Tashkeel is delighted to unveil the participants of the Tanween Design Programme 2026, marking its thirteenth edition. The five designers presenting this year's collection are Alia AlShamsi, Ahmad Kattan, Ayah Alkhatib, Abdulla Abbas, and Nethra Ganesan.

Now in its thirteenth edition, the Tanween Design Programme continues to explore the relationship between sustainability, cultural identity, and contemporary design. Over the course of the programme, participants engaged in material research, experimentation, mentorship, and collaboration with local manufacturers and craftspeople to transform their concepts into finished products. Spanning furniture, lighting, and functional objects, the 2026 collection reflects diverse approaches to material innovation, cultural storytelling, and craftsmanship, connecting the UAE's evolving design landscape with its heritage and everyday experiences.

Alia AlShamsi

Inspired by folklore and the historic monsoon trade routes connecting South Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and East Africa, Waq Waq Island explores the movement of stories, memories, and cultural exchanges across generations. Through reimagined furniture and textile art, Alia AlShamsi creates an Offline Corner — a dedicated space within the home for reflection, imagination, and moments away from the digital world. The collection includes a rocking chair, rocking footrest, modular table and ottomans, vintage mirror, and textile artwork. Combining pre-owned furniture, hand-dyed Merino wool, and tufted illustrations, each piece transforms cultural narratives into contemporary objects that invite connection, contemplation, and storytelling.

Ahmad Kattan

Aftermatter explores the potential of discarded materials through a modular design system that brings together material research, architecture, and sculptural furniture. Ahmad Kattan's Object I takes the form of a sculptural side table presented in two versions: one produced through 3D printing with plant-based PLA mixed with spent coffee grounds, and another incorporating organically grown mycelium developed with NUMU as the material research and development partner. Drawing on brutalist and minimalist architectural principles, the design balances structure, proportion, and material experimentation. By allowing different materials to exist within the same modular framework, Aftermatter challenges conventional approaches to production and explores how overlooked resources can acquire new purpose and value.

Ayah Alkhatib

Athar is a collection of four lighting pieces that transforms discarded mussel shells and recycled glass into contemporary objects of light. Sourced from restaurants across the UAE, these materials are given a new purpose while retaining traces of their previous use. Rather than reshaping the shells, Ayah Alkhatib preserves their natural forms, allowing their curved surfaces and pearlescent interiors to soften and diffuse light. Recycled glass is broken, melted, and reformed into luminous elements. Comprising hanging, table, wall, and floor lighting, Athar draws inspiration from patterns found in nature, exploring repetition, accumulation, and transformation. The collection reflects on consumption, material permanence, and the possibilities of extending the life of everyday materials through design.

Abdulla Abbas

Drawing inspiration from the traditional Emirati ritual of burning bukhoor, Mbkhar reimagines the mabkhar as a contemporary architectural object within the home. The collection includes a floor lamp, desk lamp, and bukhoor burner, bringing together fragrance, light, and smoke in objects designed for everyday use. Inspired by the form and environmental principles of traditional wind towers, Abdulla Abbas explores the movement of rising smoke through illuminated structures. Combining clay, wood, brass, and textiles, the pieces create a dialogue between traditional materials and contemporary craftsmanship. Mbkhar transforms a familiar cultural practice into a spatial experience, allowing the movement of smoke, the diffusion of scent, and the warmth of light to become part of the domestic environment.

Nethra Ganesan

Inspired by Gulf modernist architecture and South Asian craft traditions, The Connect 4 Collection explores the relationship between cultural identity, migration, and the spaces that bring people together. Drawing on the distinctive geometric façade of Abu Dhabi's Obeid Al Mazroui Building, Nethra Ganesan translates architectural forms into two contemporary design objects: Jhula, a reinterpretation of the traditional South Asian swing, and Diya, a sculptural lighting piece designed for both table and wall use. Crafted using wood, metal, and hand-carved details, the collection incorporates the skills of South Asian artisans working in the UAE. Through its combination of architectural references and traditional craftsmanship, Connect 4 celebrates shared histories, cultural exchange, and the role of design in creating spaces for connection.