In its third and largest edition, Cairo Design Week aims to transform the city into an 'open-air design playground.' The event features diverse exhibitions and installations at sites like the Islamic Ceramics Museum and Zamalek. Its slogan, 'Design so I can see you,' draws on John Berger's ideas about seeing and consumption.
Cairo Design Week, billed as the region's fastest-growing design event, held its third and largest edition as a sprawling showcase. The event kicked off with striking installations, including oversized see-saws at the Islamic Ceramics Museum entrance, an immersive sensory room on Zamalek's 26 July Street, and mirrors adorned with Khalil Gibran's quote: 'forget not that the Earth delights to feel your bare feet.'
Multiple venues hosted displays, such as Aicha Fahmy Palace featuring reimagined pearl pavilion and Dr. Greiche's 'When the Nile Takes Shape.' In Heliopolis, visitors explored Cayan Court with Ebb & Flow Studios, Hanimex, Point Carpet, Esorus, and Valu Café. Villa Magenta showcased curvilinear couches and an AI-generated poem titled 'Forms of Devotion.'
Drawing from John Berger's 'Ways of Seeing,' which explores how perception influences consumption and ownership, the event positioned design as a social connector. Attendees described the experience as a blend of entertainment and reflection, emphasizing design's role in cultural engagement. Despite its cost, the week provided access to design experiences for a broad audience, boosting awareness in Cairo.
Towards the week's end, some visitors toured historic areas like Khan al-Khalili, encountering century-old craft workshops, such as a knife-sharpening operation over 100 years old.