Attention all furniture making enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, Makerspace Al Zeina in collaboration with the American University of Sharjah invites all those with an ambition to become a furniture designer to take part in this unique professional programme, taking place in Abu Dhabi this year. Running from October 2021 – February 2022 the Athath Fellowship is a professional 15-week course aimed at training those that already have a keen interest in furniture design but are looking to expand their expertise and to progress their skillset into launching a business model.

The course will be led by Ammar Kalo: Furniture Designer, Architect, Associate Professor at the American University of Sharjah and winner of the silver award at the 2015 Milan Design Week. Kalo will take the students through the history of furniture design, production and prototyping and ultimately a presentation of their final piece. Guest lecturers and speakers will contribute including those with critically acclaimed Design House Fritz Hansen in Denmark. All the practical skill training will be delivered in the studio with the Makerspace team.

This program is focused on developing design and fabrications skills while also looking at the business side of things and how to effectively launch a design start-up: which is a gap in the current market. – Ammar Kalo

The 15-week course will be broken down into 3 phases and offers those that participate the chance to develop a concept, create a prototype, explore the areas of production and to develop a final business model to launch a new career. This is an intensive and hands-on programme with the majority of the course requiring full in person attendance at Makerspace with a percentage of the theoretical modules being delivered online.

Key outcomes:

• Developing, designing, and fabricating one key piece of furniture with the goal of it being mass produced.
• Training in material sourcing and learning new technical skills including digital and manual.
• Business and entrepreneurial skills on how to launch and grow a brand and bring the product to market.
• Becoming a well-rounded designer and entrepreneur with the skill set to move on from the course and start a business in the local area and the confidence in your brand creation and how to pitch it to clients.

Applications are now open, deadline September 21^st midnight GST

The programme starts on October 23^rd  2021 and concludes on February 19^th 2022 (2 week break between December 20^th 2021 and January 5th 2022) with an exhibition at the end of the programme. The investment for the programme is AED 9,950. Want to know more? Visit the website: www.athathfellowship.ae.