Dezeen School Shows: an electronic device to help non-verbal children to communicate is among the projects from Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation.

Also featured is biodegradable clothing made from tea bags and sequins made from fish scales.

Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation

Institution: Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation
School: Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation
Course: Bachelor's of Design – BDes Programme

School statement:

"Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) offers a four‑year interdisciplinary Bachelor of Design (BDes) – the first of its kind in the region – where students select and combine two of four design disciplines: Product Design, Multimedia Design, Fashion Design and Strategic Design Management.

"The programme emphasises studio‑based, project‑focused learning, internships and a final-year capstone where students tackle real-world challenges through socially impactful design."

Barza by Fatma Lootah

"Barza stands as a testament to the timeless nature of Emirati traditions, blending them with modern demands for flexibility, functionality and sustainability.

"More than just a piece of furniture, Barza represents a bridge between the storied past and the dynamic present, embodying the culture's inherent adaptability and deep respect for communal gatherings.

"This multifunctional design envisions a single piece of furniture that can transform according to the user's needs.

"The prototype, which separates into both a floor seat and a side table, addresses diverse seating preferences within the same communal space, thereby maintaining the cultural significance of floor seating while offering modern comfort."

Student: Fatma Lootah
Course: BDes – Product Design/Strategic Design Management

Illumire by Suad Alfardan

"Illumire has launched the world's first initiative to create sequins from waste fish scales. This innovative process transforms waste into luxurious eco-friendly and biodegradable materials, offering a sustainable alternative to plastic-based embellishments.

"Illumire aims to address the environmental challenges of traditional glitter and sequins which contribute significantly to microplastic pollution, harming water bodies, aquatic life and human health.

"Each year, 1.7 million sequinned items are discarded, covering an area four times the size of Vatican City and taking up to 1,000 years to biodegrade.

"Illumire's latest capsule collection pays tribute to the UAE's natural environments, highlighting deserts, oases and marine."

Student: Suad Alfardan
Course: BDes – Product Design/Fashion Design

Through My Eyes by Hala AlTurk

"This project explores how fashion design can embody and express emotional states, specifically focusing on mental health through the contrasting experiences of anxiety and happiness.

"Each garment is created as a physical and visual interpretation of these emotions, using pattern, texture, colour and body movement as key storytelling elements.

"The anxiety design features tight, angular and closely spaced patterns that create a feeling of constriction and restriction.

"The structured silhouette, rigid lines and dense textures visually convey the sensation of tension, pressure and emotional weight often experienced during anxious states.

"The clothing almost hugs the body too tightly, symbolising how overwhelming anxiety can feel."

Student: Hala AlTurk
Course: BDes – Fashion Design/Strategic Design Management

A Dialogue Between Eras by Maryam Omar Alfalasi

"This thesis explores the preservation and revitalisation of the traditional Emirati craft of Talli through the design of a contemporary, user-centred tool, the Talli Kit.

"Rooted in the cultural heritage of the UAE, Talli is a decorative hand-weaving technique traditionally used to embellish women's garments such as the thawb and kandora.

"As modern lifestyles and global influences contribute to the decline of traditional crafts, this project responds to the need for cultural preservation by reimagining Talli in a format that is relevant, accessible and engaging, particularly for young Emirati women.

"The project followed a human-centred design approach, collaborating with experienced artisans to ensure authenticity."

Student: Maryam Omar Alfalasi
Course: BDes – Fashion Design/Strategic Design Management

Echo Bridge by Meera Murshed Alshehhi

"EchoBridge began as a simple idea – what if a non-verbal child could 'speak' by placing a colourful key on a device?

"Today, it's a handheld cylinder wrapped in soft, recycled rPET fabric and protected by a tough PETG shell – built to survive the inevitable drops and tumbles of daily life.

"Inside, an Arduino Uno and an MFRC522 RFID/NFC reader patiently wait for magnetic emotion keys – each one snapping into place with a satisfying click, thanks to a hidden magnetic mat that guides fingers with limited dexterity.

"When a key is in position, the reader recognises its unique tag and signals a tiny speaker to play a matching audio message."

Student: Meera Murshed Alshehhi
Course: BDes – Product Design/Strategic Design Management

Rumaileh Living by Meera Khalid Alsuwaidi

"Al Rumaileh Living is inspired by the UAE heritage, specifically the bedouin's adaptability and the special stories they hold.

"Just how the bedouin's adapted to different environments, this multifunctional bench adapts to different living spaces, catering to modern needs, shifting roles between a bench with a side table or a lounge chair with a headrest in modern living spaces, or even a low majlis style setup, in which the modular pillows may be pulled down, making the bench structure a table.

"The design is grounded in cultural elements like Sadu weaving and the project's own bespoke biomaterial."

Student: Meera Khalid Alsuwaidi
Course: BDes – Product Design/Strategic Design Management

Serene by Nour Nihad Alhmmawi

"Serene is a fashion-tech project that explores how wearable design can support mental health in Gen Z through bio-responsive systems.

"It reimagines fashion as an emotionally intelligent medium, capable not only of self-expression, but also of real-time physiological support.

"The project features two garments that respond to stress through different sensory mechanisms. The compression piece detects elevated stress levels and activates structured pressure along the arms, simulating the calming effects of deep touch therapy.

"This helps ground the wearer and restore a sense of bodily awareness. The breathing garment, made from layered silicone and soft robotic components, gently inflates and deflates to guide mindful breathing."

Student: Nour Nihad Alhmmawi
Course: BDes – Product Design/Fashion Design

Faith Forward – Redesigning Islamic Learning by Sheikha Futaim Bint Maktoum Bin Rashed Al Maktoum

"Seerah is a digital Quranic learning platform designed to modernise Islamic education through the integration of AI, user-centred design and certified religious scholarship.

"Developed with a focus on learners in the UAE and beyond, the app addresses current limitations in Quranic learning, such as lack of personalised feedback, inadequate access to qualified teachers and low engagement by offering AI-driven Tajweed correction.

"This includes live sessions with certified Imams, gamified learning experiences and region-specific guidance aligned with the Maliki madhhab and Hafs 'an 'Asim recitation.

"The platform's development was grounded in a mixed-methods research approach, including surveys with 110 users and interviews with educators to ensure cultural and educational relevance."

Student: Sheikha Futaim Bint Maktoum Bin Rashed Al Maktoum
Course: BDes – Product Design/Strategic Design Management

EpiAware by Noor Abdulhakim Alahmed

"Revolutionising epilepsy management: integrating smart home technologies, wearables and the EpiAware App for improved care in the UAE.

"This project presents a transformative approach to epilepsy management. The research focuses on integrating advanced technologies within a cultural framework, understanding that societal perceptions significantly influence healthcare engagement.

"Through the application of Smart Home Technologies (SHT) and wearable devices equipped with machine learning algorithms, this project aims to enhance the safety and quality of life for epilepsy patients.

"The EpiAware app centralises the management of these technologies, providing real-time monitoring, seizure prediction and emergency response coordination.

"This project is particularly innovative in how it personalises care while addressing regional healthcare gaps."

Student: Noor Abdulhakim Alahmed
Course: BDes – Fashion Design/Strategic Design Management

Barayé by Yalda Zaminpaima

"What if your daily cup of tea could become the material of the future?

"This project transforms used tea bags, loose leaves, string and packaging into biodegradable biomaterials. The work goes beyond fashion, exploring a wide range of design applications.

"From soft, fabric-like sheets to structured surfaces, each material is shaped by the type of tea, the fibres of the paper and the way the waste is layered.

"Black, green, herbal and floral teas naturally bring out subtle colours, textures and scents, resulting in visually compelling and deeply meaningful materials.

"These materials become more than just textile alternatives through pressing, moulding and experimental fabrication techniques."

Student: Yalda Zaminpaima
Course: BDes – Fashion Design/Strategic Design Management

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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