The Shakti Design Residency, a visionary initiative, is transforming the landscape of Indian craftsmanship by uniting global design talents with local artisans. This dynamic program culminates in an impressive exhibition at Milan Design Week 2026, where the innovative works born from these collaborations will be unveiled to an international audience. The residency's core mission is to elevate the status of Indian craft, moving beyond outdated stereotypes and firmly establishing it as a world-class contender in contemporary design.
Global Collaboration Ignites Indian Craftsmanship at Milan Design Week 2026
In the vibrant environs of India, an extraordinary artistic synergy is unfolding, powered by the Shakti Design Residency. This innovative program, spanning a full month, brings together talented international designers with India's revered craftspeople, including skilled stone carvers, meticulous metalworkers, and adept wood artisans. The initiative focuses not merely on cultural exchange, but on tangible, hands-on production. Each participant embarks on a journey to create a distinctive collection, deeply rooted in Indian materials and traditional techniques, all meticulously crafted within the workshops of their artisan partners.
A prime example of this collaboration is Polish artist and designer Zofia Sobolewska Ursic, who has been meticulously shaping white onyx into delicate ribbons at Frozen Music, a bespoke stone atelier near Jaipur. These intricate pieces are destined to form a cabinet of ethereal lightness – a feat that would be nearly unattainable in her personal studio. Ursic's creations, along with five other residency-produced works, will captivate audiences at the prestigious Milan Design Week 2026, scheduled from April 20 to 26. This exhibition at the Alcova fair serves as a pivotal platform for each cohort to present their groundbreaking work on a global stage.
Shalini Misra, a visionary philanthropist and interior designer who divides her time between New Delhi, London, and New York, founded the Shakti Design Residency. Now in its second year, Misra's initial concept was to seamlessly integrate these completed works into the global design calendar, ensuring they transcended the realm of isolated craft experiments. She emphasizes the importance of a robust international presence to spark meaningful dialogue within the design community. Misra articulated her long-held belief that Indian craft and its practitioners have often been unfairly relegated to a lesser category compared to contemporary design. However, she has encountered countless artisans whose profound understanding of materials, processes, and the inherent meaning within objects rivals any sophisticated design practice. Her ultimate goal is to forge a creative harmony between design and craft, positioning them as equals.
Amidst India's burgeoning population and its position as a global economic powerhouse, Misra harbors even grander aspirations for Shakti – a Sanskrit term embodying strength, energy, and power. She notes a significant shift away from the historically Western-centric definitions of 'good design,' which once influenced how Indian artisans perceived their own creations. This paradigm is now changing, with Indian artists and architects achieving unprecedented global recognition. Events like Kerala's Kochi Biennale, Asia's largest non-commercial art exhibition, and the India Art Fair are drawing luminaries such as David Zwirner and Carpenters Workshop Gallery. This momentum extends globally, with House of Santal opening an expansive gallery of Indian-designed furniture in Midtown Manhattan, and Mumbai's Aequō collaborating with design giants like Kelly Wearstler.
Within this vibrant backdrop, Shakti is rapidly emerging as a leading voice in shaping the future of craft in a post-industrial world. Kulapat Yantrasast, a renowned architect behind Thailand's new Dib Bangkok Museum and currently working on a vast national museum in New Delhi, serves as a key jury member. He is part of a rotating panel of global design leaders responsible for selecting and mentoring the residency's participants. Yantrasast highlights the residents' profound eagerness to be influenced by India, to learn, and to collaborate in unique ways.
This willingness to be shaped by their environment is already yielding remarkable results. In addition to Zofia Ursic, this year's participants include Rodolfo Agrella, collaborating with Vikram Goyal Studio; Victoire de Brantes, working with Jaipur Rugs; Daniel Garber, partnered with Klove Studio; and Tadeáš Podracký and Maria Tyakina, both collaborating with Heirloom Naga Centre. The projects are wonderfully diverse, ranging from De Brantes' woven wool landscapes dyed with hyperlocal Rajasthani pigments to Agrella's suspended mobile of hammered brass, Garber's artisanal lighting inspired by India's ancient glassmaking traditions, and Tyakina and Podracký's intricate cane pieces utilizing ancient Nagaland techniques. These limited-edition pieces will be available through Misra’s online platform, Curio.Space.
For Misra, opening India's workshops to a new generation of designers is crucial for dismantling the stereotypical perceptions associated with "Made in India" products. She clarifies that this is not about erasing tradition, which she regards as extraordinary, but about rejecting the notion that Indian design must conform to a specific aesthetic to be recognized globally. The deliberate pairing of designers from diverse countries facilitates genuine exchange, resulting in creations that defy conventional notions of both "Indian design" and European design with an exotic overlay.
The Shakti Design Residency represents a powerful testament to the timeless artistry and innovation embedded within Indian craft traditions. By fostering global collaborations and providing an international platform, it not only redefines contemporary design but also instills a profound confidence in Indian artisans, affirming their world-class knowledge systems and aesthetic sensibilities.