Reem al-Hashimy calls on UAE people

With more than 15,000 registrants for the Expo 2020 Dubai Logo Competition to date, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State, Director General of Bureau Dubai Expo 2020, and Board Representative of the Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee has called on people across the UAE to contribute to the shaping of the symbol for the iconic event.

"We are on a journey to create a transformative Expo. Developing a logo, that reflects and represents who we are and is symbolic of the inclusive event we are creating, is a meaningful milestone. We invite the UAE community to join us on this journey by actively participating and sharing their talent, passion and inspiration," said Reem Al Hashimy.

Joining forces to inspire people in the UAE to discover their artistic talents are some of the country's most renowned creative minds, who are sharing their own experiences to help guide those looking to make their mark on the Expo 2020 Dubai Logo Competition, which runs until 30th April via www.expo2020dubai.ae/logocompetition.

UAE National, Maha Amiri, who has worked with acrylic and watercolour, as well as pencil and charcoal for several years, said when creating art, it should come from the heart. Amiri, a radio personality who hosts a weekly segment interviewing arts and culture influencers in the UAE, reflects upon the relevance of commonplace images and symbols that exist in our visual environment in her art, emphasising their ability to guide moods, emotions and behaviour both consciously and subconsciously.

"The UAE is fast becoming a centre of creative excellence and I'm constantly impressed and inspired by the wealth of talent emerging from the UAE, and the number of individuals making a name for themselves on the world stage. The Expo 2020 Dubai logo design competition provides a real opportunity for anyone in the UAE to show their creative side, but also for people all over the world to see for themselves the creativity that exists in the UAE. In my view there is no specific way to present the perfect design or image, but it must be personal, one of a kind, and convey passion, creativity and flair," said Amiri.

A thoughtful logo is a key component of the success of any organisation said another expert, Noel Tabb who is a Managing Partner & Executive Creative Director at Bellwether Brand Consultancy. Bellwether is a leader in brand creation, strategy and design, with unique experience in creating Arab World brands and launching them internationally. Tabb's award winning experience includes visual identity work for Burj Al Arab, as well as for major local, regional and international companies.

Tabb said, "Few brands these days are purely local. The case of the Expo 2020 Dubai logo is a perfect example of a design that will need to resonate with global audiences."

Rashid bin Shabib is part of Cultural Engineering, which over the past eight years has participated in Research, Education and Urbanism projects that advance the identity of Dubai and the broader Middle East. The practice has taken part in global events, repurposed over ten older buildings and founded Brown book magazine, a periodical that presents the contemporary culture of the Middle East.

"Nurturing innovation and encouraging creativity is part of what has made the UAE what it is today. Developing a logo for the Expo 2020 Dubai that presents our identity is essential. Please don't hesitate to sketch and submit it," he said.

Logo competition entrants are invited to create a design that reflects the main theme of the event: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. The Expo 2020 Dubai Logo Competition will give one individual the chance for their creative interpretation of the Expo 2020 Dubai theme to be seen by millions when the UAE plays host to the six-month mega-event opening in October 2020 in Dubai. All logo design entries must be submitted on or before 30th April via www.expo2020dubai.ae/logocompetition. Entries for any age group are allowed; minors need consent from their parents As well as the prestige of seeing their design used as the Official Expo 2020 Dubai logo, the winner of the chosen design will win Dh 100,000 plus a fantastic trip for four to three previous World Expo cities, and receive a season pass for two for Expo 2020 Dubai, including an invitation to the official opening ceremony.
Source: WAM