Ithra announces the return of its flagship design event Tanween, from 17-22 November

• Launch of Tanween Challenges open call 
• Tanween 8th Edition Theme: Design the Unspoken
• Isola as Tanween’s creative partner

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA, 4 September 2025: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) announces the return of its flagship design event Tanween, from 17-22 November and launch of the Tanween Challenges open call. Each year, Tanween brings together diverse, global design voices for industry-focused workshops, courses and competitions centered around hands-on participation and knowledge sharing. Last year, Tanween attracted over 2,100 attendees, with sold-out workshops and talk sessions. Now in its 8th edition, Tanween continues to expand its role in connecting creatives and advancing design.

Tanween Challenges open call: Design for the 90% 
Today marks the official launch of the Tanween Challenges open call. Until 26th October, designers worldwide can register to take part in one of the 6-day Tanween Challenge design sprints (The Global Impact Challenge, Urban Spaces Challenge, Product Design Challenge and Visual Communication Challenge) taking place during Tanween. 

This year’s Challenges are united by the theme Design for the 90%, inviting participants to shift attention away from the top 10% of consumers toward the wider 90%, who form the majority yet remain underserved in the design market.

• Global Impact Challenge, Elevating the Learning Journey: Reimagining learning in rural areas with limited resources, infrastructure and access.
• Product Design Challenge, Farmer Gadget: Developing a multifunctional product that supports the daily needs of farmers working in extreme climates.
• Urban Spaces Challenge, Communal Pavilion: Reimagining inclusive micro-environments that encourage human connection in an individuality-driven world.
• Visual Communication Challenge, Awareness Campaign for Diverse Communities: Creating inclusive visual materials that cross language barriers and build cultural bridges.

Tanween theme
With an overarching theme of “Design the Unspoken,” Tanween’s 8th edition encourages designers to anticipate hidden needs and respond with bold, forward-looking design. Held across Ithra’s Plaza, Great Hall and Lush Gardens, the event’s program aims to highlight creativity’s potential to surface what is often overlooked and to reframe how design engages with communities.

Program
Over six days, Tanween will offer a multidisciplinary program and hands-on learning experiences for professionals, students, and design enthusiasts alike. 

The program will include: 

• Exhibitions: Curated and hosted showcases exploring design in multiple contexts, including the Grad Show featuring works by recent design graduates and an International Exhibition spotlighting leading practices from around the world.
• Tanween Majlis: A dynamic series of panel discussions bringing together international creatives, thought leaders, and innovators to explore timely and future-focused themes.
• Curated Workshops: Interactive sessions for both professionals and general audiences to experiment, imagine and collaborate.
• A Day with Experts: Exclusive two-day experience providing direct access to and opportunities to collaborate with renowned international design professionals. 
• Tanween Challenges: Six-day collaborative design sprints empowering 90 participants to co-develop design solutions across the four themed challenges.
• Design Market: A curated design market showcasing regional and international brands, with opportunities to engage directly with designers and makers.

Isola as a creative partner
This edition of Tanween is supported by a creative partnership with Isola. Building on previous collaboration, this partnership reflects the importance of global exchange and collaboration at Tanween. As a creative partner, Isola will feature across Tanween’s programs, including in panel discussions, co-curated exhibitions and showcases.