Egyptian designer Karim Mekhtigian, considered by his peers to be the guru of contemporary interior design in Egypt, was born in Cairo in 1964 to a family of
Armenian descent. His multicultural upbringing in Egypt’s cosmopolitan capital imbued him with a deep appreciation of Egypt’s rich cultural heritage and the
multitude of influences that shape it. Mekhtigian is both Egyptian to the core and a man of the world.
After completing secondary school, Mekhtigian, who was just sixteen at the time, travelled around the US and Europe for four years taking on different jobs at
architectural design firms and in cinema, gaining invaluable practical experience in both fields.
In 1984, Mekhtigian went on to study Interior Design and Scenography at the E.S.A.T. (École Supérieure d’Art et Techniques). After graduating in 1989, he
worked as a Designer and Art Director for several companies, both in Paris and Cairo, before opening his own design studio, ‘Dessilk,’ for handmade tableware and
accessories, in Paris. In just the first two years following Dessilk’s launch, its products were recognized by such organizations as Salon Maison et Objets, Paris,
Hermes Foundation, and F.N.A.C. Fond National d’Art Contemporain. In 1998, Mekhtigian founded ‘Alchemy Design Studio,’ in Cairo, offering a wide
array of services, including architecture, interior and product design. His innovative designs and flawless taste quickly established him as a leader in Egypt’s
contemporary design industry, making him one of the most sought-after interior designers in Egypt. From the start, Mekhtigian distinguished himself with his ability
to subtly transpose the Cairene sensorial landscape to his designs. To this day, combining cultural codes and traditions with modern visions and new technologies
remains a hallmark of his design philosophy. In 2003, building on Alchemy’s success, Mekhtigian, along with his partner Mohamed Fares, opened the first Alchemy showroom for furniture and accessories in Cairo. This was followed by a second Cairo showroom in 2006, and a showroom in Bahrain in 2009. In 2010, he launched a special showroom for Alchemy Cairo, the brand, in Designopolis, Cairo’s preeminent design district at the time. From 2005 to 2011, as a consultant to the Egyptian Industrial Modernization Center, Mekhtigian successfully implemented a national strategy to brand Egypt as a center for innovative furniture design. He founded the Egyptian Designers Forum with other leading Egyptian designers and secured the participation of Egyptian designers in exhibitions abroad, including Milan and Paris. His success at raising the international exposure of Egyptian designers contributed to Egypt‘s emergence as a player in the world of innovative design.
After 2011 and the economic difficulties that ensued, Mekhtigian embarked on a new phase in Alchemy’s work, focusing more on architecture and commercial
projects, including the design of major compounds like Seashell, for which Alchemy won the Platinum Muse Award for the design of G Hotel, and La Playa
on the North coast. Mekhtigian went on to expand his scope of work, most notably offering branding and rebranding services to clients seeking to raise their company
profiles to an international level. His work on architecture and commercial projects, also expanded beyond design to the creation of branding strategies
that include logos, communication and visual identity. In 2014, Mekhtigian launched his brand ‘Analogue,’ for tableware and accessories, in Milan, thus creating his own brand of high-quality, slick and contemporary handmade products crafted in Egypt. Mekhtigian has also been active in the restoration and revival of Khedival
downtown Cairo. His contribution extends beyond the restoration of specific buildings to include devising long-term repositioning strategies that render
renovated buildings functional and culturally alive, while preserving the social fabric of the surrounding community. In 2021, Mekhtigian designed the official logo of the Pharaohs Golden Parade, the historic procession accompanying the mummies of 18 kings and four queens of Ancient Egypt from the Egyptian Museum to the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Today, Mekhtigian is bringing his newest concept, KYME, to life. KYME spans the gamut of Mekhtigian’s passions, which all stem from his unwavering desire to preserve Egypt’s culture while breathing new life into it by adapting it to the modern world.
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