Her Excellency Chairperson of Qatar Museums Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani honoured the four winners of the Doha Design Prize 2026 at the Museum of Islamic Art Sunday.
The prize ceremony was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Thani bin Hamad al-Thani; CEO of Qatar Museums, Mohammed Saad al-Rumaihi; His Excellency Director of the National Museum of Qatar Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al-Thani; as well as a number of prominent figures, intellectuals, and artists.
The winners were selected across four categories: Craft (Bahrain-Denmark): Mesh! by Bahraini-Danish, comprising Batool Alshaikh, Maitham AlMubarak and Christian Vennerstrøm, based in Bahrain. The project is crafted from reclaimed Cape teak wood that reinterprets traditional Bahraini woodworking and weaving techniques through interlocking wooden modules, creating a versatile piece that can function as a screen, room divider or freestanding element.
Product Design (Lebanon): PSI-01 (Power Supply Indicator 01) by Post Design Studio, represented by Dia Mrad. PSI-01 connects to the household board and shows the live source in light: green for solar, yellow for generator, red for the grid, and a red "OFF” panel when the city goes dark.
Furniture Design (Lebanon): Low Tide by Shaha Raphael. The project is an ode to the Mediterranean and to Lebanese artisanship. Tables, stools, mirrors and tableware appear shaped by the sea, suspending the spiral of fossils in stone and bending metal as if by an invisible wave.
Emerging Talent (Iran): Yasamin Shaikhi for The Spoils: Lights From Waste, a sculptural lighting piece made from cooked rice waste and date pits, addressing food waste in Qatar. The materials are pulped and pressed into translucent surfaces that emit a soft glow, turning discarded materials into a functional sculpture.
Selected from more than 550 applications from across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) and its diasporas, the four winners were recognised for their outstanding contributions to contemporary design and their innovative approaches to craftsmanship, materials and creative production.
The Prize is chaired by HE Chairperson of Qatar Museums Sheikha al-Mayassa. The winners were selected by a 24-member international jury headed by India Mahdavi.
The Prize provides winners with opportunities to develop their work and build connections with international design institutions and commercial partners. The four winners will receive a combined financial award of QR 800,000 (approximately USD 220,000), alongside a two-week mentorship programme at the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany, and one year of studio space at Liwan Design Studios and Labs in Doha. Additional support includes retail opportunities through Liberty London at Liberty Home Msheireb in Doha, as well as logistical assistance and business mentorship from DHL.
Speaking at the Design Doha Prize 2026 ceremony, Sheikha al-Mayassa recognised the winning designers and the creative talent across the region, emphasising Design Doha's ambition to connect designers with industries, investors and professional opportunities.
"Design Doha is an investment: connecting talent with industry, designers with architects and developers, and regional creativity with public and private capital projects."
Sheikha al-Mayassa also acknowledged the determination of regional designers and the growing international recognition of their work. "When few believed in the creative power of our region, our creators persevered. Today, no one doubts it. There is now a movement, driven by beauty, proud of its origins and rooted in our ancestry, and it is unstoppable."
Addressing the wider challenges facing the region, she spoke about the power of culture to bring people and communities together. "This is culture as resilience and resistance. This is Qatar as a platform that unites."
Director of Design Doha Fahad al-Obaidly said: "The Design Doha Prize is about what comes next for these talented designers. We want to see their work move from prototypes to production, reach new markets and create new possibilities for their careers. With the support of our partners, we are connecting designers with the expertise, resources and networks that can help them take their ideas further. I am excited to see how this year's winners build on this recognition and where their work takes them next."
Head of the Design Doha Prize 2026 Jury India Mahdavi said: "What impressed me most about this year' winners was the individuality of their work. Each approaches design from a different perspective, with a personal understanding of materials, craftsmanship and cultural identity.
These are designers with their own creative languages, and it is exciting to see how they are contributing to the future of contemporary design. I hope the Prize gives them the freedom and confidence to take their ideas further."
Design Doha Biennial 2026 runs through 31 January 2027. Centred in Fereej Al Asmakh, the biennial- including its headline exhibition, Arab Design Now 2026, curated by Noura Al Sayeh-features exhibitions, Public Design Commissions and cultural programmes across the city.
