Qatar Museums has launched the first edition of design biennial for excellence and innovation in the design community in Qatar and the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. 

The inaugural edition of design biennial, titled Design Doha, will be led by Artistic Director Glenn Adamson.

The biennial will kick off with a week of special events and exhibition openings from 24 to 28 February 2024 across the Doha Design District, and the biennial will be on view until 5 August 2024. 

Qatar's Msheireb creative neighbourhood that nurtures collaboration, creativity, and innovation will be serving as a host for the event. 

Established under the leadership of Qatar Museums’ Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Design Doha is expected be a new platform for practitioners from across the Arab world and encourage to build professional pathways.

The biennial will also engage with the acclaimed design professionals from around the world who will convene at the event.

Abeer Seikaly - Constellations 2.0, 2023 - Close up (2) - Emanuele Tortora, Courtesy of the Artist and Design Doha 2024. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

Design Doha Biennial will host exhibitions from a wide variety of design practices, ranging from architecture, urbanism, and landscape design to textiles, wood, glass, ceramics, and graphic design.Among these are over 20 activations curated by partner design studios based in the region. 

The biennial will also house international designers from all over the world. It includes a site-specific commission by South Korea-based designer Choi Byung Hoon - the designer's work will be on view permanently at the National Museum of Qatar, and a commission by Dutch designer Joris Laarman entitled the Doha Dragon will be installed in the Doha Design District. 

Moreover, the biennial will feature Juried prizes which will provide monetary awards, mentorship opportunities with international design experts, and market exposure. 

Design Doha will also feature a series of illuminating conversations with global leaders of design and the creative industries.  

According to the organisers, the exhibition program will be anchored by Arab Design Now, a regional survey of more than 70 Arab designers, which will be on view from 24 February to 5 August 2024 at the district's M7 centre, Doha’s centre for innovation, entrepreneurship, fashion, and design. 

Curated by Rana Beiruti, founder of Amman Design Week, Arab Design Now will "examine how local and regional designers balance contemporary design with traditional methods derived from the region’s heritage, with a particular focus on environmental and sustainable design." 

Other exhibitions which will be unveiled at M7 during the biennial are Colors of the City: A Century of Architecture in Doha, Weaving Songs in collaboration with Turquoise Mountain, and 100/100 – HUNDRED BEST ARABIC POSTERS Round 04 - will remain open for public viewing until March 2024. 

M7 Centre. Image courtesy of Qatar Museum

"For Design Doha, we have adopted a museum-based curatorial model, dedicated to showcasing designers from across the Arab world," said Artistic Director Glenn Adamson. 

"The energy in the region is extraordinary, and Doha has rapidly become a global design destination. The biennial will take its place alongside museums, stadiums, studios and infrastructure, creating a platform for the creative industries into the future," Adamson added.

Qatar Museums’ M7, Liwan Design Studios and Labs and Doha Design District located in Msheireb will serve as hubs for Design Doha throughout the five-day biennial, which will take place as part of the winter gathering of Qatar Creates, the national cultural movement that curates, promotes, and celebrates the diversity of cultural activities in Qatar and connects residents and global audiences with Qatar’s creative industries. 

Another key feature of the biennial is the Design Doha Forum, which will be the headline programming event for the biennial. The Design Doha Forum is curated by Dr. Jelena Trkulja, the Senior Advisor for Academic and Cultural Affairs at Qatar Museums.

According to the organizers, the forum's primary objective is to place Doha's design sector within a global context, with a particular emphasis on the design of inclusive and equitable cities. 

100/100 - HUNDRED BEST ARABIC POSTERS, Taken in Abu Dhabi, UAE at 421, by Regina Rammelt, February 2023. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

The Forum will bring together Qatar-based and international design experts, who will explore how design can contribute to creating urban spaces that are inclusive and equitable for all. As the organizers said, "through engaging discussions and diverse perspectives, the Design Doha Forum will offer a unique opportunity to connect with designers, professionals, and other experts while gaining insights into the evolving world of design."

Another biennial component is focusing on creative industries from the MENA region. The biennial will be inviting creative industries to join the Qatar Preparatory School, devoted to the creative industries. 

Moreover, another competition, launching on 7th December, will be inviting graphic design students, recent graduates, and established graphic designers based in Qatar the opportunity to work with UNESCO's Creative Cities Network to create the official logo of Doha Design City. 

"As a global hub for culture, Qatar Museums not only builds museums and galleries and presents great collections and exhibitions but also develops the nation’s creative industries and helps emerging talents be successful in their careers," said Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa. 

"Recognizing that there are far too few platforms in our region for designers to present their work, the inauguration of Design Doha is a testament to the excellence and innovation of our region's design community." 

"With so much talent in the region, our aim is to provide a platform to support Arab designers in advancing their creative practices and businesses, and to share their talent with the world," Sheikha Al Mayassa added.

100/100 - HUNDRED BEST ARABIC POSTERS, Taken in Abu Dhabi, UAE at 421, by Jochen Braun, February 2023. Image courtesy of Qatar Museums

During Design Doha, Liwan Design Studios and Labs will host an event for creatives to launch their new design publication, AI Journal, an initiative connecting local and global design voices, and encouraging collaboration and commentary on creative, cultural, and intellectual matters centred on design. 

There will be two open calls for submissions; the first, the Design Doha Prize, will be awarded by an international jury to four design practitioners based in the MENA region. These chosen individuals, specialising in categories of interior, product, furniture, and craft design, will not only receive a prestigious monetary award but also benefit from valuable mentorship opportunities with top design experts, and gain exposure to international markets, enriching their careers and amplifying their influence in the world of design. 

The open call will go live on 17th December. The second open call will be launched on 7th December, providing opportunity to work with UNESCO's Creative Cities Network to create the official logo of Doha Design City. 

Top image: 100/100 - HUNDRED BEST ARABIC POSTERS Taken in Alula, Saudi Arabia, by Jochen Braun, February 2023. Image courtesy of Qatar Musuems.

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