التكنولوجيا وأخبارها بوابة مصر لأخبار تكنولوجيا المعلومات والإتصالات وفي أفريقيا كما تعتبر مصدر رئيسي للمعلومات حول تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات والفرص الاستثمارية المرتبطة بالاقتصاد الرقمي في المنطقة بالكامل
In a landmark move for the regional design scene, Creative Dialogues, a leading multidisciplinary platform powered by YVT Consultancy, has unveiled TheMENAEdit, a pioneering cross-border design collective. The initiative is co-produced with Cairo-based Design Point Studio and Creative Districts, the organizers behind Cairo Design Week 2026, where the project will culminate in a major group exhibition from November 19 to 28, 2026.
What is TheMENAEdit? A New Model of Collaboration
TheMENAEdit introduces a first-of-its-kind structured co-creation programme in the MENA region. It brings together seven cross-border teams, each composed of three creatives from the Gulf, Levant, and North Africa, alongside an Egyptian creative who leads the project locally.
Together, these teams will develop original limited-edition design pieces inspired by shared heritage, diverse perspectives, and collective experiences. Unlike traditional exhibitions, the works presented are not standalone contributions but the result of continuous collaboration and dialogue among participants.
Beyond the Final Product: Showcasing the Creative Journey
At Cairo Design Week 2026, visitors will experience more than finished design objects. Each piece will be accompanied by detailed documentation of its creative process—from initial research and concept development to prototyping and final production.
This approach reflects the philosophy of Creative Dialogues: that the act of creating holds equal significance to the final outcome, offering audiences a deeper understanding of design as an evolving and collaborative discipline.
21 Creatives from 10 Countries: A Diverse Creative Network
The initiative gathers 21 creatives representing 10 countries: Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Qatar. Participants span a wide range of disciplines, including architecture, conceptual art, interior design, and urban practice.
Confirmed participants include:
Sara Dhafer Alahbabi, Gaida Almogren, Cherif Morsi, Nawaf Al Nassar, Laith Khalifa Al Shiyadi, Alia & Tamara Tanani, HRH Princess Noura bint Saud Al Saud, Nohma Kaaki, Mohammed Said, Alia AlShamsi, Nermin Habib, Yasmine El Meleegy, Rand Alkishtaini, Mashhoor Khaled Al Nassar, Malak Ahmed Helmy, Sara Al Nafisi, Ghalia Abdul Jawad, Alia Mortada, Ghalia Benali, Abdulrahman Al Muftah, and Ramzi Makram-Ebeid.
This diversity highlights the future of design in the region—one rooted in multidisciplinary collaboration and cultural exchange.
Programme Structure: From Research to Realization
The TheMENAEdit programme unfolds through a series of carefully structured phases:
Discovery and research
Concept development
Design execution
Prototyping
Refinement
Final production
Participants will collaborate through monthly sessions, continuous remote engagement, and an in-person studio visit to Cairo, ensuring an immersive and dynamic creative process.
Exhibition and Regional Expansion
The final exhibition will debut at Cairo Design Week 2026, accessible to all ticket holders. It will present the collective design works alongside process documentation and individual profiles, introducing each creative to Cairo’s vibrant design community and a wider regional audience.
Following its Cairo premiere, the exhibition will tour across the GCC, expanding its reach and reinforcing Creative Dialogues’ commitment to fostering meaningful cross-border collaboration.
A Shift in Creative Thinking
More than just an exhibition, TheMENAEdit represents a transformative shift—from simply gathering creatives to enabling true collective creation. It demonstrates the tangible outcomes that emerge when diverse voices from across the MENA region come together to imagine, design, and build as one.
Voices Behind the Initiative
Yasmine VandaTrofast, Founder & Executive Director of Creative Dialogues, stated:
“TheMENAEdit exists to prove that design does not stop at borders. We are building a movement that connects creatives across this region, giving them a space to think, create, and tell their stories together. This is bigger than an exhibition—it is a new way of working, and we are only just getting started.”
Karim El Hayawan & Nehal Leheta, Co-founders of Design Point Studio, added:
“Cairo Design Week creates the space for ideas to meet, challenge, and inspire diverse creatives locally, regionally, and internationally. We are excited to contribute to this year’s dialogue alongside Creative Dialogues.”
Yosra Sherra, Co-founder of Creative Districts, commented:
“The MENA Edit reflects our belief that meaningful cultural exchange happens through shared processes. By bringing creatives together over time, this initiative fosters new perspectives, relationships, and ways of thinking about design.”
