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Designers in the Middle

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May 19
May 19 Iota Project

Designers in the Middle is a non-political platform for discussion. Since 2015, it has invited creatives from all over the Levantine area and beyond to speak about the threads that pull through contemporary design and art in the region. It strives to share creativity and to support industry in the Middle East. Its contributors come from far and wide, with shared learnings that have been carefully collated and curated.
This group of professional designers, artists, architects and makers from the Middle East region strongly believe that design and culture is an essential tool to connect people and improve lives.

DITM at the Global Design Forum in the V&A, London Design Festival 2017

“I was always curious to explore different design cultures - Local and traditional crafts are the backbone of the design industry and it has a strong social impact on our lives.
I grew up in one of the smallest countries in the world positioned in the most interesting regions; the Middle East. Boundaries and walls were not designed for designers and makers. Unfortunately – there are. Not just physically but also, politically shading.
In the Middle East, there is a rich culture of arts and crafts however, unlike other regions, these are not easily accessible among neighbouring countries; Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Qatar..
I am a citizen of the world and I work internationally; I am a great believer in cosmopolitanism, I often find myself stimulated by day to day behaviours and habits, stories and people – stimulate me the most and my work’s nutrition are local craft, heritage and manufacturing techniques.

Designers in the Middle initiated as a concept in 2008 when I moved back to the Middle East after living 13years in Europe, I was offered to write about the ‘local design’ for a design and architecture magazine. my ‘local’ interest was in the region and so I approached different designers from Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, Palestine and Israel.
The article was never published because of the sensitive political situation but the research continued and my interest in design coming from the region grew.
In September 2016 I was invited to present “Designers in the Middle” as part of the London Design Museum talks program during London Design festival, Suzanne Trocme’ joined me as a moderator and together with two panelists we presented the first “Designers in the Middle”.
“Designers in the Middle” is a non-political platform and that is also one of the reasons the “East” word is not mentioned. My research presents topics such as Nomadism, Craft, Tradition & Heritage, and diversity to empower Levantine design coming from the region. What interest me is to bring out the person/designer behind its work. I am hoping you will find the beauty behind it.”

Rona Meyuchas-Koblenz
Founder

Our stories are tailored in our heritage

Kawther Al Saffar