Argentine Designer Cristian Mohaded: From Catamarca Landscapes to Louis Vuitton Collaboration
people • artists
Cristian Mohaded is one of Argentina’s most compelling contemporary designers, working at the intersection of craft, culture, and art. Born in Catamarca and now based between Buenos Aires and Milan, his work is rooted in ancestral landscapes, artisan traditions, and the emotional essence of objects. From his acclaimed Territorio Híbrido exhibition to his collaboration with Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades, Mohaded translates Argentine identity into a global design language. In this exclusive Designeers interview, he reflects on how heritage and memory guide his practice, why collaboration with artisans is central to his process, and how he sees Argentine design evolving on the world stage.
Words: designeers
AUGUST 2025
WEBSITE: cristianmohaded.com
INSTAGRAM: @cristian.mohaded
DESIGNEERS
For those unfamiliar, how would you describe what you do?
Cristian Mohaded
I work at the intersection of design, art, and craftsmanship. My practice is rooted in the emotional and material essence of objects. I explore forms, processes, and traditions to create pieces that reflect both Argentine heritage and global resonance.
DESIGNEERS
What is the essence of your creative practice across Argentina and beyond?
Cristian Mohaded
My practice is about decoding both the physical and cultural landscape. Whether in Catamarca, Buenos Aires, or Milan, I collaborate with artisans and materials from specific territories, translating identity into timeless, contemporary design.
Image by Loro Piana Interiors
Image by Loro Piana Interiors
DESIGNEERS
Your work often begins in Catamarca, Argentina. How do the landscapes and traditions of your childhood continue to shape your studios in Buenos Aires and Milan?
Cristian Mohaded
Catamarca’s desert landscapes, ancestral crafts, and silence are my foundation. Even in Milan or Buenos Aires, that spirit guides how I select materials, craft narratives, and create rhythm.
DESIGNEERS
Your Territorio Híbrido exhibition required travel across Argentina’s provinces. How do you integrate regional craft and local narratives into global-facing design?
Cristian Mohaded
Territorio Híbrido was a journey across Argentina’s provinces, working with artisans to understand their traditions. Instead of replicating heritage, I reinterpreted it through contemporary forms and innovative craft applications, allowing local narratives to speak in a universal design language.
DESIGNEERS
You often collaborate with master artisans, like basketry expert Lorenzo Reyes. Can you describe a moment when craft completely reshaped your original concept?
Cristian Mohaded
With Lorenzo Reyes, my initial vision evolved through his improvisation and mastery. The collaboration showed me that true design emerges when you surrender control, letting material and maker guide the outcome.
Image by Mohaded Studio
Image by Mohaded Studio
Image by Dolores Esteve
“I see myself as a bridge between ancestral craft and contemporary design. My role is not to freeze the past but to activate it, evolving traditions through new gestures, audiences, and dialogues.”
Cristian Mohaded
DESIGNEERS
You recently collaborated with Louis Vuitton. Can you share how this partnership came about and what it meant to interpret Argentine identity through the lens of a global fashion house?
Cristian Mohaded
Joining Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades was an opportunity to bring a contemporary Argentine voice to the global stage. I carried with me the codes of my culture, the silence of the mountains, handmade warmth, and the tactile honesty of materials, reinterpreted within a prestigious global context.
DESIGNEERS
How do you view your role as a contemporary designer within Argentina’s broader cultural and craft heritage?
Cristian Mohaded
I see myself as a bridge between ancestral craft and contemporary design. My role is not to freeze the past but to activate it, evolving traditions through new gestures, audiences, and dialogues.
Image by Felix Niikado
Image by Louis Vuitton
DESIGNEERS
In five years, where do you hope to be: creatively, emotionally, and geographically?
Cristian Mohaded
Creatively, I want to expand into painting, sculpture, and artistic formats beyond design. Emotionally, I hope to remain grounded in solitude and craft. Geographically, I see myself anchored between Argentina, Italy, the Middle East, and the Andes.
DESIGNEERS
Your dream dinner guest?
Cristian Mohaded
My grandparents, their wisdom has shaped my worldview.
DESIGNEERS
Your favourite hotel in the world?
Cristian Mohaded
Proper Hotel, Austin, for the contemporary elegance with lived-in warmth.
DESIGNEERS
Your favourite material to work with and why?
Cristian Mohaded
Ceramics and natural fibres, fragile yet resilient, carrying the tactile memory of the hand.
From the silence of Catamarca to the ateliers of Milan and collaborations with Louis Vuitton, Cristian Mohaded embodies the dialogue between heritage and innovation. His work bridges ancestral craft and contemporary design, creating objects that are sensitive, resonant, and globally relevant. As he looks ahead, Mohaded’s vision is clear: to expand beyond design into new artistic territories while remaining deeply connected to the landscapes and traditions that shaped him. His journey is a reminder that the future of design is strongest when rooted in memory, culture, and the timeless rhythm of craft.
Image by Dolores Esteve
