Revitalizing India’s Artisan Workshops: The Shakti Design Residency Makes Its Mark on Milan Design Week 2026
The Shakti Design Residency, a pioneering program founded by Shalini Misra, is redefining the intersection of traditional Indian crafts and contemporary design. This innovative initiative brings international designers to India to collaborate with the country’s leading artisans, resulting in a unique fusion of styles and techniques. The residency’s second cohort will showcase their work at Milan Design Week 2026, further solidifying India’s position in the global design landscape.
A New Era for Indian Craft and Design
For years, Indian craft has been perceived as a separate entity from contemporary design. However, Misra’s vision for the Shakti Design Residency is to bridge this gap and showcase the sophistication and expertise of Indian artisans. By pairing designers from around the world with India’s master craftspeople, the residency encourages a cross-cultural exchange that yields extraordinary results. The program’s goal is not only to promote cultural understanding but also to create a new generation of design leaders who can appreciate and build upon India’s rich material traditions.
The residency’s participants, including Zofia Sobolewska Ursic, Maria Tyakina, and Rodolfo Agrella, among others, have been working tirelessly alongside Indian artisans to develop innovative and breathtaking pieces. From Ursic’s delicate white onyx cabinet to Tyakina’s sculptural cane works, each project demonstrates a deep respect for traditional Indian techniques while introducing fresh perspectives and ideas. The finished works will be exhibited at the 2026 Alcova fair in Milan, providing a platform for the design community to experience the residency’s output firsthand.
Shaping the Future of Craft and Design
The Shakti Design Residency is part of a larger movement to redefine the role of craft in a postindustrial world. As jury member Kulapat Yantrasast notes, the program’s participants are eager to learn from and be influenced by their Indian counterparts. This willingness to collaborate and adapt is essential for creating a new wave of design that is both globally relevant and locally rooted. The residency’s emphasis on hands-on production and material exploration has already yielded impressive results, with participants pushing the boundaries of traditional techniques and creating innovative, genre-bending works.
The program’s impact extends beyond the design community, as it helps to promote a more nuanced understanding of Indian culture and its contributions to the global design landscape. By showcasing the work of Indian artisans and designers on an international stage, the Shakti Design Residency challenges preconceived notions about Indian design and encourages a more inclusive and diverse definition of good design. As Misra observes, the residency’s goal is not to erase tradition but to refuse the idea that Indian design must conform to a specific aesthetic or style to be legible to a global audience.
A New Generation of Design Leaders
The Shakti Design Residency is poised to become a thought leader in the design world, with its unique approach to craft and collaboration. The program’s debut presentation at Milan Design Week last year was met with a strong response, and this year’s exhibition promises to be even more impressive. With the support of a rotating panel of global design leaders, including Yantrasast, the residency is well-positioned to shape the future of craft and design. As the design community looks to the future, the Shakti Design Residency is an exciting and innovative program that is sure to make a lasting impact.
The residents’ projects will be on show from April 20–26, 2026, at Alcova, Milan. For those interested in learning more about the Shakti Design Residency and its participants, the program’s online platform, Curio.Space, will offer limited editions of the exhibited pieces. As the design world converges on Milan, the Shakti Design Residency is sure to be a highlight of the event, showcasing the best of Indian craft and design to a global audience.
Participants and Their Projects
- Zofia Sobolewska Ursic: A cabinet with a paper-light finish, created in collaboration with Frozen Music’s master technicians.
- Maria Tyakina: A sculptural, undulating form that bends traditional cane-working techniques from Nagaland.
- Rodolfo Agrella: A suspended mobile of hammered brass, crafted in residence with Vikram Goyal Studio.
- Daniel Garber: Artisanal lighting based on India’s earliest glassmaking methods, developed during his residency at Klove Studio.
- Victoire de Brantes: A woven landscape of wool dyed in hyperlocal Rajasthani pigments, created in collaboration with Jaipur Rugs.
- Tadeáš Podracký: A contorted cane piece using ancient techniques from far-eastern Nagaland, developed during his residency with Heirloom Naga Centre.
The Shakti Design Residency’s second cohort is a testament to the program’s success in fostering a new generation of design leaders who are eager to collaborate, learn, and innovate. As the design world looks to the future, the Shakti Design Residency is an exciting and innovative program that is sure to make a lasting impact.
