Design Democracy 2026 in Hyderabad Spotlights Regional Craft and Material Knowledge
The fourth iteration of Design Democracy took place at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, India, from September 18 to 20, 2026, highlighting the intersection of Indian craftsmanship and modern design. STIR conducted interviews with co-founders Pallika Sreewastav, Shailja Patwari, and Arjun Rathi. The event showcased four distinct exhibitions: 'Museum of Telangana,' curated by Supraja Rao, featured wooden creations from ten designers; 'Gallery of Sustainability,' overseen by Jasem Pirani and Huzefa Rangwala, displayed table lamps from 20 artists; 'Precious Objects: AFTER LIFE,' curated by Monika and Sarah Choudhary, delved into the significance of objects; and 'The Art Edit,' curated by Anish Gawande, honored Indian modernism. Commercial exhibitors included brands such as Asian Paints and Technogym. Discussions on luxury and sustainability faced criticism for their lack of direction.
Key facts
- Design Democracy 2026 was held from September 18 to 20, 2026, at HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, India.
- The festival's fourth edition featured four special exhibitions: Museum of Telangana, Gallery of Sustainability: Root & Radiance, Precious Objects: AFTER LIFE, and The Art Edit.
- Museum of Telangana included an installation of 6,000 tapering modules in ash and walnut and 60,000 pieces of different wood species.
- Gallery of Sustainability: Root & Radiance showcased table lamps by 20 Indian creatives using natural or reclaimed materials such as clay, wood, and steel.
- Precious Objects: AFTER LIFE featured a Baccarat chandelier above a glass chessboard and a wall artwork by a young Hyderabad artist.
- The Art Edit, curated by Anish Gawande with Sakshi Gallery, marked the gallery's 40th anniversary and included works by Ravinder Reddy, Arunkumar HG, and others.
- Co-founders of Design Democracy are Pallika Sreewastav, Shailja Patwari, and Arjun Rathi.
- The fair included commercial booths from brands such as Asian Paints, Technogym, Cesar, Artyk, Gauri Khan Designs, Oorjaa, and House of Aluminr.
Entities
Artists
- Jincy Iype
- Pallika Sreewastav
- Shailja Patwari
- Arjun Rathi
- Supraja Rao
- Riyaz Quraishi
- Jasem Pirani
- Huzefa Rangwala
- Monika Choudhary
- Sarah Choudhary
- Anish Gawande
- Ravinder Reddy
- Arunkumar HG
- K. G. Subramanyan
- Manjit Bawa
- Krishen Khanna
- Himmat Shah
- Jehangir Sabavala
- Gauri Khan
- Ekta Parekh
- Ridhi Khosla Jalan
- Iram Sultan
- Kumpal Vaid
- Devika Khosla
- Pia Bhatia
- Pranjal Maheshwari
- Chahna Tank
- Javier Guzman Cervantes
- Ulises Morin Arzola
- Alice Bucknell
- Mrinmayee Bhoot
- Wendell Castle
- Nancy Jurs
- Alison Castle
Institutions
- Design Democracy
- STIR
- HITEX Exhibition Centre
- MORIQ
- Brown Profile
- MuseLAB
- MuseMART
- ZHCollective | Habitat Architects
- Sakshi Gallery
- Asian Paints
- Technogym
- Cesar
- Artyk
- Gauri Khan Designs
- Oorjaa
- House of Aluminr
- Supercast
- Baccarat
- NGV
- Ian Potter Centre
- Friedman Benda
Locations
- Hyderabad
- India
- Telangana
- Cuttack
- Odisha
- Jaipur
- Melbourne
- Scottsville