Dubai Design District (d3), a member of Tecom Group, and a destination dedicated to design, kick started the year by hosting ‘Discover d3’, an open house style event which invited everyone to meet the people and brands who are shaping the neighbourhood.
 
The first chapter of ‘Discover d3’ took place at The Design Quarter on January 26, and was free to attend and open to all for discovering the many office spaces, design studios, showrooms, galleries, and retail outlets which are now based at d3, said the organisers.

With a truly unique atmosphere, Discover d3 is set to become a regular event allowing both the community and wider general public to get a glimpse of the passion and excitement that is at the heart of the d3, they stated.

‘Discover d3’ celebrated the many talents that call d3 home. Some of the participating business partners included: Zaha Hadid and Architects, Cecilia Setterdahl / Carpetscc, Nathalie Trad Designs, Wanders Wagner Architects, desert Ink, Wilkhahn Middle East Office Furniture, Style and Shaily's fashionArt, Brand Lounge, Osheq by Fullmoon Experiments, Ahlam Photo Studio and Dolce Fashion.
 
Complementing the 80 creative partners who opened their doors, there was a full public programme of talks, tours and entertainment.

Headlining the music rosta was Gabriele Pasco, an independent artist, percussionist, multi-instrumentalist and composer from Carbonia Sardinia in Italy.

Another highlight was a comedy performance supplied by Kharabeesh, who has found fame through YouTube. Echoing d3’s vibrant persona there was music from a variety of performers including drummers, buskers, a saxophonist and singers, said the organisers.
 
To offer a fully interactive experience ‘Discover d3’ featured talks by business partners including an experiential seminar by Service Plan who showcased and discussed the future of VR; and a very special talk from the author of “Just Read It”, Omar Al Busaidy, which took place in the Citizen E Gallery space.
 
During the event visitors were invited to sample some of the exciting new retail concepts that are now open at d3, including Corcel and The Lighthouse concept stores, which between them merge design, apparel and dining, they stated.

Another first for the region, the globally renowned designer Furne Orne who launched Amato’s first pret-a-porter collection, plus the newly opened Sinyar Gallery who launched a new exhibition, showcasing 13 GCC based artists which will run until the end of February, they added.
 
Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, COO of d3, said: "At d3 we have provided a destination that inspires creativity and therefore to enable our thriving design industry to continue to flourish we created ‘Discover d3’, an open house style event that invited people from across to Dubai to come and meet the people and brands who call d3 their home and who are currently shaping the creative landscape in the Middle East."

"We very much wanted people from across the city to be a part of the d3 experience and get a taste of what the d3 has to offer," he added.-TradeArabia News Service