Istituto Marangoni Design Showcases Emerging Creative Talent at Dubai Design Week 2026
A dedicated activation at Dubai Design District (d3) will showcase three creative projects spanning interior, visual communication and product design, highlighting emerging talents from the university’s Dubai and Milan campuses
Istituto Marangoni Design will participate in the 12th edition of Dubai Design Week, taking place from 3 to 8 November 2026 at Dubai Design District (d3), unveiling Creating the Next, a curated showcase of emerging creative talent across interior, visual communication and product design.
The showcase reflects Istituto Marangoni Design’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of creative talent through its Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Interior Design, Visual Communication Design and Product Design. Expanding its academic portfolio to include Innovation Design & Management, Digital Art Direction, and AI-Driven Immersive Design & Emerging Technologies, the institution equips students with the skills, technical expertise and creative vision required to respond to today’s evolving design landscape.
Guided by the Marangoni Method, Istituto Marangoni has over 90 years of success training top professionals in the worlds of design, fashion and luxury, fostering a learning environment that combines innovation, industry engagement and professional development, measuring success through the students’ achievements during their academic journey and post-graduation.
With work from the university’s Dubai and Milan creative communities, the activation will offer visitors a glimpse into the ideas, techniques and new perspectives shaping the next generation of designers.
The region’s leading design festival, Dubai Design Week, has become an important meeting point for international and regional creative talent, bringing designers, architects, industry leaders and the wider public together through exhibitions, installations, workshops and creative exchange. This year’s edition explores the power of design to shape human connections and everyday experiences, transforming d3 into a vibrant celebration of creativity, craftsmanship and innovation.
Titled Creating the Next, Istituto Marangoni Design’s immersive activation will put moving images, visual narratives and tangible design objects in conversation through an architectural experience comprising interconnected, rotated volumes. Clad in mirrored surfaces that reflect the surrounding Dubai Design District (d3), and shift with changing light and movement, the installation will showcase emerging creative perspectives as part of an immersive journey. By night, the volumes will visually dissolve into the urban landscape, while illuminated LED edges trace their geometry, creating an interplay between presence and disappearance. At its centre, the Istituto Marangoni Design Manifesto will express the institution’s philosophy of heritage, craftsmanship, experimentation and innovation, inviting visitors to explore new possibilities for the future of design.
In Interior Design, BVLGARI | Beyond the Workplace offers a new interpretation of the luxury house’s Dubai headquarters. Developed in collaboration with BVLGARI, the project brings Italian heritage and craftsmanship into dialogue with contemporary approaches to workplace design. Through research-led concepts, considered material choices and immersive spatial experiences, the showcased work explores how the identity of a global luxury brand can be translated into an environment that balances functionality, creativity and human well-being.
The Visual Design showcase ventures into the possibilities of artificial intelligence with The Vigil, a short film by emerging creative Maximilian Gatev. Created as part of a collaboration with RED-EYE, the international editorial platform dedicated to contemporary visual culture, the film imagines a surreal world gripped by a pandemic of insomnia. Produced entirely using generative AI techniques, it explores new forms of cinematic expression and the evolving relationship between technology and human imagination. The film was also screened at Milano Film Fest 2026, bringing the student’s experimental visual storytelling to an international audience.
Completing the exhibition booth, Product Design takes centre stage through L’Astro Design the Elegance, developed by IM Prisma Project, the alumni network of Istituto Marangoni Design, in collaboration with Italian specialist L’ASTRO. Exploring the expressive qualities of decorative laminated glass embellished with Swarovski® crystals, the project transforms furniture and everyday accessories into sculptural, sensory design objects. Created under the artistic direction of Delineodesign and the supervision of renowned designer Giulio Cappellini, Art Director and Brand Ambassador of Istituto Marangoni Design School in Milan, the collection celebrates the meeting of Italian craftsmanship and contemporary design.
Roberto La Iacona, Institution Director of Istituto Marangoni Dubai, commented, “Dubai Design Week is a wonderful opportunity for emerging creatives to become part of the conversations taking place in the industry today. Seeing their ideas presented alongside the work of established designers and international brands is an important step in their development, giving them exposure and a greater understanding of where their own creative voices can take them. Our showcase brings together a diversity of approaches, from reimagining luxury spaces to exploring the possibilities of AI and material innovation, reflecting the breadth of talent and expertise across our international creative community. At Istituto Marangoni Dubai, we believe that creative education thrives through this connection between talent, industry and the wider community. Being part of such an important event in our home city allows us to celebrate that philosophy while contributing to Dubai’s vibrant design landscape.”
Further highlighting its commitment to nurturing emerging creative talent in the UAE, Istituto Marangoni Dubai will host its first and only dedicated Design Open Day on 5 November at its DIFC campus, focusing exclusively on its Interior Design and Visual Design courses. The event will offer aspiring designers an opportunity to discover the two programmes, explore the creative disciplines in greater depth and learn more about the Institute’s industry-focused approach to design education.
Founded in Milan in 1935, Istituto Marangoni brings more than nine decades of creative education and international industry expertise to its Dubai campus, located in the heart of DIFC. Since opening in 2022, the Dubai campus has continued to develop its presence within the UAE’s creative ecosystem, offering specialised programmes across fashion, art and design, supported by industry collaborations, international mentorship and opportunities for students to engage directly with the professional world.
The participation in Dubai Design Week 2026 reflects this approach, connecting the creative ambition of Istituto Marangoni students and alumni with the global perspectives and professional networks that define the institution, while reinforcing its commitment to nurturing the next generation of creative talent in the UAE.
For more information about Istituto Marangoni Dubai please visit www.IstitutoMarangoni.com or follow Istituto Marangoni Dubai on Instagram.
