The programme ended with a gallery showcase held from September 14 to 18 at the park, where participating designers presented products shaped through research, material exploration, fabrication and commercial development. An awards ceremony recognised three projects selected from the inaugural cohort.
Andy Cartier won for Mushroomiya, a pendant light drawing on the geometry of the traditional mashrabiya and made using mycelium grown on waste fibres from UAE date palms. Ghoson Alqurashi and Ula Albasheer were recognised for Al-Sukham, a contemporary lighting project inspired by the Emirati practice of charcoal making and using discarded eucalyptus wood.
Alya AlGhfeli received an award for The Med Collection, a series of side tables influenced by dhow boats and intended to reinterpret elements of Emirati maritime heritage through contemporary furniture design.
The accelerator was created to help emerging designers move from early concepts towards physical products capable of further development, production and market entry. Its first edition concentrated on furniture and collectible design, linking creative practice with prototyping, manufacturing, branding and commercial preparation.
Participants took part in mentoring, training and practical development sessions covering product design, prototyping and production readiness. The programme also addressed pricing, brand development, product positioning and creative storytelling, while giving designers access to fabrication facilities and opportunities to work with specialists and industry stakeholders.
The initiative was delivered with Isola Design, Colab, the American University of Sharjah and designer May Barber. The partnerships were intended to widen access to specialist knowledge, industry contacts and professional feedback as participants refined their work.
Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Executive Director of Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, said completion of the first cohort marked an important step in extending Sharjah’s innovation ecosystem into fields that contribute to a knowledge- and creativity-led economy.
He said the projects demonstrated the ability of emerging talent to turn initial ideas into products with creative and commercial value. Al Mahmoudi also said the park regarded innovation as extending beyond technology into design, arts and other creative industries where ideas can be translated into tangible outcomes.
Through BASE39, he said, the park is seeking to provide designers and other creative professionals with an environment combining knowledge, experimentation, development and production, allowing projects to progress from concept to execution and towards the market.
BASE39 was established as a dedicated creative platform within the research park, bringing together designers, architects, artists, entrepreneurs and creative technology ventures. Its facilities include design and prototyping spaces, studios, workshops and fabrication resources intended to connect creative development with entrepreneurship and industry.
The accelerator was announced earlier this year with plans to select designers and studios through an open call. The programme was structured around mentorship, workshops and hands-on product development, with participants expected to develop commercially viable work while retaining a clear design identity and emphasis on craftsmanship.
Organisers said the showcase allowed visitors and industry professionals to examine both the finished pieces and the stages through which the projects had evolved. The event also brought mentors, partners and members of the wider design community together around the cohort’s work.
SPARK has positioned the programme as part of a wider effort to connect creative industries with research, technology and manufacturing. The park’s stated approach is to create routes through which designers can test materials, develop prototypes and engage potential partners while strengthening the business foundations of their work.
BASE39, launched in 2025, was conceived as a multidisciplinary platform spanning design, digital arts, media, architecture, fashion, music and interactive creative fields. The accelerator is one of its mechanisms for supporting product-led ventures and helping creative practitioners test whether concepts can progress beyond studio development.
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