This year's edition of Design Days Dubai saw an eclectic and diverse mix of ceramic and craft collections by designers Aljoud Lootah, Max Lamb, Amy J Hughes, and Regina Heinz.

Aljoud Lootah

Aljoud Lootah is a multidisciplinary designer based in Dubai, who is at the forefront of the UAE’s creative scene. Her distinct style celebrates Emirati culture, traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design. Two products from her Oru Series (2015) were acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, making her the first Emirati designer to have her work acquired by an international gallery.

At Design Days Dubai 2017, Aljoud launches her first porcelain products which include vases, tableware and table lamps. The collection is called Tebr (meaning ‘raw gold’ in Arabic) as each piece has been crafted from the finest porcelain and then adorned with decorative motifs in 14-karat gold.

Vase 2, Mizlay Vase and Vase 3 designed by Aljoud Lootah

Amy J Hughes  & Max Lamb

Crockery is a collection of tableware cast in fine bone china from plaster models carved by Max Lamb. The collection is a ceramic, earthenware collection of cutlery, plates, milk jugs, and bowls fashioned out of fine bone china, with a biscuit exterior and glazed interior.

The beautiful thing about porcelain–or bone china–is that due to its composition it can actually come out different every time, and instead of fighting against that, Lamb decides to embrace it. The Crockery collection is proof of that, at once docile and rugged; whether it's to be bought and placed in a cabinet or used on a daily basis, it's an excellent place to start a porcelain collection.

Black Crockery Collection designed by Max Lamb

White Crockery Collection designed by Max Lamb

On the other end of 1882, a London Design Studio, is Amy J. Hughes, also showing at this year's fair. Amy's Tryst collection is a look back at the humble vase. The vase is one of the oldest–if not the oldest–example of ceramics and design. First discovered in Ancient Egypt, and used as a vessel for carrying water, Amy Hughes hopes to restore the item to its former status.

Amy Jayne Hughes was the V&A Ceramics Resident from April – September 2015. Gleaning inspiration from the museum’s comprehensive collections, she married elements of her own practice with traditional hand-decorating techniques and the skills and expertise of Stoke-on-Trent’s finest industry.

Her mid-18th century-style porcelain vase is more appealing for today’s consumer. The decoration, taken from sprig moulds carefully cast from museum objects, pays homage to the originals whilst finding a new place in contemporary culture.

Designed in London, produced in Stoke, each slip-cast fine bone china vase is unique in its finishing, organic rim and painterly splashes, worked with a knowledge of material and history of the subject

Whether it's sitting alone on the top of a console or surrounded by an arry of books on a shelf, the Tryst vase, will stand out by blending in.

Tryst Vase designed by Amy J Hughes

Regina Heinz

Regina's award winning work has been purchased by the National Art Collector's Fund and is presented in collections worldwide, including the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, the Museum of Contemporary Ceramics in Gifu, Japan, the International Ceramics Museum in Faenza, and the Yingge County Ceramics Museum in Taipei.

Flow designed by Regine Heinz

Michael Rice