Cabildo Concludes MidaLab II Focusing on Innovation in Craftsmanship
The Cabildo de Tenerife wrapped up the second MidaLab conference on Thursday, held from 27-29 October at the Tenerife Trade Fair. This initiative aimed to foster innovation, design, and craftsmanship, allowing participants to refine their ideas and explore new development avenues for their trades.
The event focused on the ideation and analysis phase, helping artisans transform initial concepts into more concrete projects through guidance from specialised professionals and knowledge sharing.
Efraín Medina, the councillor for Employment, Education, and Youth, remarked on the cultural significance of craftsmanship and its potential to engage with contemporary design. He noted, “MidaLab provides artisans with a space to experiment, share knowledge, and develop ideas while preserving the essence of their trades.”
Medina emphasised that each artisan piece embodies knowledge and experience, representing our identity. He believes that integrating new tools and methods can enhance this heritage and ensure its enduring legacy, especially among younger generations.
The programme commenced on Tuesday with presentations by professionals Aviv Shany and Inés Llasera, alongside the participating artisans who discussed their project statuses. Following this, workgroups by trade were organised for initial mentoring sessions.
The second day focused on prototyping and conceptual development of ideas, led by Aviv Shany, who delivered a specialised talk followed by activities on visual references, materials, and project identity. The mentoring sessions advanced the definition of various project lines.
The conference ended on Thursday with presentations from FORMA / Madrid Design Festival, new mentoring sessions, and a showcase of participant proposals. The day concluded with a discussion on the work accomplished and key takeaways from this second phase of the laboratory.
Efraín Medina highlighted the value of MidaLab in facilitating collaboration among professionals of different trades, stating, “This cooperation enriches the creative process and opens new opportunities for Tenerife’s artisans.”
A Laboratory for Innovation
MidaLab serves as a space for experimentation and learning, linking traditional craftsmanship with design and innovation tools. This second meeting combined specialised training, trade-specific group work, mentoring, and practical exercises to define materials, visual references, and the identity of each proposal.
The aim was for each participant to progress in their project definition and develop a structured initial conceptual proposal for further work. With this second meeting concluded, MidaLab embarks on a new stage focused on nurturing ideas and exploring creative possibilities for Tenerife’s crafts.
