Complementarios

The Madrid Designers Association (DIMAD) presents the fourth edition of Complementarios, running from September 3 to 25, 2026, in the Central de Diseño Gallery at Matadero Madrid. Curated by Inés Sistiaga with exhibition design by Studio Estudio, this showcase brings together 14 creators and studios from Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Denmark.

The project centers its attention on the intermediate space between craftsmanship and industrial production, highlighting the creative process, tools, material tests, repair work, and sustainable choices that usually remain hidden behind the final product. In contrast to industrial overproduction, the exhibition proposes a reflection on how manual tradition and technical innovation can complement each other to promote a responsible design model, championing the beauty of the small-scale and the imperfect.

Visitors will be able to view everything from finished pieces to prototypes and fragments of the designers' workspace, making their diverse methodologies visible. Standout proposals include research on zero-waste pattern making, basketry applied to contemporary design, artisanal millinery, biodesigns using bacterial dyes, three-dimensional Jacquard fabrics, and the use of certified natural fibers or ephemeral biomaterials.

In addition to the exhibition, the initiative features a parallel program of educational and outreach activities, including talks, workshops, and masterclasses with the participants. The initiative is promoted by DIMAD, with the primary collaboration of the Spanish Ministry of Culture and the institutional support of the Embassy of the Netherlands, the British Council, and the Austrian Cultural Forum.