Nuqat season is upon us, fast tracking to the big day marking the beginning of the conference. The seventh annual conference, aptly named The Seventh Sense: Powering the Creative Economy, is due to take place from November 10th-17th 2016, and has an amazing itinerary that includes legendary speakers, quality workshops, and educational lectures and discussion panels. Though the actual list of reasons of why we think you should attend this year’s conference is vast, we’ve whittled it down to the top ten highlights that you should definitely look forward to. Believe us when we say that this will be the most inspiring week of your year!
The Theme
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This year’s theme is reason enough to be excited about the conference. The Seventh Sense is centered around powering today’s creative economy, which is rapidly growing in our tiny nation. People are feeling more inspired, branching out on their own, and melding creative talent with business savvy to form careers out of doing what they love. This conference will hone all the skills you already posses or help you acquire new ones, and give you a brand new perspective to aid turning your visions into reality (or, if they already exist and are established, perfecting them further.)
Legendary Lectures
Dr. Munir Fasheh
Though there’s a whole lineup of unforgettable lectures in this year’s conference, this lecture, led by Dr. Munir Fasheh, is definitely one you should not miss! With an impressive background as an educator, author and consultant, Dr. Fasheh founded the Arab Education Forum and went on many speaking tours around the Arab world to promote formal and informal learning, and will be gifting Nuqat attendees with a valuable lecture on the aforementioned topic.
Impressive Speakers
Nolan Bushnell
The list of speakers in this year’s conference shows great promise, but one in particular really stood out. We have exciting news for all those who’d grown up in the 80s and 90s, as ATARI is one of (if not the) pioneer console that allowed us to play different game cartridges in our childhood. This is why, it’s an absolute honor to have cofounder Nolan Bushnell speaking at this year’s conference. Bushnell also has other notable mentions, being the founder of the infamous Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater, introducing video games to the masses, and being the first and only boss Steve Jobs ever had when he worked at Atari. You may never get to hear someone this cool speak in person again!
The Food
Elevation Burger
Let’s not pretend that we don’t care about food in Kuwait. Delicious kiosks that will be available at the conference are favorites like Elevation Burger – a strong sponsor of Nuqat – and Chili Pepper, which let’s face it, is just amazing. With delicious options accommodating all different types of dietary preferences, you’ll have the energy to make the most out of the conference without the rumbling feeling of hunger.
A Lesson in Typography
Tarek Atrissi
This workshop is sure to be a treat for typographiles. Led by Tarek Atrissi (@atrissi), one of the most recognized designers and typographers across the Arab world, you’ll gain an education in all things typography to take your design skills to another level.
Food Photography
Food Motion Photography Workshop
This exciting workshop focuses on the topic of Food in Motion Photography – which is an essential asset for many local businesses. This workshop will be led by Ian Bagwell and food stylist Kulsum Kunwa, who will hone your craft with a syllabus that includes understanding lighting, composition and software. Better yet, day one of the workshop will be held at The Reading Room’s gorgeously lit space – what more can you ask for?
Product Design Workshop:
Product Design at IKEA
Sponsored by IKEA, possibly the funnest build-your-own furniture store in the world, This Product Design workshop promises fun and education melded in one – where participants will learn about the process in which specific products are made. Led by Hassani Brothers and Farah Al Humaidhi, this interactive, activity packed workshop will give you a whole new perspective on the fundamentals of design.
Interesting Discussion Panels
Dr. Alanoud Al Sharekh, Aisha Salem, Bothayna El Essa, Sh. Intisar Salem Al Ali, Bothayna El Essa
Discussion panels are like food for the mind, giving you different perspectives on different topics. This discussion panel in particular, moderated by Dr Alanoud Al Sharekh, will be showcasing a selection of esteemed, influential women in the region: Aisha Salem (Intellectual Property attache for MENA US Department of Commerce), lawyer/activist Sofana Dahlan, publisher and producer Sh. Intisar Salem Al Ali, and writer Bothayna El Essa. Especially for female entrepreneurs in the region, this discussion should be inspirational, thought provoking and insightful regarding the topic of finding passion within limitations.
An Education on Murals
Face of Calligraphy
Led by the “Beirut Bansky” himself, Yazan Halwani’s workshop unravels the process of creating a mural that takes into account the context and fabric of the city with a focus on bringing a new dimension to Arabic calligraphy.
As a participant, you’ll get hands on with conceptualizing and painting a mural, with a focus on the calligraphy element of the artwork. This is truly a great opportunity for those who have dreams of perfecting their skill with the can of spray paint.
The Transportation
Careem
Powered by the latest buzz in local transportation, Careem, you know that ditching all parking woes is possible by using this sponsored service. We’re not saying there will be a discount for Nuqat-goers, but you never know! It’s definitely a win-win situation, either way.
We urge you to register for the Nuqat Seventh Sense Conference to build your craft, gain insight, and to hopefully take the plunge you’ve been waiting for to contribute your own something wonderful to our growing creative economy. Check out this preview of Nuqat’s new app and discover the advantages it offers: creating your own itinerary, registering for events, and even networking with other attendees.
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See you there, Kuwait!
To find out more about this year’s Nuqat conference, follow them on Instagram @nuqat. Register on the website, www.nuqat.me, and be sure to download their app via eventtus to view the complete Nuqat Conference schedule and REGISTER through their new app! To download the app from the Apple Store click here and from Google Play click here.
