Born in Rabat in 1973, Hicham Lahlou is a leading figure in Moroccan, African and Arab design. A graduate of the historic Académie Charpentier – Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris in 1995, he has been developing a singular career for almost 30 years, at the crossroads of industrial and global design, contemporary art, exceptional craftsmanship and diplomacy through the power of design and its soft power.
World- known, Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters of French Republic since 2016.
In 2021 he was honored in New York as one of the 100 most influential people of African descent by MIPAD (Most Influential People of African Descent), an initiative supported by the United Nations, in the Lifestyle & Design category, alongside figures such as the late Virgil Abloh and Sir David Adjaye.
His work, regularly exhibited in major institutions such as the Vitra Design Museum, the Guggenheim Bilbao, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, bears witness to his committed, cross-disciplinary approach, blending assertive lines, identity narratives and materials awareness.
In 2024, Hicham Lahlou was invited to the Biennale d’art contemporain de Dakar, for the design exhibition “THE WAKE”, an event marking the return of design to this major event on the continental and international African art scene, curated by Senegalese designer Ousmane Mbaye, who paid tribute to the pioneers, including Hicham Lahlou, in the prestigious setting of the former Palais de Justice, with a magnificent scenography.
In early 2025, he unveils the “Constellation” collection, co-signed with designer Cheick Diallo for DAUM, to mark the opening of the brand’s first boutique at the Dubai Mall, exclusively for the Chalhoub Group. This double limited edition (2×25 pieces) embodies the alliance of French art crystal and assertive African creativity.
In April 2025, he was appointed to the international jury of the “Salone Satellite Awards”, at the Salone Satellite founded by the highly influential Ms Marva Griffin, who curates the Salone Del Mobile in Milan – one of the world’s most prestigious design awards dedicated to emerging designers worldwide, presided over by Ms Paola Antonelli of MoMA New York, a key figure alongside leading designers and international experts. This role reinforces Hicham’s place among the world’s leading design institutions and events. Recognition of his talent and expertise. Official link: https://www.salonemilano.it/en/articles/salonesatellite-award-2025-winners
Committed to promoting design on the continent and worldwide, Hicham Lahlou is the founder of Africa Design Award & Days, Africa Design Organization, and Africa Design Academy. In 2024, he co-founded AAMDO (Africa Arab Morocco Design Organization) to federate creative and institutional dynamics between Africa, the Arab world and Morocco around strategic, inclusive and structuring design.
He was the first Moroccan, first Arab and second african in history to be elected Member of the Board 2017-2019 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the WDO (World Design Organization), and since then has been Regional Advisor Africa, with actions such as the signing of a partnership between UNIDO and WDO, WDO and WPO. He organized Africa Design Days Forum and the first World Design Talks in June 2017 under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. He co-initiated a reference book inviting Pr. Mugendi M’Rithaa as agreed author to write “Génération Africaine – La Force du Design”. In French and English. In May, he organizes Rabat Design Week, inviting world design leaders as part of Rabat African Capital of Culture 2022 – 2023.
