Ithra’s Tanween Programme Turns Focus to Design as a Social Tool

Tanween will be held at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran from November 17th to the 22nd, 2025, with its eighth edition unfolding under the theme 'Design the Unspoken'. The programme focuses on how design can address overlooked needs and inspire forward-looking solutions, using Ithra’s architecture as an active setting for exchange and collaboration.
This year’s centrepiece is the Tanween Challenges, a six-day sprint inviting designers from around the world to explore the theme of 'Design for the 90%'. Participants will tackle four tracks: reimagining rural learning environments, developing multifunctional tools for farmers in extreme climates, creating inclusive urban pavilions, and designing visual campaigns that cross cultural and linguistic barriers. Temporary installations created during these challenges will activate Ithra’s Plaza and gardens, turning them into open testing grounds for design as a social tool.
Alongside the challenges, the wider programme includes an International Exhibition spotlighting global design practices, a Grad Show showcasing works by emerging graduates, and the Tanween Majlis, where architects, designers, and cultural thinkers will lead discussions on current and future-facing themes. Curated workshops, interactive exchanges with international experts, and the Design Market — featuring regional and global brands — will further expand opportunities for engagement.

This edition also deepens Tanween’s collaboration with Isola, integrating co-curated exhibitions, live demonstrations, and showcases to embed new forms of international exchange. Together, these components create an environment where design is observed, discussed, and tested in real time, positioning Tanween as a platform for experimentation and collective learning.