#AIgoesEmirates

To work successfully in the world of design is above all to put creativity at the center of one's work; it is the strongest weapon with that a professional in this field can use to distinguish himself from others. The exchange of ideas and exposure to other cultures are fundamental to opening one's mind and sparking the imagination.

With this in mind, the Accademia Italiana Arte Moda e Design has encouraged cultural exchanges between its students and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), by offering 18 talented students the opportunity to develop practical projects and enrich their creativity with a wealth of artistic and intellectual knowledge.

The students embarked on a one-week visit to the Emirate of Sharjah, which undoubtedly gave them the opportunity to enrich their knowledge of Arab history and culture, both past and present: a visit to the Museum of Islamic Civilization to admire textiles, ceramics and religious objects; the Tashkeel Art Centre, an an organization for the promotion of contemporary art in Dubai that commissions and disseminates art and design through creative experimentation and artist-in-residence programs, where students met the graphic designer and master of Arabic caligraphy, Wassim Shawkat; a visit to the Centre for Cultural Understanding of the Museum Faih, a modern, cosmopolitan center that demonstrates how the Emirate countries work to promote relationships between different cultures; 1971 Flag Island Sharjah, a multifunctional exhibition space where the De.Fash.Struction show demonstrated how designers explore different ways to document the rich cultural heritage of the UAE through fashion art and design.

An important project was presented to the students during their visit to Sharjah's High Technology College (HTC): the construction of Bidwa, a concept store that will sell the products of the Accademia's designers. They also visited the headquarters of the Sharjah Business Women Council, where they had the opportunity to present their ideas and share their portfolios with the organization.

Continue to follow us at #AIgoesEmirates and who knows.. the next group of designers who go to the UAE could include you!