2ND Open Call For Designers - Creative Design Workshop
As part of the support provided by the "Development of Clusters in Cultural and Creative Industries in the Southern Mediterranean" project funded by the EU with contributions from the Italian Government, UNIDO is started to set up a Design Hub that will act as a platform to connect Creative Designers, Art/Design NGOs, Art and Industrial Engineering Schools to industrial enterprises in Palestine while using a wide range of the vibrant symbolics of Palestinian culture and heritage!
The Design Hub will connect designers and craftsmen/women with different institutions as art/design associations, universities, art/design NGOs to become a collective creative think tank and laboratory for extracting synergies targeting best outputs for an efficient and vibrant Palestinian product development process targeting local and export markets.
In Palestine, the project is supporting two creative clusters: the Furniture Cluster in Nablus and the Handicrafts Cluster (Souvenirs) in Bethlehem.
In follow up to the kick-off session implemented in December 2015 and in order to pursue the clear objectives of the Design Hub – Palestine in developing new cultural products, we are setting up a new 9-day workshop in 3 parts to think and create products in furniture (customized home furniture) with a new vision for Gulf and Jordan markets and hybrid souvenirsfor targeted Christmas markets in Europe by the handicrafts sector (olive wood, mother of pearl, embroidery, jewellery, and pottery).
The workshop will be implemented on the weekends of the period from Friday 19/2/2016 till Sunday 6/3/29016 as follows:
- 1st Session: 19-21/2/2016
- 2nd Session: 26-28/2/2016
- 3rd session: 4-6/3/2016
The 3 days’ workshop sessions will be also attended by interested cluster members (artisans) of the supported clusters for Furniture and Handcrafts.
The thinking, ideation, and creating of new products will be animated and accompanied by local and International Product Development and Design experts of UNIDO Mr. Giulio Vinaccia (Italy), Mr. Rashid Abdelhamid (Palestine), and Ms. Imke Plinta (Germany). The workshop will be located mostly in Ramallah and will include visits to meet craftsmen/women in their workshops in Nablus and Bethlehem. Together, we will imagine, ideate, sketch, create, and prototype targeting certain markets and buyers.
Palestinian design professionals and students (at least 4th year of studies, pre-graduate or postgraduate level) as Graphic Designers, Product Designers, Interior Designers, Architects, and/or Visual and Conceptual Artists.
Designers, artists, and students who wish to be considered as participants of this Open Call should send the following items to Mr. Ahmed ELFARRA by email [email protected]: RESUME/CV, including: full name, address, date of birth, telephone/mobile, and email, and PORTFOLIO OF YOUR WORK, done in the last two years with clearly labelled images, date executed, media, dimensions, or web links to your personal website with work we should see!
Interested candidates must send their resume, profile, and CV by COB Wednesday February 10 th , 2016. The final selection process will take into account: innovative ideas and use of materials and/or production methods, relevance to design inspired by Palestinian heritage and culture, evidence of an awareness of local manufacturing capabilities, and product exclusivity.
P.S.: Places are limited. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
