The 2016 design exhibition takes place at the Amman Electricity Hangar in Ras El Ain. Designed and curated by architect Sahel Al Hiyari, the exhibition showcases original work by local and regional designers. The exhibition focuses on ideas of locality, challenging our understanding of design and its ability to push the boundaries of material, scale, form and function.

Located in the Jordan Museum, the MakerSpace is a forward-looking celebration of the Maker Movement. Visitors are invited to explore and interact with the modern tools and methods of creation, including digital fabrication technology, 3D printers, audio-visual devices and advanced robotics. These are situated alongside the museum’s collection of ancient tools, creating a juxtaposition that helps shed light on the evolution of innovation.

Samar Zureik is a storyteller who uses graphic design and illustration to paint a narrative of her life and the stories of those around her. The Lab at Darat al Funun - The Khalid Shoman Foundation is transformed into a space for the resurrection of family stories and memories.

While the catalogue of materials available to architects and 3D printing have exponentially increased the possibility to marry innovation with value, most of us still paint within our comfort zone. Instead of limiting our use to a traditional palette consisting of concrete, wood, brick, glass, and metal, however, we have expanded our use of available materials to embrace a design ethos that bridges research, practice, and the possibilities.

Till now and counting, there are 95 design weeks throughout the world, each generating massive impact on a city by attracting media attention, tourism and helping the economy. The collective dialogue invites local designers to engage on the world stage.

The Memory Matrix is a monument that explores the possibilities for future heritage creation, employing new fabrication techniques and transcultural workshops. This talk is by Azra Akšamija, an artist and designer from Sarajevo based in Boston, where she is Associate Professor at the MIT Program in Art, Culture and Technology.

Local designer Sahar Madanat introduces audiences to her work and talks about what it means to design for people and tailor products to their specific needs. This talk is by Sahar Madanat, whose work focuses on innovation in product design, ranging from medical design to new concept furniture.

Co-Founders and Designers of Wajha, Hussein Alazaat and Ali AlMasri will talk about Wajha’s upcoming plans, and how its development affected the design scene in the Arab world. Wajha is an independent social initiative that uses design and branding knowledge to help the community by offering design services free of charge.

Mohammad Rahahleh talks about how the development and structure of the city of Amman and its urban design have affected the human experience of the city. His talk focuses on the participatory nature of design as he shares his vision and future plans for creating sustainable transport and urban design at a local government level.

What happens when designers embrace their capacity as creative problem solvers and integrate into the remaining phases of creation which can include business, strategy, and other functions? This discussion, featuring guest speaker Lilian Abou Zeki and eyen founders, addresses the binary that exists between design and business.

Max Fraser joins the designer and curator of Amman Design Week’s Hangar Exhibition, architect Sahel Al Hiyari and the Director of the Center for the Study of the Built Environment, architect and architectural historian Mohammad Al-Asad, in a talk that will explore new technologies, consumption, changing attitudes from consumers and clients, and global problems as they relate to the world of design.

A little journey through Filippo Protasoni’s works, seen through the design process and stories from offstage that make a project valuable for market and clients. Filippo Protasoni studied in Italy and Norway, graduating from Politecnico di Milano. He has designed for important Italian brands, such as Lago, Prandina, Miniforms, Sintesi and Mirabello.