unique exhibition will present 145 design solutions to the world's most pressing problems from the global elite of design graduates and, for the first time, includes the works of 11 young creatives from universities within the region. Yosra Gamal, a graduate of German University in Cairo (Egypt),presentsFlat World, a set of maps designed to reveal that arbitrary nature of political borders, and Coding Pirates, a strategic board game designed to teach young students over 10 computer science logic. Three graduate designers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal (Saudi Arabia) present global collaborations. Tip.Tap.Mat isaspecially designed system that allows you to unlock doors with your feet. Pressure sensors under the mat detect your movements then transmit the data to the door's lock. The system was designed by trio Gary Ng, Punyotai Thamjamrassri and Giulia Scurati. Box-jector, designed by Jae Yeon Ju, Soyoung Kim and Kyuyoung Kim is a low-cost, low-energy smartphone projector. The design consists of an easy to assemble box containing a lens for the magnification and projection of images displayed on the smartphone. Designers Jiwon Jung, Jundong, Park and Hoyeon Nam developed MusicalTrain, a vernacular design that introduces children to music through a train car that reads musical noteblocks as the children play. Latifa Younis, a graduate of American University in Dubai proposes Paracitism, a strategy for activating half-finished buildings by installing in them a temporary ‘parasite' structure that hosts an open and flexible cultural hub that provides a free space for people to meet, play and work. The parasitic structure lives in its dead host, giving it life until the host building's owner is ready to continue construction. Nesma Khodier from VCU Qatar has invented an entirely new instrument, the KANUD (a cross between a traditional Kanun and an Oud) which offers novel and creative ways to create Arabic music. NYU Abu Dhabi graduate designer Quan Vuong has created digital programme RoadWatch which uses algorithms and sensors to discourage dangerous driving behaviors like tailgating and sudden stopping. Dina Samara whilst a student of American University of Sharjah explores the idea of inhabitable roof-scapes in the densly populated Jerash refugee camp in her native Jordan with Shelters for Extended Families. Industrial design graduate Ahsen Gülsen of Middle East Technical University in Ankara (Turkey) exhibits DUO, apoint of sale device had a rotatable display with smart UX design that provides both multisensory feedback to merchants and improved security and privacy for the consumer. Three graduate designers of Srishti Institute in Pune (India) show their work at Global Grad Show. Denise Dsouza has invented ECOAL, biomass briquettes made from agricultural residue for domestic appliances in developing countries; Shivam Shrivastava presents Cropconnect, a design, technology and business strategy that shortens the value chain from kiwi farmers to consumers in his native Arunachal Pradesh in India; Sushant Passi has developed the SunWater project, a product design intervention and brand identity for a solar power and drip irrigation initiative for local farmers in West Gujarat and East Indian states. 6 MENASA UNITE UNDER DUBAI DESIGN WEEK'S ABWAB The much anticipated second season of Abwab, an exhibition dedicated to exploring the design narrative of countries within the MENASA region, returns. Explore a sensorial design showcase under this year's theme, ‘The Human Senses'. Visitors can test out percussion skills in time to a subtle soundtrack at the Algeria pavilion where curator Hellal Algeria has installed a set of colourful, contemporary Algerian design-drums in a visual and reflective space defined by large graphic posters and mirrored floors. At the India pavilion, multimedia artists Thukral & Tagra invite visitors to create a personal hand-made, hexagonal floor tile inspired by a memory or emotion. Visitors can then choose to archive the memory by submitting it to the ‘Memoir Bar' or exchange it for another. Bahrain has chosen to champion traditional local pottery in an exhibition where interdisciplinary designer Othman Khunji in collaboration with architect Maitham AlMubarak has created an accessible interface and video installation to teach visitors the value and heritage of this largely forgotten craft. Representing Palestine, architects Elias Anastas and Yousef Anastas have also opted for a different take on a threatened native craft, exhibiting a structure that celebrates the dying art of the olive wood master carver. The installation from Iraq is an abstract, sculptural interpretation of the country's ancient architecture, calligraphy and poetry, courtesy of architect/designer/cultural researcher Rand Abdul Jabbar and designer Hozan Zangana. Multidisciplinary designer SalemAl-Qassimi has taken a playful approach to the ubiquitous cafeterias that have become an integral element of Emirati culture in the United Arab Emirates pavilion. The UAE Pavilion draws inspiration from the cafeteria in an attempt to highlight the many layers of this cultural phenomenon.
