Dubai Design Week 2024 stands as a testament to the city’s position as a global hub for design and innovation. At C’est Ici Design, we view this annual event as more than just a showcase—it’s a confluence of diverse narratives, where tradition meets cutting-edge creativity and where design transcends boundaries to redefine possibilities.
For us, this is a space to not only observe but to inspire and be inspired. The event aligns perfectly with our mission of crafting spaces that speak to individuality while embracing cultural context.
As every year, we enjoyed a full day of visiting the fair with the full team and we really enjoyed The Editions part, a new segment of the art and design market exhibiting limited edition works from regional and international galleries, design studios, and collectives.
Below are some of our favorite picks for you to enjoy as well.
KAMEH
This year, the anonymous artist Kameh unveiled "Drop o.5", a collection blending digital innovation with physical art. Centered on the metaphor of the "drop" as a symbol of transformation, the collection features fluid sculptures and interactive installations. Highlights include a floating sculpture with projection-mapped visuals that mimic water's motion and an augmented reality piece where viewers use smartphones to trigger digital changes, reflecting the ripple effect of small actions.
Kameh's work invites participatory engagement, exploring themes of change, impermanence, and the intersection of art and technology while maintaining the artist's anonymity.
AASSTTIINN
The Iranian collective AASSTTIINN showcased "Temporal Continuum", a series blending Iran's rich cultural heritage with modern design and technology. The work explores time and transformation, reflecting the interplay between tradition and innovation. A standout piece features a modular, responsive sculpture that reacts to light and sound, symbolizing the ever-changing nature of human civilization and the natural world. Through innovative use of new media, AASSTTIINN bridges history and the future, reinterpreting traditional art forms and challenging perceptions of cultural heritage in a globalized context.
IWAN MAKTABI
Iwan Maktabi, a Lebanese design gallery, presented "Threads of Time", a collection celebrating the art of weaving by blending traditional craftsmanship with modern design. The showcase features handwoven rugs that merge classic patterns with innovative materials like metallic threads, creating dynamic textures that shift with perspective. Each rug narrates a story, reflecting Middle Eastern heritage while embracing contemporary aesthetics. "Threads of Time" highlights the enduring relevance of craftsmanship in the digital age, exploring the intersection of history, heritage, and innovation in design.
NAT BOWEN
British artist Nat Bowen presented "The Geometry of Color", a collection exploring the interplay of color, geometry, and materiality. Renowned for her use of resin and pigments, Bowen's works transform color into a tactile, immersive experience. Highlights include vibrant resin sculptures with fluid gradients and geometric forms, creating depth and movement, and an interactive installation where light reflections shift with the viewer's movement. "The Geometry of Color" redefines color as a three-dimensional, transformative force, emphasizing its emotional resonance and inviting audiences to reconsider their relationship with this everyday element.
While no part of the Editions section of the trade show, the Cosentino stand is undoubtedly worth highlighting.
Cosentino, the global leader in architectural surfaces, has partnered with Kuwait-based Babnimnim Design Studio (BNN) to present Moon Vignettes, a captivating tactile installation marking their debut collaboration at Downtown Design.
Debuted on November 6th at the fair, Moon Vignettes offered a contemporary reinterpretation of The Moon Gate, a mystical architectural feature of Oriental origin. The traditional moon-like gateway was reimagined as freestanding circular portals, seemingly emerging from the ground.
Symbolizing the cyclical nature of life, these abstracted moon gates also highlight the “circular nature” of Cosentino’s sustainable surfaces, Silestone® and Dekton®. These hero materials, with their impressive large-format versatility, seamlessly cladded the installation’s walls and flooring, redefining the role of architectural slabs as dynamic placemaking elements.
Celebrating the beauty of simplicity, Moon Vignettes was an artistic interplay of three key elements: rectangular monolithic walls, circular cutouts, and intricate wooden joinery, pushing the boundaries of materiality in contemporary design.
Envisioned as a curated design gallery, the stand showcased a selection of statement pieces. These included a bespoke table featuring Silestone® Jardin Emerald from Cosentino’s latest Le Chic Bohème collection, alongside design icons from Cassina and innovative lighting by Vibia.
Highlights from Cassina included the Utrecht armchair, a 1935 classic by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld; Mario Bellini’s Cab Stools, celebrated as the first freestanding cowhide design stool; and Soft Corners, a versatile furniture collection by Dutch designer Linde Freya Tangelder.
Vibia’s lighting selection gave an artistic edge, featuring the Array pendant lamps—an exploration of thread lighting by Umut Yamac, circular wall sconces from Martín Azúa’s Dots collection, and the striking Flamingo Mini. Together, these elements create a harmonious interplay of design and illumination.
C'EST ICI DESIGN FEATURED IN MARIE CLAIRE ARABIA: A SPOTLIGHT ON TIMELESS ELEGANCE
We are truly honored to be featured by @marieclairearabia! Thank you for shining a light on C'est ici Design and our passion for creating timeless, refined spaces. Your support means the world to us!
Minotti Unveils Its Stunning New Showroom in Dubai
A special event to celebrate the Italian brand opening
Minotti, a leading name in "Made in Italy" design, recently opened their new flagship store in Dubai's Jumeirah district, in collaboration with its long-time retail partner, Al Tayer Insignia.
The two-story store, designed like a contemporary villa, showcases Minotti’s signature sleek aesthetic and sophisticated neutral tones.
Founded in 1948 by Alberto Minotti in Meda, near Milan, the brand is renowned for its commitment to fine craftsmanship. Its modern design philosophy, shaped by architect Gini Radice in the 1960s, is encapsulated in its motto: "Classici Oggi, Classici Domani" (classic today, classic tomorrow).
Minotti Studio designed the Dubai store as a refined oasis, featuring a unique winter garden and an immersive outdoor lobby with natural light filtering through large windows. The ground floor showcases living, lounge, and dining environments, highlighting Minotti's latest 2024 collection. Notable pieces include the Yves modular seating system by Hannes Peer, with flowing organic shapes and tailored details like asymmetrical seams and integrated tables, and Giampiero Tagliaferri’s Supermoon seating and bed, inspired by 1970s-style forms and lunar-phase curved backrests.
Perfectly in harmony with its surroundings, the Minotti Dubai flagship store marks a milestone for the brand in its expansion project in the Middle East, offering an exclusive destination for contemporary design.
ARCHITECTURAL WONDER OF THE MONTH
Flowing Structure
The Heydar Aliyev Center isn’t just architecture; it’s movement captured in form. Rising like a wave from the earth, Zaha Hadid’s design flows without a single harsh line, a bold tribute to Azerbaijan’s blend of heritage and forward momentum. Step inside, and you’re drawn into a world where light, space, and fluidity merge, each room a journey. It’s as if the building itself is alive, a ripple of modernity that tells a story of transformation
The Heydar Aliyev Center is a sculpture in motion, a building that flows like liquid, as if carved from air itself. Designed by Zaha Hadid, it’s a seamless, boundless form that speaks to Azerbaijan’s journey a nod to history yet reaching boldly into the future. Walking through it feels like moving through waves of light and space, each curve drawing you into a story of innovation. Here, architecture breaks free from tradition and becomes an experience, a vision of culture reborn.
At night, the Heydar Aliyev Center transforms into a glowing, ethereal presence against Baku’s skyline. Its flowing curves are illuminated, casting soft, otherworldly light that highlights every undulating contour, as if the building itself is breathing. The sleek, white form appears to hover above the ground, shimmering like a beacon of modernity. Bathed in light, it feels like a living sculpture—part architecture, part dream—drawing visitors in with an irresistible allure, a vision of Azerbaijan’s past and future beautifully illuminated in the dark.
C'EST ICI BESPOKE
This month's spotlight
For the bespoke item of the month, we decided to present you one of our latest fit out.
The primary objective was to create a space that effortlessly combined aesthetic beauty with practical functionality. The client expressed a desire for a living area that not only exuded style but also catered to everyday needs with ease. To achieve this, the design focused on subtly integrating the TV unit into the room, ensuring it complemented the overall atmosphere without overpowering the space.
The result was a TV unit with clean, sleek lines and a minimalist silhouette, crafted from luxurious materials like rich wood and micro-cement finishes. These elements combined to create a modern, high-end look that elevated the room's design while maintaining a sense of understated elegance.
Functionality was at the forefront of the design, with innovative storage solutions incorporated to discreetly house cables and media equipment, preserving a clutter-free, organized space. Thoughtfully positioned fixed shelving beside the TV was added for convenient access to books, decor items, or tech devices. This shelving was carefully scaled and arranged to ensure that it was visually balanced and harmoniously integrated into the room’s layout, maintaining a sense of proportion and fluidity.
Ultimately, the fit-out successfully achieved the perfect balance between beauty and practicality. The TV unit seamlessly became a harmonious part of the living room, offering not only an attractive focal point but also providing the necessary functionality for everyday living. The design ensured that the space felt both welcoming and efficient, blending elegance with convenience in a way that perfectly suited the client’s lifestyle.
AUTUMN MOODBOARD
Tranquil Balance
We are excited to present our Tranquil Balance Moodboard—an invitation to embrace calm, harmony, and serenity within your space.
Drawing inspiration from nature, minimalism, and soft, neutral tones, the Tranquil Balance moodboard features a palette of muted whites, soft grays, pale blues, and earthy greens. These serene hues are complemented by natural materials like smooth stone, light wood, and organic textiles, creating a sense of openness and flow.
The essence of balance is captured through harmonious proportions, clean lines, and subtle textures that encourage a calm and grounded atmosphere. Every element, from delicate lighting to sculptural furniture, is chosen to evoke stillness, while maintaining a sense of elegance and sophistication.
Soft, tactile surfaces invite you to unwind, while strategic pops of color or texture offer visual interest without disrupting the tranquility of the environment.
This moodboard serves as a reminder that true balance comes from the thoughtful integration of natural beauty, simplicity, and functionality. Whether designing a restful bedroom, a peaceful living room, or a serene home office, the Tranquil Balance moodboard inspires us to create spaces that nurture calmness, mindfulness, and a sense of centeredness in the modern world.
ATELIER 2.0
The synergy of working together
Continuing on our discovery journey through all the beautiful brands that have collaborated and greatly supported us in creating our new office, we are happy to present you three more for this month.
MAISON AIMEE
One of the standout collaborations in our office design came from Maison Aimee. We used a stunning collection of bamboo wall coverings, but with a unique twist that set this installation apart. While wall coverings are typically reserved for traditional wall applications, we chose to feature the bamboo material on the frontal fascia of the door shutters in Monica’s office.
This creative use not only added a layer of texture and warmth but also brought a deep connection to nature within the space. The result is a sophisticated and organic element that enhances the office fit out, merging natural beauty with functional design in a way that feels both fresh and inviting.
For C’est Ici’s office, we carefully selected a personalized scent from Montroi’s curated collection, choosing one that perfectly aligns with the essence of our creative space. This scent was not just an aromatic choice, but a deliberate effort to define a sensory signature for the office, subtly enveloping every corner with a fragrance that reflects our unique identity and atmosphere.
The result is creating an inspiring and welcoming ambiance for every guest who steps into our space. It’s a fragrance that becomes part of our story—immersing visitors in a sensory journey that complements the creative energy and vision of the office.
Another exceptional collaborator in the design of our office was Art de Vivre, whose artistry brought a truly distinctive element to our space. They crafted a bespoke organic rug that gracefully anchors the room beneath our carefully selected designer furniture pieces.
The rug features a flowing, organic shape that blends shades of black and white, creating a striking contrast against our warm wooden floors. This interplay of colors and forms introduces both visual interest and a sense of fluidity, elevating the overall aesthetic of the space.
What truly sets Art de Vivre apart is their ability to create custom designs that are tailored to the unique needs and desires of their clients. The process of bespoking a rug with them is effortless and highly personalized, making it easy to bring a vision to life.
Their approach allows us to incorporate a piece that is not only beautiful but perfectly aligned with the atmosphere and purpose of our office. This seamless collaboration enhanced the space, blending both craftsmanship and functionality in a way that feels both elegant and deeply personal.
Thank you for being a trusted member of our community! We really appreciate your ongoing support, and we hope you enjoy our newsletter as much as we do!
Behind a design there is a story, behind the story there is C'est ici DESIGN
C'est ici Team
Kia Flagship Building, Al Quoz 1, Office M14 Dubai , UAE 0000, UAE
