Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, the Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council is taking part in Design Doha Biennial 2026 for the second time with its curated project, Design Labs II.
Exhibition details
- Venue: Fereej Al Asmakh, Doha
- Biennial programme: 5 to 7 November 2026
- On display until: 31 January 2027
- Focus: furniture, art installations and architectural design rooted in traditional crafts
From craft research to contemporary design
Launched in 2024, Design Labs II is a research-led, practice-based programme that brings together artisans, designers, researchers and material specialists to explore how traditional craft knowledge can shape contemporary design. It builds on research documented in the Council’s publication Architectural Elements from Cultural Heritage, which covers techniques, materials and cultural knowledge from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.
Craftswomen played a central role, contributing weaving, embroidery and other traditional skills and exchanging expertise directly with designers. The works on show include seating and tables, lighting fixtures inspired by the colours of the Arabian Peninsula, and concrete surfaces that translate the woven patterns of safeefah palm-leaf weaving, alongside experiments with talli and sadu.
“How can craft knowledge help shape design itself?”
H.E. Reem BinKaram, Director General of Irthi, said the second participation builds on efforts to strengthen the presence of Emirati crafts regionally and internationally. Curator Reem Saif Al Mazrouei explained that the project began by asking how craft knowledge could shape design itself, rather than simply being added to it.
Talks and workshops
The participation includes panel discussions and workshops, including a session on the role of women in preserving traditional crafts, with speakers from Irthi, Qatar Museums’ Creative Hub and Kuwait’s Sadu Art and Design Initiative.
Media contact
Dani Jarjoura, ThinkSmart PR
dani@thinksmart.ae
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