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.

The Raghadan Tourist Terminal transforms into a social space exploring the importance of craft in issues of empowerment, self-expression and storytelling. Curated by architect Dina Haddadin, this exhibition offers a holistic link between culture, heritage and contemporary craft through a series of pop-up shops, demonstration booths, design installations and a local food component.

To support local talent, Amman Design Week has prepared an exciting entertainment schedule offering live performances featuring local musicians and tunes featuring various local talents who will be performing as part of the social space created for the Crafts District.

MADAFA stems from the belief that design should be experienced through all five senses. Set within the winding pathway between Al Hussein Cultural Center and Greater Amman Municipality, MADAFA is a social space and pavilion curated by Arini and designed by architects Rasem Kamaland and Saja Nashashibi. The pavilion is a modern reinterpretation of the traditional space for the reception of visitors.

This pop-up eatery encompasses a contemporary kitchen where chefs prepare an interesting array of locally inspired dishes.

Food makers cook on site from scratch, bringing people closer to the process and the craft of food preparation, highlighting their cultural identity.

​Combining design exhibitions and dining experiences, The Cart celebrates emerging artisanal food businesses and small scale producers to cater for those who enjoy the finer things in life.

This workshop introduces participants to different tools and wire techniques and will result in the creation of wearable pieces. As part of inamullumani’s objective of supporting the empowerment of women, training workshops related to capacity building and technical skill development have been offered.

This workshop by Mieke Meijer and Roy Letterlé explores how heritage can be a significant resource for designers in order to develop unique, recognizable, relevant and meaningful designs that will stand the test of time. The works of Studio Mieke Meijer start from constructions and architectonic shapes to form alternate spatial structures where the interplay between space and user are central.

Ahmad Humeid discusses the story and philosophy behind the Amman’s Unofficial Transport Map designed by Syntax this year in collaboration with Ma’an Nasel. Humeid talks about how this map changes our perception of the city and how it can influence the conversation around public transport and city services.

Curators of the MADAFA pavilion; Arini founders will discuss their approach to architecture and urbanism as well as their transdisciplinary projects. They are joined in conversation by the designers Rasem Kamal and Saja Nashashibi to present the vision behind the pavilion, its design, form, and content.