Colab, the first purpose-built material library in the UAE, is now open in Dubai Design District (d3). Located in Building 1b, Colab is a social business venture that functions primarily as a material library and inspiration and learning centre. 

 

The space aims to elevate design across the region by offering a platform to showcase the latest materials and design trends from across the globe while highlighting excellence in regional design as well. It also serves as a gallery, event and activation space, and networking hub in its bid to bring the entire creative community together, said a statement.

 

Colab, in partnership with Material ConneXion, a leading materials-driven design authority and partner of the most innovative brands in the world, is hosting the first Innovation Walls in the UAE at d3. 

 

Curated by Material ConneXion's team of experts, the Innovation Walls are a physical manifestation of Material ConneXion's consulting expertise, tangible material samples, and cross-industry insight, incorporating a range of materials on the cutting edge of

technology and sustainability.

 

How will Colab help design community?

“Materials come first. What’s more, designers should care about their design as much as the materials they choose. With this in mind, we want to help the design community understand better the importance of material selection. Through our partnership with Material ConneXion, we hope to use their materials intelligence to help the industry innovate. By offering access to some of the best material solutions and by providing an insight into tomorrow’s opportunities, we hope to act as a catalyst for new material and product ideas,” said Richard Wilson, creative director, Colab.

 

The Innovation Walls are refreshed quarterly with 20 of the most exciting materials and advancements across industries. All of the materials connect to Material ConneXion’s subscription-based materials library, which is the world’s largest library of advanced,

innovative, sustainable materials and processes in the world, with ever-growing physical libraries around the globe and an online database that provides immediate access to over 7,000 materials.

 

What does the d3 top official say?

Welcoming Colab to the design community, Khadija Al Bastaki, executive director at d3, said: “Business partners, such as Colab, the new materials library, will not only enhance our offering at d3 but also elevate design across the region through facilitating seamless access to materials and related intelligence for designers. We hope that creatives from across the UAE are inspired by the Innovation Walls on display and enjoy the opportunity Colab opens up in terms of networking and freedom to create.”

 

At the heart of Colab is its commercial sample library - a growing collection of innovative materials from across the globe - open to architects, designers, creatives, manufacturers and material enthusiasts to explore. Having no commercial interests or affiliation to any suppliers, Colab aims to offer an unbiased avenue for the design community to see, touch, research and discuss, and hopefully apply this knowledge and experience to their own practice.

 

“We aim to showcase materials from the leading material suppliers across the globe who have a commercial interest in supplying to the region but who are equally interested in material innovation as well. Our mission is to provide designers with a creative space in which to innovate, contemplate and understand all aspects of materials. A program of talks, seminars, panel discussions and presentations will aim to foster creativity. In addition, lunch and learn sessions, CPD presentations, and networking evenings will also feature on a regular basis,” concluded Wilson. - TradeArabia News Service