UAE capital will be home to the exhibition from today, 8 November 2017 to 11 February 2018 Curated by acclaimed British designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, the exhibition captures objects mid-manufacture & celebrates the making process Design enthusiasts can look forward to valuable personal insights on design process at free-of-charge masterclass by Barber and Osgerby

In celebration of 2017 being the UK/UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration, Warehouse421, a dedicated space showcasing art and design exhibitions in Abu Dhabi, is set to welcome the regional debut of the In the Making design exhibition. Curated by award-winning British designers Barber and Jay Osgerby, and presented by The Design Museum in London, the exhibition will open its doors to public in Abu Dhabi today, and will run for three months until 11 February, 2018. The exhibition captures objects in the mid-manufacture phase, and puts the aesthetic of the unfinished centre stage.

This is the first time the touring exhibition will be presented outside of the UK and Ireland, and for the UAE edition of the exhibition, Barber and Osgerby, have sourced new objects mid-manufacture and local to the region; including an oud, lent by Abu Dhabi-based music institution Bait Al Oud, as well as an uncropped book from CPI Books.

In curating the exhibition, a fascinating collection of incomplete objects has been chosen by Barber and Osgerby – from a cricket bat and a tennis ball to a MacBook Pro – enabling visitors to go on an experiential journey of the creative manufacturing process, as they witness objects from their original or conceptualisation stage through to their final, recognisable form.

Tonight, which is the opening day of the exhibition (8 November), visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a masterclass where Jay Osgerby will engage the audience in a discussion on decoding the design process while sharing personal insights into some of the designers’ most iconic projects such as the Loop Table, the Tip Ton Chair and the Torch for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The touring exhibition was designed by Universal Design Studio, the architecture and interiors practice founded by Barber and Osgerby and co-directed by Jason Holley and Hannah Carter Owers.

“We are pleased to mark the UK/UAE Year of Creative Collaboration organized by the British Council by partnering with The Design Museum, London, to facilitate a platform that encourages a meaningful dialogue between international designers and the art community within the UAE. We are also happy to provide our visitors with a unique window into the manufacturing process – enabling enthusiasts to reflect on the transformative journey that turns everyday objects into stunning designs,” said Shamma Al Mehairi, of Warehouse421.

An excellent educational platform for students – In the Making will provide young minds with an engaging way to explore the theme of the exhibition. While children aged 5 and above will have the opportunity to learn about the objects on display and the making process through fun activity sheets, students can spend time reflecting on the theme with a collection of publications on design and manufacturing, carefully selected by the Barber and Osgerby with the Curator of The Design Museum, Margaret Cubbage. In addition, all guests can look forward to seeing the visual journey of the production process of some of the items on display through a series of videos.

"We have always been fascinated by the making process as it is an integral part of our work. We have curated an exhibition that will provide a platform to capture and reveal a frozen moment in the manufacturing process and unveils an everyday object in its unfinished state. Often the object is as beautiful, if not more so, than the finished product! We are delighted to bring In the Making to the United Arab Emirates, our first exhibition in the Middle East," said Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby – Curators of In the making.

Enriching the fast evolving art scene in Abu Dhabi, the In the Making exhibition coincides perfectly with the opening of Abu Dhabi Art 2017, and Louvre Abu Dhabi, to further develop the Emirate’s pursuit of becoming a global art’s hub for modern and contemporary artworks from across the globe.

"The Design Museum is honoured and proud to collaborate with Warehouse421 and present In the Making. We have adapted the exhibition to feature new objects and include regional artefacts, tailored for the United Arab Emirates. The beauty of this exhibition is admiring these objects before they are recognisable and finished functional forms. It enables visitors to the exhibition to acknowledge the material or marvel at the unknown methods of production,” said Margaret Cubbage – Curator, The Design Museum.

The Design Museum touring programme was set up in 2002 with an aim to bring design exhibitions to audiences around the UK and internationally. Since then, more than 100 exhibitions have toured 90 venues in 21 countries worldwide.