Dubai hosts the 13th IFI Congress
Dubai is poised to be at the epicentre of the interior design world from 26-28 February 2020 when it will host the biannual gathering of IFI members along with the interior Architecture/Design community, the IFI CONGRESS & General Assembly (GA).
The 13th IFI CONGRESS – DESIGN 2050 – Technology. Design. Education is organised in collaboration with the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID) and hosted by the City of Dubai, U.A.E. The event, supported by DUBAI –Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, (DTCM) is dubbed as one of the regions most influential designs events of the year, investigating the key themes of Technology, Design and Education.
Over 1,000 leading international and regional designers will participate in this major four-day event for the design industry, where the future of design and what it will look like in 2050 will be explored.
It is anticipated that over 300 international delegates form 65 countries, will travel to Dubai to network and listen to the prestigious line up of speakers at this dynamic design gathering, to share their ideas and visions for the future of interior design.
The event will take place at the luxurious five-star Park Hyatt, on the banks of the Creek which enjoys panoramic views of the impressive Dubai skyline.
Speaking at a launch event for stakeholders, media, and members at the Park Hyatt Hotel APID’s Emirati President Farida Kamber Al Awadhi spoke enthusiastically about what hosting this important Congress for the second time means for Dubai, the industry and design.
" Dubai has always had a forward-looking vision and the government is focusing on their 2030 plan. It is therefore relevant that during the IFI event the global industries thinking and planning about the importance, influence and how we will be designing spaces 30 years from now, will be revealed.”
Al Awadhi, the first Emirati interior designer has been at the helm of APID for over a decade, she adds ”We will have eminent and influential speakers flying into to participate in the Congress- this is a unique opportunity for designers in this region to experience first hand their vision for the profession as we move forward.”
Dubai is a design capital and a hub where new ideas are constantly being generated.
People all over the world are excited about Dubai’s growth and people always comment on its magnificence and buildings from the Burj Al Arab designed by Atkins, to Burj Al Arab, the world’s tallest building designed by SOM, or The Opus designed by the late Anglo- Iraqi Dame Zaha Hadid. It’s a place that people want to visit and experience and has also attracted a lot of professional interior designers and design students.
The IFI Design 2050 congress brings together global representatives and invited keynote speakers from the interior architecture and design community for the critical juncture of learning, debate and shared experience.
The Congress will be attended by IFI members and supporters, interior architects/ designers, educators, policymakers, industry representatives and international stakeholders.
Numerous distinguished names in design including the three international keynote speakers:
- Ashley Hall, Professor of Design Innovation, Royal College of Art London, UK.
- Arturo Dell’Acqua Bellavitis, Professor and Dean, Milan Polytechnic, Italy.
- Rosanne Somerson, President Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island, USA.
The importance of health and wellness in our environments will also be a key feature and APID are excited to announce that Egyptian Architect Dr Ibrahim Karim, the founder of BioGeometry, an energy science that blends science with spiritual insight, will be among the distinguished speakers. According to Karim, BioGeometric principles can be applied to design to ensure a more positive environment.
Several prominent and highly influential local designers will also be participating in the panel discussions and sharing their views on interior design.
An IFI Interiors Education Policy Development workshop will also be held.
About the IFI Global Awards Programme – GAP Prize
A highlight of the global meeting is the IFI Global Awards Programme - GAP Prize. The prize is awarded to an individual or collective who has made an outstanding international contribution to the field of Interior Architecture/Design.
The much -anticipated APID/IFI event is fast gaining momentum and several local and international stakeholders are supporting this important milestone that is crowning Dubai’s position as a regional design capital.
IFI Design 2050: Technology-Design-Education, 25-28 February 2020, Park Hyatt, Dubai UAE
