Region needs 30,000 designers by 2019

Dubai - The total value of the Mena design industry will reach $55 billion by 2019.

The Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC), in partnership with Dubai Design District (d3) revealed the "Mena Design Education Outlook" study which provides insight into the design education landscape across the MENA region and focuses on six key design markets in the region - UAE, Qatar, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait.
The report highlights the growth of the design sector and subsequently, the need for at least 30,000 design graduates by 2019, representing the need for a nine-fold increase in young designers to achieve sustainable growth of the design sector in the region.
According to the study, the design industry in the region is estimated to grow at an annual rate of six percent over the next five years, twice the pace of the global design sector, and is expected to contribute 5.2 per cent of the overall design sector in 2019.
The creative industry is viewed as a promising sector globally, while fashion is the largest contributor to the industry representing 69 per cent of market value in Mena. Fashion is expected to continue growing at 6.1 per cent until 2017 and subsequently at 7.5 per cent until 2019 and is core to Dubai's tourism and retail sectors.
The total value of the Mena design industry will reach $55 billion by 2019. Given this overall positive outlook, organisations anticipate at least a 20 per cent annual increase in their designer headcount, especially in fresh graduates, over the next two to three years. Estimated increase in headcount at junior levels is the highest in the Fashion and Interior Design segments.
Dr Amina Al Rustamani, Chairperson of DDFC said: "The report also highlights opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, and will be a key reference while drafting strategies and plans to enhance the design ecosystem in the region. Ultimately, we hope that the study will help educators and policymakers alike to identify industry trends and support them in developing curriculums, courses and policies to nurture the talent pool in the region".
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai