ABOUT

MENALAB 2010
DESIGNING CHANGE, a TASMENA pilot project will be offering an intensive five-day interdisciplinary laboratory open to those interested in participating in a dynamic, creative, intensive and collaborative environment. The tutors for these labs and studios were selected through an exclusive call for proposals. There will be eight exciting laboratory sessions running concurrently with evening lecture series and round-table discussions. We hope these lab sessions will enable designers and non-designers in both academic and industry sectors to share their knowledge and insight, as well as integrate their daily practices into the community at large; in order to establish critical discussions beyond ideological, disciplinary and cultural boundaries. These dialogues will help to address social, cultural, economic, and environmental issues in Dubai through the various fields of design; art, architecture, documentaries, fashion, film, photography, storytelling, technology, urbanism, and visual communication. All of which will ultimately work towards a powerful understanding and diverse interpretation of this year’s topic, "DESIGNING CHANGE"

MENALAB CULTURE
It is an aim that such an immersion in a multicultural and interdisciplinary environment will enable students to engage more effectively in cross-cultural exchange. Laboratories, Studios and various activities will be held in various houses inside historic Bastakiya, using both indoor and outdoor spaces to facilitate discussions on the current condition and the future identity of Dubai as a global city. These discussions will identify any issues or problems and work towards interdisciplinary proposals, ideas and projects that will bring about responsible design solutions. Running parallel to the labs and studios is a daily public lecture series which will support this goal.

INTERDISCIPLINARY
MENAlab 2010 labs and studios are selected in various topics of design: art, graphic design, film, architecture, fashion and typography. These lab sessions will enable designers and non-designers in academic, industry sectors as well as the community, to share their experiences and extend their daily academic practice into the global community beyond ideological, disciplinary and cultural boundaries.

COLLABORATIVE
MENAlab 2010 aims not only to inspire and connect students, young local designers, design educators, industry experts, government authorities, but also encourage the local and regional design collaborators to build a research and design practice network through MENAseries events. Within such a collaborative environment, MENAlab invites talented and passionate students, professionals, designers and academics from the UAE, the region, and other parts of the world. MENAlab encourages everyone with and without a design background to participate.

INTENSIVE
Each laboratory will be run by one or two tutors and will have no more than 15 students each. All laboratories will have a different agenda according to the topic: Designing Change, led by some of the most challenging national and international designers. Participants will spend the entire laboratory period within the chosen lab and with the designated tutor. Tutors and participants should be prepared to work all five days full-time and meet on a daily basis. At the end of the five day laboratory period the final project will be presented to a number of invited guest critiques. All projects will be presented to the public in the final exhibition.

Laboratories
9am-5pm
Lecture Series
7pm-9pm (Open to Public)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 4, 2010

Exhibition
Feb. 6, 2010

Registration Fee
Students (550dhs)
Professionals (850dhs)

Registration Deadline
Jan. 29, 2010
www.menaseries.org

Location
Bastakiya, Dubai, UAE

Contact
info@tasmena.org
+97150-676-0154