Droog al Arab is the first project of the recently initated Droog Lab. The outcome is a platform for creative development in Dubai, in response to the city's ambition and reputation for excess.
Many know Dubai has the tallest skyscrapers, the biggest malls, luxury cars, indoor skiing and fake coastlines. Driven by an ambition to be the best in the world, Dubai's unprecedented growth has reached a ceiling. Promoting a life of excess in today's financially and ecologically sensitive climate, can certainly make one unpopular.
Inspired by Dubai's level of ambition and ability to build new worlds, the Lab will explore a new model for future development, one characterized by social intelligence and collaborative creation.
The platform will debuted at the traffic offices in Dubai on Sunday, May 30th. A panel discussion followed. Participants are director Renny Ramakers, lead designers Jurgen Bey and Saskia van Drimmelen, local partner Rami Farook of traffic and Omran Al Owais of Centimetrecube.
Droog al Arab
Many know Dubai has the tallest skyscrapers, the biggest malls, luxury cars, indoor skiing and fake coastlines. Driven by an ambition to be the best in the world, Dubai’s unprecedented growth has reached a ceiling. Promoting a life of excess in today’s financially and ecologically sensitive climate, can certainly make one unpopular.
Inspired by Dubai’s level of ambition and ability to build new worlds, the Lab will explore a new model for future development, one characterized by social intelligence and collaborative creation.
Synopsis
An online hub for collaborative content creation and development has been envisioned by Jurgen Bey and Saskia van Drimmelen. On this platform, the leading designers can invite emerging designers, makers and other collaborators to contribute ideas and skills. The platform features a time bank—a place where time contributions are collected and traded, and a library—a place for supportive material that anyone can add to. Proposals enter a catalogue that can be viewed by potential developers for realization. The platform brings together design, production and consumption, and can pop up anywhere in the world as an alternative pop up mall. Inspired by a closely knit family business model with new notions of hierarchy, this platform is about community thinking and its vast potential.
“A metaphor for Dubai’s future” - Mark Blaisse, Pilgrims
About the Lab
Initiated by Renny Ramakers of the conceptual design company Droog, the Lab’s aim is to define the next generation of design. With the belief that we can learn something from any place and bring it to a broader audience, the Lab investigates topics in selected locations with emerging and established designers, consulting experts and local partners. Eight projects will take place between 2009-2012.
Via: Core77.com
