On November 6, Poliform Dubai hosted “The Italian Genius for Design: Where Art, Creativity and Enterprise Meet”, a Dubai Design Week breakfast and panel discussion on a simple question: why are the Italians so extraordinarily good at design, and how have they turned that talent into one of the world’s most successful creative industries?
The morning opened with a welcome from Karine Obegi, CEO of OBEGI Home, who spoke of design as more than creating beautiful spaces: it is also about people, ideas and the creativity that brings them together. She reflected on how Italy’s artistic heritage has extended far beyond art, shaping everything from cars and fashion to furniture and the objects we use every day.
Moderated by Talib Choudhry, Editor of House & Garden, who returned to moderate after last year’s panel, the conversation brought together four voices from different corners of the design world: Amal Rakibi, gallerist and curator; Farid Noufaily, Founder and Principal of FN Architects; Riccardo Robustini, Founder and Creative Director of Breath Design; and Stefania Digregorio, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Etereo.
The discussion explored whether an Italian genius for design truly exists, or is simply a flattering national myth. It looked at the role of the workshops, artisans and manufacturers who turn ideas into reality, and at why the world keeps choosing Italian design, from private homes to leading hotels. The panel also reflected on what working internationally, with Dubai at its heart, has taught designers about their own heritage. Looking ahead, they considered how to honour tradition without being bound by it, and what technologies like AI mean for the human skills at the centre of Italian craftsmanship.
Our sincere thanks to Talib and our panelists for such an engaging morning, and to everyone who joined us.
