The Markup #20

What Caught Our Eye

Author

Alan George
September 28, 2026

🎙️Hello aFormers!🎙️

September felt like a reset for Dubai’s design scene — a month of new projects, fresh ideas, and a growing focus on what makes the region’s design language its own.

From contemporary takes on Emirati craft to tactile interiors and new architectural visions, we continued to evolve quietly over the summer. Meanwhile, designers, architects, and studios began gearing up for a packed autumn calendar.

As the season picks up, we look back at the people, projects, and ideas that caught our eye this month — and what’s coming next.

— The Markup Team

Atousa Aslaminezhad, Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, explores the intersection of sustainability, infrastructure, and the built environment, offering a research-led perspective on the future of our cities and buildings. 

Rasha Al-Tekreeti, Founder and CEO of WarĂ», explores the intersection of entrepreneurship, design, and cultural identity, bringing a distinctive perspective to building creative businesses and shaping experiences rooted in their context.

Oryx Doors and Windows brings refined design and performance to interiors and architecture through premium aluminium doors and windows. From elegant folding and sliding doors to pivoting entrances, front doors, and architectural glazing, their range combines precision engineering with contemporary aesthetics.

Designed for residential, hospitality, and commercial projects, Oryx offers durable, high-performance solutions that connect indoor and outdoor spaces while adding a sense of openness and light. With showrooms across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh, their team supports projects from product selection through to installation.

Click here to explore Oryx’s range and connect with the team!

// Al Maktoum Archives gets a new visual identity, weaving traditional Emirati patterns into its Dubai interiors.

// City Tower One joins Dubai’s skyline, with Ahmad Alnaji’s lens tracing its architecture and life in the city.

// Adriana Graur turns design’s unspoken rules into a cinematic masterclass.

// Luum’s Ghent office goes bold in a sculptural skin of lightweight aluminium foam.

// ZAV Architects brings colour and craft to Iran’s Gelareh House, where playful vaulted forms reshape the home.

Need an office playlist? Or do you need to plug-in and disconnect from the studio? We got you! We have put together hours of a an eclectic mix of down-tempo, ethereal & dance music tracks designed in keep you in a state-of-flo! Crafted for those deep design dives & studio vibes!

If this newsletter adds value to you, please share it with like-minded designers.

#StayInspired