Qatar Museums have launched an open call for submissions for the inauguralDesign Doha Prize,a prestigious initiative providing recognition and support for exceptional talents in the fields of product design, interior design, furniture design, and craft across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The prize aims to empower designers, provide them with valuable guidance, and give them a larger platform to showcase their work to a wider audience.
The Design Doha Prize is part of Design Doha, a biennial showcase for excellence and innovation in the design community in Qatar and the MENA region which will begin with a week of special events and exhibition openings from 24-28 February 2024, with exhibitions running through 5 August 2024.These exhibitions include the anchor exhibition, Arab Design Now, will be on view until 5 August 2024, and the satellite exhibitions Colors of the City: A Century of Architecture in Doha,Weaving Songs in collaboration with Turquoise Mountain, and 100/100 HUNDRED BEST ARABIC POSTERS Round 04which will be on view through March 2024.
The 2024 edition of the prize, centred around the theme of design excellence, will have four winners selected from four categories. Each will receive a monetary prize of 100,000 QAR to support their ongoing design practice.
In addition to the monetary prize, the winning designers will be paired with industry experts, experienced designers, and other mentors who will provide tailored guidance and advice. The Design Doha Prize will also offer a platform for the selected designers to showcase their work to a wider audience, allowing them to gain valuable market exposure. Recipients will receive one year of logistical support as well as one year of insurance support.
"The Design Doha Prize represents a significant step towards acknowledging and empowering talent in the Middle East and North Africa”, said Fahad Al Obaidly, Deputy Director of Programming and Partnerships, Design Doha. “The initiative aims to provide not only monetary support but also invaluable mentorship opportunities and a global platform for designers to showcase their creativity. By recognising design excellence, we intend to contribute to the growth and influence of the MENA region's design landscape, establishing a legacy of innovation and inspiration for years to come."
The Design Doha Prize winners will be chosen by anexpert jury panel comprising eight renowned design professionals, curators, and industry leaders representing local, regional, and international design communities. The panel will evaluate the submissions based on criteria such as creativity, innovation, functionality, craftsmanship, and overall design excellence. Applicants will be assessed according to the following criteria:
- Innovative: Is the design new and innovative?
- Practical: Is there consumer demand for the collection or product?
- Sustainable and Socially Responsible: Is the product sustainably designed? Does it consider the needs of the environment? Does the product address the needs of a vulnerable community?
- Business Model: Is the designer able to articulate a clear business vision, growth plan, and ROI?
- Application Quality: Did the designer submit a thoughtful and complete application?
Design Doha will only accept applicants with an established design businessthat have been trading for a minimum of 2 years. Applicants must be either citizens or residents of the MENA region; must be at least 18 years old by the application due date; and must have a company that is based in the MENA region. The prize can only be received once by a designer.
Applicants will be required to submit the following documents to apply:
- Completed application form (including statements)
- A budget that details how the grant money would be spent within the defined programme period (approximately 9 months)
- A portfolio or lookbook of the latest collections/products
- Company/personal profile
Designers can submit applications from 17 December 2023 through30 January 2024. Jury evaluation will take place on 2 February with winners being announced on 28 February 2024. The Design Doha Prize Gala Ceremony will take place 28 February 2024 at Baharat Msheireb held in Msheireb Downtown Doha, a creative neighbourhood that nurtures collaboration, creativity, and innovation and is serving as host for Design Doha events.
Established under the leadership of Qatar Museums’ Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Design Doha will be a new platform for practitioners from across the Arab world, helping to build professional pathways and engage with the acclaimed design professionals from around the world who will convene at the event.
Submissions for the Doha Design Prize can be made here.
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About Qatar Museums
Qatar Museums (QM), the nation's preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves, restores, and expands the nation's cultural offerings and historical sites, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, educate and encourage environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, and amplify the voices of Qatar's people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the Museum of Islamic Art and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara and the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum. Future museums include Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar, Qatar Auto Museum, Art Mill Museum and the Lusail Museum.
Through its newly created Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects—such as the Fire Station Artist in Residence, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival and the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design M7—that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.
Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention.
About Qatar Creates
Qatar Creates curates, celebrates, and promotes cultural activities within Qatar. Working with partners in museums, film, fashion, hospitality, cultural heritage, performing arts, and the private sector in Qatar, the Qatar Creates platform amplifies the voice of Qatar’s creative industries, directly connecting audiences to events.
About Msheireb Properties
A national real estate development company and a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation established as a commercial venture to support the foundation in achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030. The company aims to enrich people’s lives and improve the overall quality of how they live, work and thrive by creating modern, innovative, and authentic developments.
Msheireb Properties partnered with industry leaders and experts in order to align the architectural lessons of the past with the latest in eco-friendly technologies, in order to employ a new approach to urban planning; one that combines traditional methods and modern technology to preserve the environment as well as the cultural identity of Qatar.
An emerging leader in sustainable development, Msheireb Properties’ new language is used to create buildings of a shared DNA, reviving local heritage and culture through a unified architectural idiom.
Its signature city district, Msheireb Downtown Doha, is developing a blueprint for sustainable urban regeneration.
Msheireb Properties received ISO certification from the British Standards Institution for quality (ISO 9001:2015), environmental performance (ISO 14001:2015), occupational health and safety (BS OHSAS 18001:2007), and Risk Management Standard (ISO 31000:2009).
About FROMM.:
FROMM., launched between Msheireb and Milan, is a luxury contemporary furniture brand creating the ideal fusion of design and manufacturing. Born with the vision of empowering young talents in the region, FROMM. debuted at Milan Design Week in 2022, showcasing its inaugural Shurouq collection. We collaborate with both local and international designers, producing collections that masterfully blend heritage innovation with contemporary aesthetics. Our educational platform, FROMM.LAB, offers designers the opportunity to co-design, collaborate, and contribute to FROMM.'s collections. These collections are represented both locally and globally, making appearances at some of the industry's most significant events. At FROMM., we believe in design's power to transcend borders and celebrate the rich tapestry of cultural exchange.