RETHINKING DESIGN

HOW THE INDUSTRY IS ADAPTING TO A TURBULENT 2020

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When the clock struck midnight on December 31st 2019, the hopes and dreams for 2020 were possibly higher than most other years, especially in the UAE. This year was supposed to be the one that surpassed all others, everything was leading up to Expo 2020, an event bigger than ever seen before in the region.

While Expo 2020 is still a reason for optimism, the year to date has been anything but smooth.

What we didn’t know while fireworks were exploding over the skies of the Middle East on New Year’s Eve, was that in China, the first reports of pneumonia being brought on by a virus were being received in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people.

In a few months, that virus – now known as COVID-19 or coronavirus – had become a global pandemic, causing thousands of deaths and infecting many, many more.

Life, as we know it, has changed, perhaps forever. While the world is in lockdown, many industries are on hold. It has effected livelihoods and businesses the world over. While we got used to working from home and connecting with people remotely, projects big and small had to be put on hold, hotels closed, and the F&B industry brought to a standstill.

As ever, when it comes to times of adversity, the ones who adapt and get creative will survive, and perhaps even thrive when this is all over.

To find out how the design industry is responding to the situation, we reached out to some of the leading figures in the Middle East region.

Here’s what they had to say at the time.

ISABEL PINTADO, WILSON ASSOCIATES