Designer, artist,
maker and researcher.
Mercedes Elena is a material researcher with a background in product and furniture design. Her work challenges conventional materials, manufacturing processes, and the impacts of globalization by blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design thinking. She is deeply committed to addressing the climate crisis through innovative and sustainable solutions that also use design as a tool to uplift marginalized and underrepresented communities.
Born in Venezuela and raised in the Middle East, Mercedes draws on her multicultural upbringing to inform her work, curating a palette that reflects the vibrant contrasts and rich traditions of her heritage. Her approach intertwines storytelling with material innovation, creating pieces that resonate with cultural significance while advocating for ecological balance.
Now based in London, she continues to explore the intersections of sustainability, identity, and craft, using her practice as a platform to foster conversations around belonging, resilience, and the possibilities within material design.
FEATURES
People and Places Exhibition (2024)
Young Furniture Makers Exhibition (2024)
AWARDS
Young Furniture Makers Textile Award, shortlisted (2024)
Stockwell Community Centre Outdoor Furniture Competition,
finalist (2022)