MENA Design Research Center
Beirut, Lebanon
About
Founded in 2011, MENA Design Research Center is a non-profit organisation based in Beirut, Lebanon working on arts & culture, community development, education.
MENA Design Research Center is a non-profit organisation based in Beirut, Lebanon, founded in 2011. It uses design research as a multidisciplinary tool for cultural, educational and social development in the Middle East and North Africa. Its work includes participatory design research projects, workshop design and facilitation, conferences, seminars, exhibitions, publications and festivals. It develops design research tools and methods for social issues, works with universities and schools to embed design methodology in curricula, and supports designers working in non-commercial and public domains. In 2012 it initiated Beirut Design Week, which marked the start of design weeks across the Middle East and North Africa. Its work spans Lebanon and Egypt, and it promotes accessible, free public events.
Location
Founded
Focus areas
Languages
Causes & programmes
Causes
Works for
How they work
Programmes
Beirut Design Week
Arts & Culture · Lebanon
National design festival showcasing Lebanese and international design to strengthen creative economies and foster entrepreneurship. First organised in 2012.
DESMEEM project
Community development · Lebanon
In 2012, 30 designers worked with Lebanese NGOs and local communities on 10 social and environmental challenges facing the country.
Egyptian Cycling Observatory
Environment & Climate · Egypt
Digital platform dedicated to urban cycling in Egypt, for which MENA DRC provided strategic design and product development facilitation under the Tandem 360 programme by MitOst.
Between the City & the Camp
Community development
Mapping and research project investigating the relationship between the city and the camp, carried out under the Creative Force programme by the Swedish Institute.
Countries of operation
Credentials & affiliations
Partnerships
UNDP Lebanon, MitOst, Swedish Institute
Other non-profits in Lebanon
View all
Centre for Lebanese Studies
Education, Refugees & Migration +2 more
Arab Center for Architecture
Heritage, Arts & Culture +1 more
BIAT - Business Incubation Association in Tripoli
Employment & Skills, Gender equality +1 more
Lebanon Green Building Council
Environment & Climate, Education
ICARDA
Poverty & Hunger, Environment & Climate +1 more
26 Letters
Education, Children & Youth +3 more