Vending machine dispenses kindness in Dubai
Created by two Emirati friends, a new vending machine installed at Dubai Design District (d3) is dispensing kindness and promoting positivity as part of Dubai Design Week 2021.
When Emirati friends Iman Almidfa and Hessa Ali Alechla started their lockdown Instagram project in April 2020, they had no idea Wild Arab West (WAW) would lead to over 50,000 followers and an interactive installation at the 2021 Dubai Design Week.
Stationed streetside at Dubai Design District (d3), the WAW Machine churns out compliments in Arabic and English, seeking to spread some positivity and put a smile on people’s faces.
Invoking a childlike joy in participants and prompting a slew of social media posts, the project’s roots lie in mental health awareness and promoting a more supportive society spirit.
“There was just last month mental health awareness week, and it’s definitely something that we wanted to focus on, especially now that everything's going back to normal regarding COVID,” cofounder Almidfa told Al-Monitor.
