Mexico City:Years of Culture's Crafting Design Futures residency, developed by Design Doha, has been integrated into Design Week Mexico's Visión y Tradición programme. This initiative, part of the Qatar, Canada, and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture, has brought together four designers from Qatar and the broader MENASA region to collaborate with Mexican master artisans at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, where the exhibition will remain open until November 1, 2026.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Visión y Tradición programme is a core part of Design Week Mexico 2026. The event, themed "Perspectives from the Global South," fosters creative exchange by uniting international designers with Mexican creators. The Crafting Design Futures residency has facilitated collaborations in glass engraving, clay, ceramics, and hand-hammered copper between designers and artisans.
Syrian designer Kenan Alkuwatly collaborated with engraver José Cruz, Lebanese designer Shirine Sbaiti worked with ceramic artisans Norberto y Rosi, Qatar-based Iranian designer Yasamin Shaikhi partnered with Estudio Guerrero, and British-Indian architect Armaan Bansal teamed with Alan Pureco's family workshop. These partnerships encouraged designers and artisans to create collaboratively, allowing for the evolution of initial ideas through the making process.
Fahad Al Obaidly, Director of Design Doha, emphasized the importance of acknowledging craft as a form of knowledge, urging designers to engage deeply with artisans' expertise. This initiative, part of broader Years of Culture programmes in Doha, highlights traditional knowledge's role in informing contemporary creative practices as Qatar invests in its heritage while developing its design sectors.
The programme also features Expanded Tradition, curated by Ana Elena Mallet, opening at M7 in Doha on October 27. This exhibition showcases Mexican makers reinterpreting traditional techniques. Additionally, acclaimed chef Elena Reygadas and Perla Valtierra's ceramics are featured in the Doha Design District, complementing the ongoing collaboration between Mexican and Qatari creative traditions.