Athath Fellowship Furniture Making for Aspiring Entrepreneurs at MAKE

 ©Fritz Hansen

MAKE launches the second year of a professional programme for aspiring designers 

Due to the success of the first programme in 2021-2022, MAKE in collaboration with the American University of Sharjah launches its second intake which is due to commence 26 August 2022. MAKE invites all those with an ambition to become a furniture designer to take part in this unique professional programme, taking place at the MAKE workshop based in Al Zeina, Abu Dhabi this year. Running from September 2022 – December 2022 the Athath Fellowship is a professional 16-week course aimed at training those that already have a keen interest in furniture design but are looking to expand their expertise and 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 Fellows 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 MAKE team. 

“This programme 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 16-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 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 MAKE 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 produced in multiples. 

·       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 22 July 2022 midnight GST

The programme starts 26 August 2022 and concludes 17 December 2022 with a showcase planned for January 2023.

Programme total cost is AED 9,950

For further information visit the website: www.athathfellowship.ae

You will require a portfolio of creative works to apply. The programme is taught in English. 

Final Showcase from the Athath Fellowship at MiZa HQ

The Athath Fellowship: Furniture Making for Aspiring Entrepreneurs programme in partnership with MAKE and the American University of Sharjah is having a programme end showcase this March at MiZa HQ, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi. 

The Athath Fellowship is a professional 15-week course aimed at training those that already have a keen interest in furniture design but were looking to expand their expertise and to progress their skillset into launching a business model. The course launched in October 2021 with 10 Fellows and 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.

 

With a mixture of practical fabrication time in the Makerspace studios in Al Zeina Abu Dhabi, field trips to local production sites, lectures with critically acclaimed designers and studio sessions with Ammar Kalo, the fellows are well on their way to a new career path in furniture making. 

 

This is an intensive and hands-on programme with the majority of the course requiring full in-person attendance at Makerspace Al Zeina. Makerspace has a range of tools, machinery and technology that allowed the Fellows to gain invaluable experience in professional-grade workshop equipment with the instruction and guidance from the staff. 

 

Online lectures were provided by a variety of industry professionals including Christian Andresen from Fritz Hansen, Nada Debs, Design by ROAR, Jakob Vermehren from JYSK and Farah Nasri from Irthi Council. 

 

Athath Fellowship was created to act as a creative and practical bridge to the furniture making world. The focus on providing business and entrepreneurial skills for the creative industries within the UAE was at the forefront of the Athath Fellowship’s mission. Cultivating and growing the maker community and offering Fellows the chance to develop a co-op and community they can work with, learn from, and provide support to one another. Each of the 10 Fellows has developed, designed, and created a final piece to be shown along with sketches, maquettes, and renderings. From this showcase, they will be able to take all the practical and business knowledge into launching their brand or developing their art form further. 

 “The fellowship programme is a stepping stone for young and creative individuals, like myself, who desire initial guidance and knowledge to tap into the design business community, especially within the UAE.”

Rawan Alaydaroos: Athath Fellow 2021-2022

 

The final showcase is open to the public on 6th and 7th March 2022 at MiZa HQ, Mina Zayed,  Abu Dhabi 9am-9pm and requires a 96hr PCR test.

 

You can register interest in the next Athath Fellowship programme by completing the online form via the website. For further information visit the website: www.athathfellowship.ae

 

About MiZa:

MiZa is an emerging neighbourhood tucked in the heart of Mina Zayed warehouses. An urban regeneration project that aims to curate entrepreneurial, innovative and creative output by acting as a starting point for the people of Abu Dhabi in establishing new concepts, ideas and businesses. Its inclusive and non-disciplinary approach encourages cross-pollination between businesses with an intentional juxtaposition between varying industries which, will shape the future of Mina Zayed and Abu Dhabi collectively. 

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