Jerusalem Design Week 2017 Explores 'Islands' as Metaphor for Social and Political Divides

The sixth edition of the Jerusalem Design Week, curated by Anat Safran and Tal Erez, adopted the theme 'Islands' to examine social, political, and cultural boundaries. The curators stated the message is not political but aims to foster awareness of existing paradigms. Notable works include Maurizio Montalti and Rami Tareef's growing mushroom wall, and Erez Nevi Pana and Marlene Huissoud's candle-making machine referencing border walls. The event featured an International Teams Programme with five designer pairs, and projects organized around product, fashion, and visual epicenters. Funded mainly by public contributions, the week prioritized commissioned works over local networking, focusing on a single theme and its variations.