Madrid Design Festival 2021: Hybrid Edition Celebrates Creativity Amid Pandemic
In February 2021, the fourth Madrid Design Festival (MDF) took place in a hybrid format, overseen by Álvaro Matías and organized by La Fábrica. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, local involvement was robust, while international participants connected online. The primary location was the Centro Cultural Fernán Gómez, which hosted four distinct exhibitions: 'Connected' featured home-office table prototypes by designers such as Jaime Hayón; 'Madrid Design Portrait' highlighted fifteen local designers; '¡Emergencia!' showcased 55 projects tackling pandemic-related challenges; and 'Valencia Pavillón' offered a glimpse of Valencia's upcoming role as World Design Capital 2022. The festival emphasized Spanish design on a global scale, prioritizing sustainable materials and fostering collaborations with the fashion and food industries.
Key facts
- Fourth edition of Madrid Design Festival held in February 2021
- Hybrid format with in-person and digital events
- Organized by La Fábrica, directed by Álvaro Matías
- Main venue: Centro Cultural Fernán Gómez, Plaza Colón
- Exhibition 'Connected' featured home-office tables by Jaime Hayón, Studiopepe, Ini Archibong, Sabine Marcelis
- 'Connected' promoted by Design Museum London, AHEC, Benchmark Furniture
- 'Madrid Design Portrait' showcased 15 local designers including Studio Moneo Brock, Mariano, Andrea Santamaria, Isaskun Chinchilla, Álvaro Catalán de Ocón
- '¡Emergencia!' curated by Museo del Design di Barcellona, displayed 55 pandemic-response prototypes
- 'Valencia Pavillón' previewed Valencia as World Design Capital 2022
- Valencia Pavillón created by Studio Savage and Mut, with wooden pavilions by Manolo García
- Festival aimed to promote Spanish design internationally and focus on sustainable materials
Entities
Artists
- Jaime Hayón
- Studiopepe
- Ini Archibong
- Sabine Marcelis
- Studio Moneo Brock
- Mariano
- Andrea Santamaria
- Isaskun Chinchilla
- Álvaro Catalán de Ocón
- Manolo García
- Álvaro Matías
- Federica Lonati
Institutions
- Madrid Design Festival
- La Fábrica
- Centro Cultural Fernán Gómez
- Design Museum London
- AHEC (American Hardwood Export Council)
- Benchmark Furniture
- Museo del Design di Barcellona
- World Design Organization
- Studio Savage
- Mut
- Istituto Europeo di Design (IED)
- Artribune
Locations
- Madrid
- Spain
- Plaza Colón
- Carabanchel
- Valencia
- Barcelona
- Milan
- Italy