The various impacts of industrial production on our environment and how it improves the local communities and habitats will be in focus at the Design Muscat 2022 biennial symposium attended by experts from 10 countries to be held at the Scientific College for Design from June 13 to 15.
Titled 'Design Muscat 2022: Rethinking Creative Industries Role towards Sustainability', the symposium will explore the global narratives, case studies, challenges and policy recommendations through the experiences of practitioners, research of academicians and innovations of designers. Design Muscat 2022 will be an interdisciplinary space for debate and international networking in the field of sustainability of art and design to enhance awareness and good practices in Oman through hybrid presentations and interactive workshops. The symposium is aimed at those in the creative industries of a variety of roles to share innovative steps and measures towards sustainability.
Oman Vision 2040 has made a call for innovation and diversification of the economy as well as creative and innovative individuals. The government initiated a National Cultural Strategy 2021-2040 to support the development of a creative community with skills to compete in the global market as well as to instigate cultural institutional collaborations. The National Strategy for Education 2040 called for building a culture of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship as well as skill development.
"The symposium will shed light on how a change in art and design thinking and practice reduces the environmental impact of industrial production and improves the local communities and habitats in light of the Oman Vision 2040," Dr Mona Ismail, Dean of Scientific College of Design (SCD), commented.
Globally, Oman is a signatory of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs) and has made good progress through different initiatives. The SDGs are a call to respond to the global challenges in preserving the environment and improving human lives. Design Muscat will be a platform to explore how the creative industries respond to these goals. Specifically, the themes will focus on the creative industries of art and design disciplines in response to 'Responsible Consumption and Production' in terms of materials and techniques used; and sustainable cities and communities will be explored through discussions on maintaining national identity versus implementation of 'smartness', issues threatening the physical environment in the architecture and interior design disciplines. Moreover, Design Education’s role will be explored in awareness as well as research of sustainability issues in academic programmes, according to Dr Rahma al Rashdi, Head of Design Muscat Committee.
"The social and environmental imperatives of the twenty-first century necessitate a new paradigm framed with newfound perspectives. Themed around sustainability and creative industries, Design Muscat 2022 will build linkages across disciplinary boundaries to bring these perspectives to light. There are strong linkages between thematic issues at the national and global levels," said Dr Rahma al Rashdi.
A wide range of areas will be explored by the Design Muscat 2022 with the aim to trigger innovative ideas in shifting design practices towards sustainability and integrating sustainability in design education.
Accordingly, the shift in the role of creative industries’ practices to achieve sustainability goals, design for environmental sustainability, initiatives and best practices, sustainable communities/smart cities to address solutions and challenges of sustainability implementation in the physical environment, realities framing the physical environment, well-being and quality of life, defining 'smartness' and cultural identity, design education towards a sustainable tomorrow to integrate sustainability in academic programmes and academicians’ research nexus, research nexus for a sustainable future, rethinking academic programmes, and a number of case studies will be analysed.
Design Muscat is a non-profit international event and brand with a focus on the creative industries. It is a professional platform for practitioners, academicians and students to share expertise and knowledge. It is a gathering of experts where professionals explore how creativity, innovation, business and social factors impact design. Design Muscat is the Scientific College of Design initiative to address its long-term strategic goals of the institution being an Art & Design hub contributing to the creative industries as well as capitalising on partnership with various institutions to support the achievement of SCD mission.
The last edition 'Design Muscat 2018: Art and Design Boast Economies' reflected national and international experiences such as rebranding the identity of the city of Porto, Portugal; MBC’s character development; contemporary architecture in Alexandria, Egypt; contemporary art in Oman; landscape architecture response to tourism; and Omani fashion design approach to international markets.
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