Dubai Design Week: The best in show - in pictures

1 Lighting it up

Ben-Tovim Design was established in the UK in 2011 and offers beautifully simple, streamlined products such as this height-adjustable Up-Down lamp, which combines an electroplated copper shade with a counterweight made from obsidian volcanic glass. • www.b-td.com

2 Tailored Middle East

Established in 2014 to bring an international selection of designers and artists to the Middle East, Antidote Dubai offers a carefully curated collection of handmade furniture, limited edition artwork and tailored installations. For its first outing at Downtown Design, Antidote is presenting “Kairos – An installation where we breathe” by French designer Stephanie Marin, which was first seen at Good Design, Milano 2015.

• www antidotedxb.com

3 Flair for fixtures

Bathroom sinks seldom get the heart racing, but Silenzio by the Tuscan brand Antonio Lupi is another matter altogether. The sink is made from Corian and, should you so desire, can be fitted with LED lighting for added flair. Its sensual lines will appear to almost magically merge with the wall behind it. It is, as the name suggests, quietly beautiful.

• www.antoniolupi.it

4 Shanghai quirk

Offering a taste of Chinese design is the Ben Wu Studio, which currently has a presence in both New York and Shanghai. Its portfolio includes everything from window displays for Hermès and pop-up spaces for Isabel Marant to an ingenious collection of furniture that is as quirky as it is fun.

• www.benwustudio.com

5 Classic approach

While there are lots of new and unexpected products to discover at the show, there are also plenty of old classics — and there’s none more classic than Philippe Starck’s Masters chair for Kartell, which was a recipient of a Good Design Award in 2010 and a Red Dot Design Award in 2013. This is the first time that the iconic Italian company is making an appearance at Downtown Design.

• www.kartell.com

6 Organic stunner

The Dubai-based Nakkash Gallery returns to Downtown Design this year, presenting furniture brands Munna and Ginger & Jagger. The latter has been selected by Dior to furnish its retail stores worldwide. Its stunning Earth to Earth collection captures the evocative shapes of nature in handcrafted furniture pieces such as this Magnolia sideboard, which appears to almost defy gravity as its rests on a gold-brushed branch.

• www.nakkashgallery.com

7 Chinese contender

Presenting its wares as part of the Beijing Design Week showcase, furniture brand Zaozuo will quickly address any misconceptions you might have about Chinese design. Founded in 2014, the brand has partnered with leading designers such as Luca Nichetto, Richard Hutten and Claesson Kovisto Rune, and offers streamlined products with a decidedly Scandinavian feel. This side table by Japanese designer Keiji Ashizawa is a case in point.

• www.zaozuo.com

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8 Bohemian shine

Hailing from the Czech Republic, Brokis creates exquisite glass lighting crafted by artisans skilled in the tradition of Bohemian glassblowing. The collection pictured here is based on the idea of a transparent balloon with a floating reflector. It comes in one table and two floor models.

• www.envoyme.com/products/brokis-b64

9 Sustainably stark

Founded in Finland in 1967, Nikari Oy is a manufacturer of high-quality, sustainable products made from certified Finnish wood. The December XL chair, which combines ash or oak with a canvas or leather seat, perfectly reflects the stark but perfectly formed silhouettes that are typical of the brand.

• www.nikari.fi

10 Smooth touch

Founded by brothers Ricardo and Otniel Rodríguez Elías, a designer and architect respectively, LCMX hails from Mexico City. It offers a delightful range of products, including sculptural lamps and statuesque tables, many of which are carved out of beautifully smooth, rich-looking woods.

• www.lc-mx.com