Liwan Design Studios launches ‘Future Traditions and the New Authentic’ Craft Residency Programme

Doha, Qatar: Liwan Design Studios and Labs is proud to announce the launch of the Liwan Craft Residency, a six month programme dedicated to designers...

Doha, Qatar: Liwan Design Studios and Labs is proud to announce the launch of the Liwan Craft Residency, a six-month programme dedicated to designers and craftspeople based in Doha, Qatar.

Beginning in June 2025, the residency will provide six selected local designers with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Qatar’s vibrant design ecosystem, engage deeply with its cultural and creative fabric, and collaborate with skilled artisans and manufacturers.

“The Liwan Craft Residency represents our commitment to nurturing Qatar’s design talent while honouring our cultural heritage,” said Aisha Nasser Alsowaidi, Director of Liwan Design Studios and Labs.

“Through this programme, we aim to create a space where tradition and innovation converge, enabling designers to develop work that is both locally rooted and globally relevant.” With the theme ‘Future Traditions and the New Authentic,’ the residency challenges designers to reimagine traditional craft and cultural narratives for contemporary contexts. Participants will explore how Qatar’s rapid modernization can coexist with its deep-rooted heritage, creating a unique space for creative exploration that honors the past while shaping the future.

The residency’s conceptual focus, ‘Reimagining the Oasis: Our Design Ecosystem,’ invites designers to examine the oasis beyond its environmental function—as a metaphor for cultural continuity, community resilience, and resourcefulness. Throughout history, oases have been essential to survival in Qatar’s desert environment, serving as vital trade and cultural hubs that fostered exchanges between nomadic tribes and merchants.