The College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) has concluded a successful Design Week 2011 by opening an exhibition of the work done by students during the week.

This unique five-day series of events included specialized and experimental workshops, presentations, critiques, round table debates and public lectures on inspiring work by high-profile professionals and academics of Architecture, Art and Design.

Design Week 2011 addressed, among other topics, emerging design processes and techniques, both at the global and local context. The CAAD Design Week offered students a unique opportunity to work across disciplines and express themselves beyond their curricular requirements.

Peter Di Sabatino, Dean of CAAD, expressed his views on the success of the week. "Design Week was very successful this year in terms of bringing in a vast diversity of faculty and design experts from around the world. The people we brought in shared their expertise in various areas and discussed recent strategic initiatives like design fabrication, interactive objects and spaces and Arabic type."

During the Design Week, students had the chance to meet and work with international design experts and industry professionals. Guest lecturers at the week included Michele Arnaboldi, renowned Swiss architect and urban planner; Michael Fox, founding partner and principal of Fox Lin in Los Angeles and author of Interactive Architecture; James Williamson, winner of two Graham Foundation grants; Saudi calligrapher Majid Alyousef; Yara Khoury Nammour, Design Director of Middle East design house Al Mohtaraf; and Stephen Luoni, Director of the University of Arkansas Community Design Center.

"The week also jumpstarted students back into academics after spring break by exposing them to people and processes. Students and faculty alike got a lot out of the week. Also, the experts we invited to participate in Design Week have unanimously said how much they enjoyed being here and that we have great students, faculty and facilities. When they go back to their respective parts of the world, they will be speaking positively about AUS and Sharjah thereby extending goodwill", said Di Sabatino.