In an era shaped by mass production, discerning consumers are on the search for products that are unique. The premium is on items that are original and personalised - even if that sometimes also means imperfect.
People want to own products that they can connect with; that resonate. Essentially, they want something that is theirs and nobody else's. That's why we are so keen to pick up items on our travels - because they are steeped in meaning and memories, but also because we know no one back home will have the same.
Designers are responding accordingly, understanding that a one-size-fits-all approach will no longer get the job done. It is no longer enough to create a product and expect people to adapt to it. Instead, products must be able to adapt to the whims of their users. Hence the rise in
personalised, customisable products
. Designers create the template, but it is the user that determines what the end product will ultimately look like. This is the democratisation of design.
I came across a great example of this whilst interviewing PR consultant Dani Wilson Naqvi at her home a few weeks ago. Dani has a great collection of coffee table books but my favourites were the ones that she had made herself - with the help of a website called
www.blurb.com
.
With Blurb, you can create your own
personalised photo book
- whether it's filled with wedding photos, travel shots, recipes or pretty much anything else. All you have to do is go to the site, upload your images and text and decide on a size. Blurb will then print it - promising bookstore quality and binding - and send it to you.
The books make for fab gifts - and are a great example of personalised design at its most personal.
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
