What can a piece of furniture tell us about the Mediterranean? Can an everyday infrastructure problem become the subject of a design object? And might discarded food offer unexpected possibilities for lighting?
These are some of the questions raised by the four projects recognised at the Design Doha Prize 2026, announced on 8 November during the second edition of the Design Doha Biennial.
Selected from more than 550 applications, the winners represent creative practices from Bahrain, Lebanon and Iran. Their work spans furniture, craft, product design and material experimentation, with each project offering a distinct response to its cultural or physical environment.
Shaha Raphael — Furniture Design
For Lebanese designer Shaha Raphael, the Mediterranean provides the starting point for Low Tide, a collection of furniture and objects developed with Lebanese artisans. Marine references emerge through its forms and materials, with stone, metal, wood and lace contributing to a collection that moves between functional design and sculptural expression.
Bahraini–Danish — Craft
Bahrain-based studio Bahraini–Danish, founded by Batool Alshaikh, Maitham AlMubarak and Christian Vennerstrøm, received the Craft award for Mesh!. Made from reclaimed Cape teak, the modular design draws on Bahraini woodworking and weaving traditions. Its interlocking elements allow it to take on different configurations, from a room divider to a freestanding structure.
Dia Mrad / Post Design Studio — Product Design
With PSI-01, Lebanese designer Dia Mrad turns his attention to the practical realities of electricity supply in Lebanon. The installation uses illuminated signals to identify the source currently powering a home, making an often invisible part of daily life immediately perceptible. The project suggests how design can engage with the systems and circumstances that shape the way people live.
Yasamin Shaikhi — Emerging Talent
Iranian designer Yasamin Shaikhi was recognised for The Spoils: Lights From Waste, a lighting project developed from discarded cooked rice and date pits. Through material experimentation, these organic remnants become translucent surfaces that allow light to pass through, proposing a different use for resources that would otherwise be thrown away.
