Amman Design Week partners with educational institutions

AMMAN — Amman Design Week (ADW) has joined forces with several local and international educational institutions to provide a wide range of educational events in its debut programme, offering learning opportunities to people of different ages, interests and skill levels from all backgrounds.

Supported by Her Majesty Queen Rania, the ADW opens on Thursday, and will incorporate a variety of workshops, conferences, talks and discussions led by designers from across Jordan, the Middle East and the world, the organisers said in a statement released on Sunday.

The ADW will provide “learning and networking opportunities to the local design community, encouraging knowledge exchange, innovation and imagination, while also establishing Jordan as a potential hub for experimentation and the cross-pollination of communities and ideas”. 

The statement said the ADW will collaborate on workshops with several design institutes in Jordan, including the Centre for the Study of the Built Environment and Design Institute Amman.

Throughout the nine-day event, several family-friendly activities and workshops will take place across Amman, offering unique opportunities for children to take a hands-on approach to design, according to the organisers.

The week will also present a number of programmes targeting school and university students, including a number of daytime talks and panel discussions. 

Three higher education institutes in Amman will participate in the ADW through independent programmes. 

The SAE Institute Jordan will be offering several workshops; Petra University is scheduled to host a student exhibition, while the Applied Science University will organise a forum, several workshops and an exhibition, the statement said. 

In addition, the British Council and Education UK will be holding a university fair, allowing local students to learn more about undergraduate and graduate design programmes in the United Kingdom.

The ADW has also established partnerships with several NGOs, the statement said. 

As its education partner, INJAZ provides the ADW with an institutional link to universities and schools, encouraging youth engagement through tours and other activities. 

Meanwhile, the ADW has collaborated with Edraak, a massive open online course platform and an initiative of the Queen Rania Foundation, to offer a free-of-charge online course conducted by Nada Jaffal on the basics of information design.

“ADW will provide a unique opportunity for the people of Jordan to dive into the exciting world of design, learning firsthand about its role in our day-to-day lives, and becoming active participants in design experiences that inspire and engage,” the statement quoted ADW Co-Director Abeer Seikaly as saying. 

“Whether you’re a professional designer, a beginner, or simply someone who admires imaginative work, ADW offers something for everyone, and I look forward to welcoming the public for nine days of fun, creativity and invaluable learning opportunities,” she added.