DUBAI: For decades, Saporiti Italia has been known for its sophisticated design solutions and now the company has launched a competition for students at the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) to recreate the iconic archival Miamina chair. The creators of the winning design will travel to Italy to present their chair at Milan Design Week in April 2024. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle Titled the “Saporiti Design Experience,” the competition was launched at the now concluded Dubai Design Week and marked the opening of the company’s flagship location in Dubai Design District. Arab News spoke to Saporiti Italia CEO and chairman Raffaele Saporiti to learn more. “Instead of a launch party, we wanted to contribute to the design culture of Dubai and decided to team up with DIDI. At the university, students study and understand the concepts. But by working with a furniture manufacturer, the students will apply their knowledge and understand the reality of furniture design,” he said. The teams will consist of four to five students who will create their version of the Miamina chair while incorporating sustainable elements. The history of the chair goes back to 1984 when Saporiti designers Alberto Salviati and Ambrogio Tresold reinterpreted a folding chair called Tripolina used by the British army in North Africa. The chair gets its name from the city it was first presented in – Miami. Through the years, multiple artists have redesigned the chair and it remains one of the company’s most iconic designs. Founded in 1948 by Sergio Saporiti, the firm manufactures contemporary Italian furniture and undertakes architectural and interior design projects. The company is responsible for the VIP lounges at Hamad International Airport in Doha, various Chloe boutiques worldwide and the Vacheron Constantin boutique in Geneva. In 2002, Saporiti Italia launched its presence in the Middle East by opening a branch in Dubai’s Media City.