The residency offered a reinterpretation of design that integrates innovation, environmental respect, and reuse, while remaining creative. Contemporary design, marked by this plurality of expressions, leans toward more sustainable and responsible solutions, akin to Antidesign. The residency took place in two phases: the first focused on learning, followed by a second phase dedicated to applying the acquired skills.
During this 9-week design residency, by Liwan and Campus MaNa, trained in crafts, design, and architecture techniques by leading design experts in the picturesque region of Burgundy, France. This residency aimed to stimulate reflection, research, creativity, and innovation by bringing together leading talents in design and architecture. It focused on developing innovative projects, which will be presented at the Design Doha Biennale 2026 in Qatar.
ABOUT CAMPUS MANA
Campus MaNa is in the heart of Burgundy, a region where craftsmanship is deeply rooted in history. It is an innovative and inspiring space dedicated to the teaching and practice of Design, Architecture, and Crafts. Campus MaNa offers modern facilities, production workshops, collaborative spaces, and resources for creators, fostering the emergence of unique projects.
The residency took place in a stimulating environment that encouraged the exchange of ideas, the pursuit of innovative solutions, and openness to the world.
This 9-week residency at Campus MaNa in France was an exceptional opportunity for four Qatar-based designers and architects, Aia Zaina, Haya Abu Al Saad, Reema Abu Hassan, and Bashir Al Khulaifi, to strengthen their network, push the boundaries of creation, and exhibit their designs at the Design Doha Biennale 2026. The designers had a chance to collaborate, learn from other creatives, and refine their projects.
During their residency, the residents explored a wide range of craft and design practices through hands-on workshops, research, and material experimentation. Their time within the programme moved between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design approaches, encouraging new ways of thinking about materials, sustainability, and production.
The residents worked with ceramics through the reuse and valorisation of ceramic waste, while woodworking sessions introduced foundational techniques for handling and transforming wood alongside skilled carpenters. Their research also extended into the ancestral craft of brassworking, offering insight into traditional metalworking processes and techniques.
Explorations in plant-based dyeing introduced the residents to natural colour-making using locally sourced plants transformed into dyes and baths, while leather-working sessions examined how leather could be repurposed into functional and design-led objects.
Building on these craft-based foundations, the residency evolved into a series of design explorations centred around upcycling, transformation, and prototyping. By combining traditional techniques with repurposed materials and contemporary design thinking, the residents developed projects that reimagined form, function, and material potential. Their residency concluded with advanced prototyping processes that supported the development of ideas from concept through to production and refined outcomes.
