“A designer is a surgeon with the sensibility of a poet.“
Karim Mekhtigian was born in 1964, Cairo, Egypt. He is a designer who picked‐up his skills and knowledge from around the world. Though Armenian in origin, he was raised in Cairo in an environment that allowed him to enjoy the city’s multicultural background.
He travelled to Paris to study Interior Design and Scenography at the E.S.A.T. (École Supérieure d’Art et Techniques).
In 1993, he started ‘Dessilk;’ a small Paris‐based design studio specialized in the creation of handmade tableware and home accessories.
Then in 1997, he moved back to Cairo and founded ‘Alchemy Design Studio,’ offering a wide range of design services including architecture, interior and product design.
Believing in the importance of creating an Egyptian Design Community, he created the Egyptian Designers Forum (EDF) along with other Egyptian design moguls in 2005.
Winning a leading spot in the Egyptian contemporary design universe, in 2006 he worked regularly as an Art Director for different initiatives and installations to promote the local design industry with the Egyptian Furniture Export Council (EFEC).
In addition to being a Chief Designer, Karim Mekhtigian launched in 2010 a new furniture brand ‘Alchemy Cairo.’ Armed with an insatiable need for innovation and flawless taste, he has been trying to subtly transpose the Cairene sensorial landscape into his designs.
Renowned for his ability to tell every client’s story, Karim believes that a good design is the one that combines cultural codes, traditions, modern visions and new technologies.
Share This Speaker
