ALL-STAR JUDGING PANEL REVEALED AS INDEX DESIGN AWARDS EXTEND ENTRY DEADLINE
Eight leading figures from the UAE design industry will decide the winners of the 2017 INDEX Architecture & Design Awards (Pictured, top row, from
left: George Kahler, Isabel Pintado, Laura Bielecki, Christopher Seymour. Bottom row, from left: Sharon Jutla, Rob Canning, Annamaria Lambri,
Massimo Imparato)
Dubai, UAE – March 29, 2017: An exclusive pool of Dubai’s most inspired design minds has been gathered to judge the
2017 INDEX Architecture & Design Awards (IADA).
Isabel Pintado, Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Wilson Associates; Laura Bielecki, Senior Manager of
Interior Design at Ellington; George Kahler, founder of KAHLER Design; and Christopher Seymour, Regional Development
Director at Mott MacDonald, make up half of the chic table of expert designers.
Sharon Jutla, Middle East Design Director at Harrison International; Rob Canning, General Manager at SunCoast; Massimo
Imparato, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture & Interior Design at the Canadian University in Dubai; and Annamaria
Lambri, Associate Professor of Interior Design at the American University of Dubai, complete the specialist judging panel.
Between them, the eight renowned industry influencers will choose the most pioneering, profound and creative design
submissions from across 15 distinct categories, the winners of which will be announced at the glittering IADA ceremony on
May 23, 2017.
Hosted by the UAE’s biggest interior design exhibition – the INDEX Design Series – the awards gather more than 300 of the
industry’s elite professionals for a night of celebration at the Cavalli Club, Dubai, on the second evening of the four day
interiors festival.
Event director Samantha Kane-Macdonald said: “For five years now INDEX has celebrated the incredible feats of design and
architecture coming out of the UAE; first through the Middle East Interior Awards (MEIDA) and now the INDEX Architecture
and Design Awards (IADA).
“Every year we are flooded with truly extraordinary entries incorporating all forms of design and 2017 has been no
different. The quality of submissions so far has been truly mind-blowing, as the notoriously bold ambitions of our everexpanding design community continue to shape the region into an inspiring design environment rivalling anywhere in the
world.”
In the face of overwhelming demand, the entry deadline, which was due to close on March 31, has been extended by 10
days – allowing potential winners until April 10 to submit their designs for full review by the panel.
IADA judge Sharon Jutla said: “The INDEX Architecture & Design Awards are unique in the way they shine the spotlight on
every aspect of design, from individual products in the likes of residential design to full scale commercial developments.
“Being a judge is hugely exciting. To be able to examine the finest design innovations from across the UAE and reward
those responsible is an incredible honour.”
Christian Merieau is Managing Director and partner at MMAC Design Associates, who picked-up two awards at last year’s
ceremony.
He said: “Every year the INDEX awards is an amazing event representative of the growing health of our industry, allowing
for younger firms like ours to shine alongside major Middle Eastern design firms.
“Winning two awards last year seriously increased our market visibility and has been an important factor in this year’s
commercial success.”
For further information and to enter the awards, visit www.indexdesignseries.com/whats-on/enter-now/.
ENDS
The categories in full:
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Best Commercial Furniture Product Design
Best Residential Furniture Product Design
Best Lighting Product Design
Best Objets – Accessories & Décor Furniture Product Design
Best Surface Product Design
Best Textiles Product Design
Best Technology Product Design
Best Hospitality Design Project
Best Commercial Design Project
Best Residential Design Project
Best Café, Bar & Lounge Design Project
Best Restaurant Design Project
Best Retail Design Project
Best Contractor
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The INDEX Design Series Lifetime Achievement Award
For more information, contact Euan McLelland, PR Manager at INDEX Design Series, on +971-4-445-3720, or email
[email protected]
INDEX Design Series is the largest and longest running collection of interior, design and trend exhibitions in the Middle
East. Established in 1990, INDEX Design Series, organised by dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa are 8 focused events
that present a rich and varied array of innovative, original and creative products and solutions for residential, retail,
hospitality, educational, commercial, healthcare properties. Comprised of the following focused sectors, the INDEX Design
Series, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai is an interiors experience like no-other in the region:
Furniture & Furnishings at INDEX
Kitchen & Bathroom at INDEX
Textiles at INDEX
Objets at INDEX
Sleep at INDEX
Lighting at INDEX
workspace at INDEX
Middle East Covering
INDEX Design Series is hosted at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 27th edition will take
place from 22 – 25 May, 2017. For more information please visit, indexdesignseries.com
About dmg events
An international exhibition and publishing company, dmg events produces market-leading exhibitions and conferences for
the global energy, construction, coatings, hospitality and interior design industries.
dmg events is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT) an international portfolio of
information, media and events businesses listed on the London stock exchange.
dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa
Founded in 1989, dmg events has operated in the Middle East since 1995 and owns many leading brands including The Big
5 portfolio of construction events, INDEX – the Middle East’s largest event for the interior design industry and The Hotel
Show, the longest running and most important event for the hospitality industry.
Headquartered in Dubai, UAE and with satellite offices in India, South Africa and the UK, dmg events Middle East, Asia &
Africa organizes over 45 events across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, North America and Europe. For more information visit
www.dmgeventsme.com
About DMGT
DMGT manages a diverse, multinational portfolio of companies, with total revenues of almost £2bn, that provide
businesses and consumers with compelling information, analysis, insight, events, news and entertainment. DMGT is also a
founding investor and the largest shareholder of Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC and ZPG Plc.
For more information visit www.dmgt.com