NZ Design Grad to exhibit in Dubai
200 Innovative Prototypes from 43 Countries to be presented in Dubai at the 2017 Global Grad Show Exhibition
Hosted by the Dubai Design District (d3), Global Grad Show announces the project selections for the third edition of the
acclaimed annual exhibition of life-changing inventions from graduates of the world's leading design and technology
universities. Curated by renowned author and designer, Brendan McGetrick, 200 innovative projects have been selected
from over 470 global entries. The selections will be presented at the Global Grad Show from 14-18 November, 2017 during
Dubai Design Week.
A not for profit initiative, the Global Grad Show will welcome graduates from 92 universities to Dubai to present
forward-thinking prototypes around the themes of empowerment, connection, and sustainability. Graduates hail from
universities far and wide, including leading institutions such as Design Academy Eindhoven (Netherlands), Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, (USA), Royal College of Art (UK), and National University of Singapore. Further, work from
emerging markets rarely seen on a global scale will be on view, including projects from designers based in Serbia,
Uganda, Peru, Malaysia and New Zealand.
McGetrick curated the projects based on his personal interpretation of design that emphasises four categories:
innovation that transcends technology and exists independent of wealth; equality without hierarchy amongst universities,
regions and designers; universal design opens to all types of projects; and impact on the world at large through
solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems.
“We organise Global Grad Show to be a celebration of beautiful ideas,” McGetrick explains. “It features projects that
are designed to directly benefit social and environmental causes. By presenting a cross section of design programs from
around the world, we try to demonstrate how the brightest young minds are designing the future. The variety of programs
offers a unique view to the ways in which designers in different places, with different budgets, cultural contexts, and
tools develop solutions to the problems and opportunities of our time.”
This year, Global Grad Show announces the inaugural Progress Prize, which will be awarded to one exhibiting project. The
winning prototype will be selected by an international jury from fields of journalism, design, manufacturing, innovation
and investment and demonstrate originality of idea, social impact, international relevance and feasibility.
Jury members include:
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum -Vice-Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority
Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi - CEO of Dubai Design District (d3)
Edwin Heathcoate - Architecture and Design critic, The Financial Times
Noah Murphy-Reinhertz - NXT Space Sustainability Leader, Nike
Aric Chen – Lead Curator, Design and Architecture, M+ museum
Petra Janssen - Owner and designer, Studio Boot and Social Label
Hugo Macdonald - Design Critic and Consultant
Faaris Naqvi - Founding Member, Bakery
Noah Radford - COO and Futurist-in-Chief, Dubai Future Foundation
Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, CEO of Dubai Design District commented: "d3 welcomes the Global Grad Show back for another
year as a part of Dubai Design Week. This event brings focus to the next generation of designers that will shape the
future through design, science, and innovation and will be an exciting show for visitors to explore. We are committed to
supporting talent in education and our design community provides a unique platform where young designers can unite,
co-create". Global Grad Show is held at Dubai Design District (d3) and is free for all to attend