Van Cleef & Arpels and Tashkeel mark 10 years of Emergent Designer Prize with Gulf exhibition

Key facts

• The Emergent Designer Prize celebrates its 10th anniversary with a seven-week exhibition at Tashkeel's renovated space in Nad Al Sheba.
• Van Cleef & Arpels collaborates with Tashkeel on the prize, which has grown into a foundation of design development across the Gulf region since 2013.
• Hajar Al Tenaiji won the 10th edition with Dhow Kite (2024), inspired by the theme Inspiring Winds and Emirati seafaring heritage.
• Finalists include Lamis Yehya with Breezeborn (2024), a console table from reclaimed jujube wood, and Khaled Al Kathir with No Beginning (2024), a light fixture using sustainable materials.
• The exhibition features designers from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.
• Tashkeel team member Salim Ahmed advised Lamis Yehya to "let the wood embrace itself," leading to an organic evolution of her piece.
• The 11th edition of the prize has been announced with the theme Blooming Poetry, encouraging regional designers to explore lyrical expression in functional form.
• The prize has recognized ten winners and many finalists, each submitting works based on curated themes that blend cultural identity with local craftsmanship.