Day #35 An Unexpected delivery

Starting at 10 am this morning I was full of energy and motivated to continue what I had started yesterday: the Downtown design fair stand for the SVENM client Qooker.

I have now realised that noting dimensions and labelling interior elevations is an art form, demanding a certain way of design thinking and precision, just the same way drafting does. For example I have had to develop an understanding of the mechanical system of Quooker's Boiling Water Tap and how it is supplied by water through the tank to plan the electrical power distribution, the position of the power outlets and water drainage piping.

Gradually as the drawings have become more complex and elaborate I am focusing on detailing vitrines, designing different joint systems between of Mdf and other materials and developing configurations of these elements which are refined and efficient for others.

Photo © Aya Hurbli

In the afternoon, I was taken to meet the other amazing people working at the various businesses near SVENM at Alserkal Avenue.

One of them was called CHI-KA, they have an open double height space and an interesting collection of Kimono-Abaya combinations. I even spotted some of the chairs SVENM designed for the Ramadan event there! On the way out near their main window they have placed an armchair chair made of tubular powder coated steel and wrapped with knotted multi-coloured rope, I have never seen a chair like before and loved it.

Another SVENM neighbour is called MIRZAM and in there I had the chance to try some of the best chocolate I had ever tasted in my life!

Photo © Aya Hurbli

Then I saw the Jamjar which has a really cool open workshop: an ideal place for inspiration and imagination. I will definitely start signing up for their classes and I hope I will have the chance to meet all of these neighbouring teams again and get to talk to them in more depth about their design thinking and cultural initiatives.

At the end of the day, I had the privilege of opening my first and (hopefully not last) package of material samples which had been couriered to the company. I opened them quickly and was excited to see the wide variety of textures, colours and weaving types tumbling out. Astonishing!

Photo © Aya Hurbli

Then I got to experience the real importance of samples which is to begin properly visualising their use, as we started to discuss and select materials that seem the most appropriate for the SVENM majlis product, composing texture combinations for the furniture base and cushions.

I cannot wait to continue to play with those textures tomorrow and get to understand the collection Kvadrat has in more depth for example I have already learnt that some lines of their fabrics are made by well-known fashion designers such as Raf Simons.