The organizers of this year's first edition of Beirut Design Fair announced the event’s program in a press conference yesterday attended by founder/ director of the fair, Guillaume Tasle d’Heliand, co-founder/ head of exhibitors relations, Hala Mubarak, and a number of designers. The exhibition which will take place from 20 to 24 September will embrace prominent Lebanese names in the world of design, trademarks, showrooms, artisans and distributors along with emerging designers who represent a promising generation of creators yet to be discovered. The fair also seeks to become an upscale platform to promote Lebanon’s standing in the heart of the global design arena, while meeting the expectations of amateurs, collectors and practiced innovators on the lookout for inspiring projects and objects in the field. On the occasion, Guillaume underlined the purpose of the fair which is to help Lebanon forge a prestige worthy of its name and be in the forefront of the creative space in the region. Mubarak for her part, said the inventions by Lebanese designers are the outcome of innovative, sensational and elegant ideas, aided with a will to polish traditional skills and craft inspirations of high value. ( Al Mustaqbal, July 14, 2017)