The Architecture and Design Authority held an open virtual meeting titled “The Future of Design,” with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners in the design sectors, attended by the Authority’s CEO, Dr. Sumaya Al-Suleiman; to promote effective communication with the community, exchange perspectives, and highlight the Authority’s role in serving the sector.
Dr. Sumaya Al-Suleiman opened the session with an introduction to the sector, which is a creative expression manifested in the built environment, products, and visual communication, and carries both aesthetic and practical value, and encompasses the sectors of architecture, interior design, urban planning and design, environmental architecture, graphic design, and industrial design, as well as the professions, products, activities, and services associated with these sectors.
She explained that the Authority seeks to improve research materials and introduce the latest insights and ideas in the field of architecture and design by supporting academic institutions in the field and working to provide greater access to educational programs and continuing professional development to improve the quality the sector and its competitiveness.
She emphasized the Authority’s keen interest in organizing networking events in the field of architecture and design to provide new opportunities for networking and connecting Saudi professionals in the field of architecture and design, to contribute to the development of the architecture and design sector and improve the quality of the sector’s output.
During the meeting, she touched on some of the initiatives launched by the Authority, most notably the King Salman Urban Charter initiative, for which the King Salman Urban Charter book was published, in addition to organizing dedicated exhibitions, networking events for urban professionals, and international collaborations to promote this initiative, as well as the Communication Café and its educational tour across various cities in the Kingdom.
During her remarks, she also reviewed the Authority’s current and upcoming initiatives, which include: the Designathon initiative, the Chair Design Competition, the Letters of the Homeland Competition, and the Creative Essay Contest, in addition to the Jameel District Biennale in Jeddah, the Directory of Researchers, Experts, and Technicians, and participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023.
It is worth noting that this meeting is part of the regular open virtual meetings that Architecture and Design Authority has been organizing with stakeholders in various fields; with the aim of strengthening ties with specialists and practitioners in the architecture and design sector, and listening to their ideas and suggestions.
