE 2010, have announced a series of innovative workshops and features designed to inspire designers, architects, developers and retailers of the region.

Working closely with The Association for Professional Interior Designers (APID), a series of seminars at the event will address design technology including: ‘smart homes technology in creating energy efficient interior solutions’ and ‘incorporating culture and environment into design’. 

The APID sessions will also aim to help those new to interior design in the region, hosting sessions for designers and developers on ‘making a name for yourself’, ‘going beyond the brief’, ‘marketing’ and ‘offering a complete interior and exterior design service’.

Lading local hotel chain, Rotana Hotel Management will present its vision on the future of hotel design in the Middle East. There will also be supporting seminars on trends in hotel and spa design.

Interiors UAE will also highlight the scope of art within interior design, introducing a dedicated art exhibition at the event to highlight the potential of both modern and traditional art across a variety of interior design projects.  The exhibition will be co-ordinated by local artist and owner of The Ghaf Gallery, Jalal Luqman who will introduce a series of displays to highlight Abu Dhabi’s leading creative edge in this field, including pieces from his own recent exhibition ‘Under a Thousand Masks’.

Additional workshops include a photography session co-ordinated by the eclectic artists at Eventive and the Zayed University. Entitled ‘Old Traditions – New Society’, the workshop will allow talented students from the area to present their photographic work.

The overall health of a building – from construction to design – will form the pivot of the sustainable design area of Interiors UAE 2010.  Leading local training, well-being and feng-shui expert Pathwood will address ‘Feng Shui for residential and commercial properties’, ‘Feng-shui techniques to encourage sales in a retail environment’, as well as ‘Personalised feng-shui’. 

London-based colour consultancy studio Global Color Research will also be on hand providing visitors with colour trend advice for the interior design market. This year’s programme includes seminar sessions on ‘Colour Trends for the interior design sector for Spring/Summer 2011’, as well as interactive workshops which take place at the Global Color Research stand.

The seminars and workshops will not only inform professional interior designers, architects, retailers, product designers and hotel designers of colour trends over the next few years but work will with visitors to show them how to use colour trend information effectively and accurately.

Justine Fox, colour specialist and materials editor of Global Color Research’s Mix magazine, who will also lead the colour trend seminar, says: “Creative minds need to keep ahead of the game. Global Color Research would like to invite professionals to create the colours of the Middle East for 2012. 

Every visitor to our stand at Interiors UAE will help create a colour palette applicable to the Middle Eastern market and the interior design sector.  Because of the special characteristics of this market, global trends cannot be applied without considering socioeconomic factors.  For this reason, we believe that a region-specific colour palette will be a great tool for professionals who work in this area.”

Cathy Oates, exhibition director for Interiors UAE added:  “This is a uniquely valuable opportunity for interior design professionals, paint companies, fabric designers, architects, hoteliers and fashion experts to share ideas and learn about colours and trends for the interior design sector with their contemporaries.”

 During Interiors UAE, Global Color Research will hold an ongoing colour exercise at its stand where the public can come and look into the different story proposals for 2012, predicting their own colour views for this particular season in association with a colour expert.

 The workshops will investigate the main factors driving the market globally and how these specifically affect the Middle East, as well as identifying the key trends coming through in building and decorative design and finally how these facts affect the colour choices made by businesses and consumers.

Fox concluded: “In order to prepare to contribute to these exciting workshops, we ask professionals to collate personally inspiring visual information as well as six to ten colours that they feel illustrate their thinking.  These colours should be for both interiors and exteriors.  We would also ask designers to bring with them a few sentences or buzz words that reveal the thought process.”

TWIN SHOWS

Interiors UAE and Gulf Landscaping are organised by UBM Live and Channels Exhibitions which will be held on March 29 to 31 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
www.interiorsuae.com.