Design moves forward through conversation, and residency programs tailored to design and craft-based disciplines play an instrumental role in nurturing that dialogue.

Not only do these programs give participants the luxury of time and space to work away from their day-to-day lives, they also bring together creatives working in various disciplines from all over the world, creating an environment where each individual is pushed to expand their own practice in a relatively short amount of time.

For those working in design, especially, having access to large studios and uncommon material processes offers a rare opportunity to refine their skills or even pursue new ones. Below, we gathered 11 leading residency programs that put design center stage.

UrbanGlass

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

Among several opportunities available at UrbanGlass, the Visiting Artist Fellowship Program, started in the 1980s and including notable alumni such as Tauba Auerbach, is a unique opportunity open to artists working in any medium to expand their practice and create a body of work in glass—even if it’s their first time working with the material.

In 2014, Shari Mendelson, who usually works with plastics, created a series of vessels inspired by Greek and Roman art. “I have admired and been inspired by ancient glass for many years but before this residency I had never worked with glass,” she explains. “Everything about working with glass is the opposite of how I usually approach my studio practice.” The medium led her to make quick decisions, embrace spontaneity, and work alongside and in collaboration with fellow artists.

“One must learn to not become too attached to the piece as it could shatter at any moment,” she adds. “The color, texture, surface quality, and form of these pieces are helping to move my non-glass work in new directions.”