Van Cleef & Arpels, in partnership with Tashkeel, is popping the confetti as they mark the 10th anniversary of the Emergent Designer Prize with a landmark exhibition at the newly revamped Tashkeel Nad Al Sheba. This glittering showcase salutes a decade of dazzling creativity, featuring the visionary works of designers from across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Since 2013, the Emergent Designer Prize has been a launchpad for fresh regional talent, challenging designers to dream up functional design pieces inspired by an annually shifting theme. In true Van Cleef & Arpels spirit, the initiative has recognized ten grand winners — and a constellation of brilliant finalists — who have turned locally sourced materials into masterpieces of innovation and craftsmanship.
“This exhibition celebrates the remarkable 10-year partnership between Van Cleef & Arpels and Tashkeel, born from a shared passion for excellence in art and design. This partnership has been a driving force in elevating design innovation across the region; it shares our vision to nurture creativity and foster sustainable design that connects with nature and our heritage.”
– Salim Ahmed, Senior Design Projects Supervisor of Tashkeel
Winners and runner-ups don’t just walk away with accolades; they are whisked off to a five-day course at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts in Dubai, while the grand prize winners score the ultimate creative getaway — a five-day immersion in Paris. Founded by Van Cleef & Arpels, L’ÉCOLE is a beacon of jewelry education, dedicated to keeping the art, history, and craftsmanship of jewelry-making sparkling for generations to come.
The most recent edition saw a powerhouse jury — including Emirati designer Abdalla AlMulla, Paris-based Aline Asmar d’Amman, Amman Design Week’s Rana Beiruti, Qatar’s Shaikha Al-Sulaiti, and Architectural Digest Middle East’s Talib Choudhry — bring their expert eyes to the table, shaping the future of design in the region.
This year’s exhibition shines especially bright on the latest star, Hajar Al Tenaiji, whose piece, Dhow Kite, took flight in response to the 2024 theme “Inspiring Winds.” Her work pays poetic homage to the role of wind in traditional pearl diving and dhow sailing, blending Emirati heritage with playful, sustainable design for a new generation.
But that’s not all — visitors can also marvel at the creativity of this year’s finalists:
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Breezeborn Console by Lamies Yahya: Minimalist elegance meets nature’s whisper, crafted from reclaimed wood and inspired by wind-sculpted landscapes.
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No Beginning Chandelier by Khaled Al Kathir: A kinetic ode to the earth’s organic beauty, made from recycled cork and sand, shaped by an imaginary desert breeze.
Running for seven weeks, the exhibition is more than just a retrospective — it’s a time capsule of talent, innovation, and the region’s unbreakable creative spirit. Come for the designs, stay for the inspiration — and maybe leave with a little extra wind beneath your wings.