< Previous20 AD DESIGN AWARDS DESIGN ER OF TH E YEAR visionary thinking The nominees for Designer of the Year explain the influences behind their work and their hopes for the coming year Interviews Pratyush Sarup Portraits Alex Wolfe AD Awards_036_1-26_AD Awards_11466456.indd 2013/12/2020 08:49:32 PMW hen the pandemic hit, Pallavi Dean, the founder and creative director of Roar said “let’s assume that we don’t win another project or get paid another invoice in 2020,” and streamlined the business accordingly. But even in a uniquely challenging time, the studio thrived, delivering one stellar project after another, recently announcing the Emirati entrepreneur Anas Bukhash as a non-executive director. What has 2020 has taught you? It has been a reminder of a key prin- ciple: that the fi rst role of design is to solve problems. I think pre-pandem- ic we were all a bit guilty of striving to be the prettiest, the boldest, the most Instagram-breaking. The projects you are looking for- ward to in 2021? We’ve got a couple of hotels opening: a bricks-and-mor- tar property on Palm Jumeirah Dubai, plus an innovative prefab concept in Abu Dhabi. Then there is a regeneration project of a historic building in Sharjah and a media com- pany offi ce. The client really gets the power of design, so it’s going to be awesome. designbyroar.com PALLAVI DEAN Our deserved victor’s design philosophy – 50% wild, 50% tame – is 100% brilliant winner TOP LEFT: The American University of Sharjah’s new Research Technology and Innovation Park. OPPOSITE PAGE: Pallavi Dean’s Dubai home. AD Awards_036_1-26_AD Awards_11466456.indd 2113/12/2020 08:49:45 PMA t the intersection of new technology and a contextual design approach, MEAN* is one of the most innovative design practices in the region, pushing the boundaries of what we design and how we design it – from 3D printing using plastic waste to exploring tech-driven urban solutions. You’ve built a reputation for blending design with cutting-edge tech. Where does this passion stem from? I gained a Master’s in Emergent Technologies and Design at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and worked on projects in Hong Kong and New York before founding MEAN*. It was frustrating to be told that my ideas were impossible to construct in the Middle East. I real- ised that technology can free those ideas and make them a reality. What are you working on at the moment? During the lockdown, I was asked by a friend to design a 3D printed chair. The idea [behind it] is to algorithmically generate sweep- ing curvilinear layers that zigzag and intersect in space to create an object woven by a robotic arm. It is being manufactured by Nagami in Spain. m-e-a-n.design riyad joucka The founder of Dubai firm MEAN* takes a resolutely modern approach to creating everything from vases to entire villas NOMINEE 22 AD DESIGN AWARDS design er of t h e y ear Tutuncka light sculpture AD Awards_036_1-26_AD Awards_11466456.indd 2213/12/2020 08:50:03 PMALJOUD LOOTAH Blending respect for Emirati craft traditions with a fresh design sensibility is a recipe for success NOMINEE S ince she debuted on the design scene in 2012, the Emirati designer Aljoud Lootah has been using her work as a means to tell stories about where she comes from and what she believes in – narratives that have resonated far beyond the Middle East. Her work is under- scored by a strong interest in explor- ing materials and processes, and connecting the region with a wider audience through high-end design. What drives you to work with local artisans? I believe it is import- ant to scaff old our heritage. Reviving traditional crafts through modern design approaches not only allows for social and economic progress, but also empowers our artisans with respect, pride and relevance, incen- tivising them to continue to guard our making traditions and rituals. What is your hope for emerging female Arab creatives? The more creatives are able to innovate and thrive, the more design becomes a tool of communication and storytell- ing, making us all more relatable. I encourage female designers to be bold with what they stand for, to con- tinue exploring the core of what they are doing and why, and break the ste- reotypes of Arab females in general. @aljoudlootah Medkheneh diff user AD Awards_036_1-26_AD Awards_11466456.indd 2313/12/2020 08:50:18 PMIN ASSOCIATION WITH:SPONSORED BY: AD MIDDLE EAST .com/ ad- awards FIND NEWS , FEATURES AND VIDEOS ONLINE AD Awards_036_1-26_AD Awards_11466456.indd 2413/12/2020 08:50:35 PMDAVID/ NICOLAS The innovative Lebanese duo with international resonance NOMINEE D avid Raff oul and Nicolas Moussallem met at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, and after an international induc- tion into the design world, founded david/nicolas, in Beirut in 2011. Since then, their unique blend of ori- entalism and contemporary infl u- ences has kept their star burning bright on the global design circuit. What would be your advice to designers aspiring to be present- ed by galleries like Nilufar? It was never something we worked for spe- cifi cally. Our advice is to look beyond all of that, fi nd what makes you unique and learn to be persistent. In light of the issues faced by Lebanon, what do you think the role of Beiruti designers is? We like to think that Lebanon is simply a misunderstood place. Its identity was disfi gured due to all the confl icts it has endured. It is imperative for us to export our culture and contextual- ise it in ways that can help the world understand better what our region is truly. davidandnicolas.com AD DESIGN AWARDS 25 DESIGN ER OF TH E YEAR Seating for Pierre Frey AD Awards_036_1-26_AD Awards_11466456.indd 2513/12/2020 08:50:44 PMspecial guest C onceived by renowned Spanish designer Jaime Hayon, Lladró Atelier's cap- tivating character, The Guest, represents creativity and collaboration; artists and designers from around the globe including fashion favourite Sir Paul Smith and Korean illustrator Henn Kim have been invited by the Valencian heritage house to design distinctive personalities for the porcelain fi gurine. For the AD Middle East Design Awards, Lladró artists and technicians at the brand's workshops developed a unique version with a gold lustre and a blue base that will be presented to each of the win- ners. Here, the bespoke trophy has been photographed against a smart surface from Cosentino’s Dekton Liquid by Patternity collection, which can be used both indoors and outside. lladro.com; cosentino.com 26 AD DESIGN AWARDS take a bow P H O TO : ALE X W O LFE AD Awards_036_1-26_AD Awards_11466456.indd 2613/12/2020 08:51:02 PMwww.alfaromeo-me.com !"$* AL FAROMEICO AD_V1.indd 110/12/2020 09:07:43 AM51 “CHOOSING THE WRONG CURTAINS IS NOT AN OPTION – THERE ARE 10 OTHER SITTING ROOMS THAT ALSO NEED TO BE REDONE” Arena 80 AD_036_51_Arena_Opener_11454602.indd 5113/12/2020 10:30:57 AMNext >