C.D.C BLOG WEEK 4: Storytelling & the PoDcasT

For our fourth week in class, we were set with a task of research writing and producing our own podcast in groups of four. So began an experience I can only describe as arduous yet enjoyable and very interesting. Ill touch on the podcast in its own blog for today ill focus on our research aspect and what we found.

Firstly each group was given a region and me and my 3 accomplices manus peadair and Dylan found ourselves with the middle east.

We analysed the middle east in terms of design and made our way to Dubai where we chose to focus our podcast on. We split out topics with mine focusing on design sector in Dubai and its annual design week.

Dubai’s design week is a pro leading trade fair design for high quality original design in middle east it offers programs and initiatives for students graduates and professors to work across a multitude of institutions and countries to tackle real world problems. It also has exhibit of the best projects from students in top design schools around the world

Peadair looked into the formation of Dubai as a city and its rapid expansion. After the foundation of the international airport the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum hit a stroke of luck and found a large oil reserve in Dubai this began the development of Dubai. He began transforming the city from a small cluster of settlements near Dubai Creek to a modern port, city and commercial hub. While oil helped fund the expansion he did not want the city to be wholly dependent on this finite source so he began investing the money from oil. He was also heavily influenced by western design and invited many English American French and Italian designers to Dubai.

Time-lapse as guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPd5AmTEkdk

Dylan’s focus point on middle eastern designer Aljoud Lootah At the core of her practice is a desire to safeguard tradition, heritage and craftsmanship through modern interpretations.

She’s also quoted saying “Traditions need to be safeguarded at a time when everything is rapidly changing. I am not against change, but we need to remind ourselves of our roots and not forget where we originate from and who we are.” Something I fully support I myself feel strongly about the preservation of my own Irish culture especially our native language, having tattoos in the Irish language myself.

Aljoud Lootah creates by mixing traditional silhouettes and concepts with modern elements. Patterns, folds, and geometric shapes are all a big part of her inspiration. When designing products, Lootah looks to interpret the Emirati culture, traditional craftsmanship, and contemporary design.

Manus took on the task of what does the future hold in terms of design for such an unusual city. One aspect of this that led to some good critical discussion and debate in the podcast was this topic. Dubai being the first open sandbox design not constricted to landmarks or geology like other more naturally formed cities. Im sure the future will present another situation of a desert city being designed the only question is will history repeat itself or will future designers learn from the negatives and positives from Dubai?