What are some of the challenges you face as designers in the Middle East?

David: Every country in the Middle East has its own, however market volatility has a heavy influence on our work.  It makes designers work at an irregular and hectic rhythm - sometimes comprising aspects of the project. This happens worldwide however it is becoming the norm in some parts of this region.  Additionally, quality is unfortunately often a challenge.  A project not attended by contractors and specialists with the right qualifications ends up delayed and the outcome does not reflect a quality product.

Dausser: As designers, the challenge continues to be the development of modern and contemporary spaces that promote nature-inspired or natural spaces, taking into consideration climatic considerations. The designs that we develop, should serve two purposes, the first is to be eye-catching and beautiful, and to minimise maintenance costs - which is a challenge given the hot and dry climate across the region. The other challenge we face is client budgets that require high-end value-added services.

Amyas: The challenges are really no different to those we face in other parts of the world. Kinnersley Kent Design undertakes projects globally, and designing for brands in the Middle East, we face the same issues regarding timescales, budgets and communication. We endeavour to ensure that our designs are always relevant to the context that we are working in and celebrate local culture.

Rosha: Over the past decade, the industry has evolved with a shift of focus solely on the ROI. Clients are more interested in the experience, functionality and the ROI on design elements rather than its aesthetics. Knowing the role of contractors within the project execution and the budget-consciousness of clients nowadays, maintaining the original specifications has been a challenge and very often goes through a value engineering process, which is time consuming and comes at a cost.

Martin: We have been lucky to work with great contractors and clients. Contractors are squeezed on margins and contract terms and this will inevitably, have a negative effect on quality. Therefore, it is crucial for designers to be engaged, ensure material submittals and shop drawings are reviewed and signed off by them. Clients are obviously looking for a high quality service, the lowest price and the fastest time.

Tareq: Exceeding the customer’s perception of the project and delivering something that totally amazes them. This requires thinking out-of-the-box and communicating this paradigm shift to everyone who is involved in designing, building, and finishing. Clients are also becoming actively involved in what goes on throughout the project life cycle.

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