When Nature Becomes Your Greatest Muse

Two years ago, I walked through Dubai Design Week for the first time and was struck by the creative ways in which designers were reimagining local materials. Yesterday, as I returned to this year's edition of the festival, that impression deepened. It was inspiring to witness so many talented people pushing the boundaries around what can be created locally, using resources from our own landscape, while still maintaining exceptional standards in design. It made me think how much more beautiful these products are when we work with nature instead of against it.

While I wish I could shine a light on all the creators at the festival, a few that truly stayed with me were:

- Majid Al Bastaki's decorative tables, inspired by the region's playful 1980s steel front doors, brought childhood memory into contemporary form.

- Nasir Alghawi's 'Al Nawa Collection', which featured a chandelier and table crafted entirely from date pits and wood dust, transforming what's often discarded into something beautiful. It was the first time I had seen these materials used in this way, with each pip hand-carved to allow its natural white colour to shine through.

- Nuhayr Zein's Leukleather, which beautifully bridges the designers upbringing in Al Ain with her Egyptian roots. Nuhayr works with a tree that produces seedpods across four cycles, a rhythm that mirrors the patience and observation embedded in sustainable design.

- Lina Ghalib's Plypalm newspaper rack, created as an ode to her mother who loves newspapers (as do I!). This was a beautiful reminder that the most meaningful design often begins with the simple rituals that connect us to the people we love.

- Maseer Collective's collaboration with Aeon Fine Jewellery, which shone a spotlight on Emirati Sign Language through custom jewelry and live workshops. This celebrated a rich form of communication that rarely receives the visibility it deserves and is especially meaningful as we mark the 50th Jubilee of the Deaf Arab Community. I was taught how to say my name in sign language, which has really sparked my curiosity to learn more Emirati sign language.

- The collective works of students from the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI), particularly those who created a device by weaving Emirati jewelry design to help people with multiple sclerosis, proof that design at its best serves real needs with cultural resonance. I hope that this innovative concept improves the lives of people, and encourages others in this space to create with the same intentionality.

- The outdoor installations by Bahraini platform Maraj, titled 'Stories of the Isle and the Inlet', which transformed embroidered textiles and oral histories into architecture that speaks of environmental degradation and preservation.

- The Japanese no-screw structure, that was a sensory experience with wood that smelled divine. This was also very touching because it was so clear how much cultural significance this dying craft held, and made me the time and energy these artisans were putting into exporting this stunning art form.

- The UAE-inspired liwan structure by 'Some Kind of Practice', which reimagined Emirati courtyards by using local materials. It was especially moving to observe a young child enjoying the space with his parents, which highlighted just how important it is for us to build spaces where people can belong and bond.

Each of these artisans plays a fundamental role in the growing design ecosystem here in the UAE. But they, alone, cannot create the impact that is needed to transform the way we build, consume and live. I'm grateful for the work of the HH Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan’s Foundation, Tashkeel, 1971 Design Space, and platforms like Dubai Design Week, that have become the driving force behind this movement.

I am also proud that The Climate Tribe has supported many of these designers and will continue to do so, because it is so important that we continue to create a local market for these products.

My hope is that, as we decorate our homes, offices and other spaces, we begin to lean into our curiosity about the origins of the products we buy. Their stories might just surprise you.

10 November 2025