8 Fun and Kid-Friendly Workshops at Dubai Design Week

Dubai Design Week is back in town this month and will take place over at d3 on November 11th-16th. The 6-day event is the place to be for fans of architecture, product design, interiors, multimedia and graphic design - and if you've got youngsters itching to get their hands busy, here are some great workshops they can take part in.

What to Do with Kids at Dubai Design Week?

November 15

1. Thermoforming by Edutech Middle East

Allow your kids to explore the issues resulting from the long lifetime of plastics and the challenges associated with recycling them. Children will learn about Material Design, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Product Prototyping using Vacuum forming technique to create products. Each participant will get the chance to use the FormBox to recycle plastic bags into various objects. Your 10-year-olds and above will come of out of this workshop thinking about how to reduce, reuse and recycle plastics. Making Space, Building 5, One Life Kitchen and Cafe, Mezzanine Floor, d3, 10am-12pm, AED 25, more info

2. String Ball Lanterns by Dubai Jiggy

Create your own colorful mood lighting with this fun and messy workshop hosted by Dubai Jiggy. The workshop will teach your kids the basics of using glue, string, and balloons to create a pretty lantern. Working with your own glue mixture and different colors, they will learn how to create a stunning spring-branch string lights decoration piece. Making Space, Building 5, One Life Kitchen and Cafe, Mezzanine Floor, d3, 12:30pm-2:30pm, AED 25, more info

3. Holiday Wreath - The Flowerful Project

Encourage your children to connect with nature and design while creating their own holiday wreath with The Flowerful Project. During this one-hour workshop, each child will learn fun facts about the flowers and foliage they will be using as well as experience new techniques as they create a simple and unique holiday wreaths - perfect to hang up in your homes during the holiday season. Making Space, Building 5, One Life Kitchen and Cafe, Mezzanine Floor, d3, 3pm-4pm, AED 75, more info

4. Embroidered Sketchbooks Workshop

Help your kids get their creative juices flowing by building their very own sketchbooks; an essential tool to the creative process. Natalya Konforti of Glitches & Stitches will lead this 60-minute introductory workshop to bookbinding and embroidery. Following an introduction to basic needlework techniques, your children will select a pattern from the collection to embroider on fabric covers before mounting and binding their very own sketchbook. Making Space, Building 5, One Life Kitchen and Cafe, Mezzanine Floor, d3, 5pm-6pm, FREE, more info

November 16

5. Global Children’s Designathon 2019

Give your kids the opportunity to work in parallel with children across the globe in this international annual event. Children will work in small teams to come up with creative solutions to real-world problems, drawn from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this year focusing on the theme of Food & Climate Action. The children will come up with ideas, build and test prototypes using materials ranging from cardboard and glue to sensors, motors, and other electronic components, before presenting their solutions to their peers. Making Space, Building 5, One Life Kitchen and Cafe, Mezzanine Floor, d3, 10am-2pm, FREE, more info

6. Fantastical Cities: Recycled Dubai

Calling all young architects, dreamers and builders! Join the Royal Institute of British Architects Gulf Chapter for a fun-filled day at Dubai Design District where you can unleash your creativity and make your very own Fantastical City inspired entirely by your imagination. Children will learn about model making and how different materials can be used. There will be a team of professionally trained architects and architecture students on hand to assist the kids and encourage them to think about the places they live and how they can positively influence how they might be designed in the future. Using recycled materials, kids can create anything they are interested in that is useful in a city; from a skyscraper to bridges, monuments, hospitals, houses, or a park. Making Space, Between Building 8 and 9, d3, 10:30am-5pm, FREE, more info

7. Beijing Opera Masks Workshop

Give your little ones the chance to explore Chinese culture in this interactive workshop where they will learn about the history and narrative behind Beijing Opera masks with the help of a hands-on activity. During this hour-long workshop, children will get a glimpse into the meaning of colour, shapes & expressions behind Beijing Opera masks. Making Space, Building 5, One Life Kitchen and Cafe, Mezzanine Floor, d3, 2:30pm-3:30pm, FREE, more info

8. Giant Origami Animal Workshop

Explore the Japanese art of paper folding during this 1-hour workshop led by Origami Designer Studio. Participants will learn how to use a square sheets of paper to make folds and create one giant and one small origami animal. A step by step video tutorial of five different origami animal designs will then be emailed to the attendees for you to continue the Origami fun at home. Making Space, Building 5, One Life Kitchen and Cafe, Mezzanine Floor, d3, 4pm-5pm, AED 30, more info --- Stay updated with the best kid-friendly activities in town! - Get Kidzapp now! Images: Supplied