|
|
|
Recognising that one of Index’s greatest strengths, its size, can also act as a weakness, the show’s organisers are this year focusing on making the event more accessible and easier to navigate than ever.
“What we are trying to do is make it easy for the visitor,” explained exhibition director, Index, Lu Buchanan. “The complaint we’ve always had in the past is that people spent hours walking around but couldn’t actually find what they wanted,” she continued.
“We’ve addressed that – people can get their plans beforehand and actually meet the people they need to meet, because we know that time is precious.”
Another key focus area for the organisers this year is content and, as such, a series of ‘design talks’ will be taking place on the show floor. In addition to Victoria Redshaw, CEO of trend forecasting firm Scarlet Opus, visitors will be hearing from Kinnersley Kent Design, the company responsible for the design of the Waitrose, Dubai Mall, as well as Ventures Middle East, which will be providing facts and figures about the UAE market and talking about how to do business in the region.
“There are going to be lots of interesting, interactive things going on. Visitors are going to see innovation, they are going to see variation. It’s much more of a design event. It’s going to be buzzing and a fantastic networking opportunity.
“It’s a whole new event. It has changed and I think that’s the really important thing. We’ve really listened to what visitors want and we’ve created a show based around what they want, rather than what we think they want,” Buchanan maintained.
Story continues below 
Another highlight this year is the ‘jewelery 4 architecture’ live design competition, which is being run by Daniel Holguin and his business partner Victoria Simes. Holguin was born in Mexico, graduated from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, went on to work for the Rockwell Group and now runs his own architecture business in New York City.
The ‘jewelery 4 architecture’ design competition will challenge 13 students from local universities to create design objects that can work for the ceiling, the floor and openings, out of unorthodox materials such as horse hair, plants, rope, rocks, minerals and spring wire.
“That’s going to be very interesting because it’ll be live and going on the whole time. It’s a great opportunity for the students as well. It’s something a little bit different,” said Buchanan.
The show has also been bolstered by the recent signing of RS Arabia, which has secured some 650m of exhibition space. According to Buchanan, the company represents a series of top Italian brands, such as Flou, Serralunga, Zanotta, Vitra, Kartell and Paola Lenti, and will be showcasing a number of top-end products in the centre of Hall 5.
For Waddah Mardini, general tableware manager for the GCC & Levant for Villeroy & Boch, Sara General Trading, Index is still a must-attend event. “As Index is the largest international exhibition for the interior design and home related sectors within the Middle East, it is essential that we are present at the show. Participating at Index is central to our marketing strategy and allows us to build strong and profitable relationships with local and regional interior designers. The exhibition thus provides a great forum for networking within the business community,” he said.
Muhammad Virji, proprietor, Beyond Design, agreed. “Beyond Design is very excited to be exhibiting at Index for the fourth year running. The exhibition is a great way of raising our profile and provides a unique platform within the region to showcase our very exclusive architectural features and moulding products,” he said.
Page:
1 2
| Articles | |
| Companies | |
 |
Site Map
 |
 |
 |
 |
|  |
\
FEATURED COMMENT
Please click here to comment on this article