Dezeen Magazine

Design in Process exhibition showcases unfinished works by Mexican designers

An exhibition at the Archivo gallery in Mexico City is exploring "the most important" part of the design process – the development stage (+ slideshow).

The Design in Process exhibition showcases objects by 36 Mexican designers. Works range from products and textiles to architecture and urban design, but all are in a common state of incompletion.

Design in Process exhibition shows unfinished works by Mexican designers
Tequio by Duco Lab

Curators Isauro Huizar and Mario Ballesteros tasked the designers with presenting their unfinished pieces in an effort to make working processes more transparent to the public.

"In Mexico there is a total lack of culture of presenting and discussing work in progress, let alone displaying it," said Archivo gallery.

Design in Process exhibition shows unfinished works by Mexican designers
Piedra y vidrio by Moisés Hernández

"The premise of the exhibition is that the most important, interesting discoveries and learnings occur in the early stages of a project, and that these are usually difficult to distinguish and read in finished, polished objects."

The exhibition also aims to provide a look at the future of Mexican design and to identify trends within the local industry. It features both established and emerging designers.

Design in Process exhibition shows unfinished works by Mexican designers
Pruebas de torno by Pop-Dots

Among the exhibited designers are Christian Vivanco, who previously created a pendant lamp inspired by seaweed. Another designer, Emiliano Godoy, has had his glass pieces exhibited at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum's fifth Design Triennial in New York.

Hector Esrawe, who previously created a collection of lights that are controlled by sliding or pivoting elements, is also presenting his works, as are architects stación-ARquitectura.

Design in Process exhibition shows unfinished works by Mexican designers
Lasso lamp by Natural Urbano (Sebastián Beltrán)

The exhibition is on show at the Archivo gallery until 26 August 2016. It precedes a series of events focused on the past, present and future of design in Mexico City, which will be World Design Capital in 2018.

An exhibition with a similar theme took place during this year's Milan design week. For Envisions, a group of graduates from Design Academy Eindhoven decided to exhibit only materials, in response to the vast amount of finished products on show during the event.