DUBAI: Riyadh-based architect Mazyd Alkhattaf launched his design firm GRID"s first first-ever collection during the recently concluded 10th edition of Downtown Design and he spoke to Arab News about the launch. Alkhattaf is a Saudi architectural engineer specializing in furniture design. He launched a collection of tables and chairs made from solid oak wood, ziricote veneer and natural leather. Their design reflects a focus on geometric shapes and forms that gracefully fit together to form each piece of furniture.“We will present GRID’s first collection, with its highlight furniture piece: A luxury gaming table,” he told Arab News ahead of the event. “The table has been crafted utilizing premium materials and designed keeping in mind both its aesthetic and functionality. The table comfortably fits four players providing them with an ample playing surface — its design is unique and stands it apart from the usual gaming tables available in the market.” Alkhattaf explained that he chose Downtown Design to launch his brand because of its powerful platform. “It is the leading design fair in the Middle East,” he said. “For new brands — such as GRID — it’s a powerful platform that will give us the incredible opportunity to extend our reach beyond the GCC to a broader Middle Eastern and international audience,” he added. “This can pave the way for substantial growth and expansion into previously untapped markets.” The collection, he told Arab News, focuses on ways to transform what he calls “ethereal concepts into tangible realities. “It incorporates products made by talented master craftsmen who possess the remarkable ability to transform the seemingly impossible into possible,” he added. “Our pride extends to the artistry embedded within our concepts and to our commitment to providing meaningful employment opportunities within our nation.”