Meet Xu Tiantian, the 2026 MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission Recipient
March 13 | 4 minute read
Words by Kaylah Joelle Baker
Following International Women’s Day, we proudly announce Beijing-based architect and founding director of DnA Design and Architecture, Xu Tiantian, as the 2026 recipient.
Photographer: Wang Ziling
Of this year’s recipient, MECCA’s founder and co-CEO, Jo Horgan, said, “Xu Tiantian’s work is a beautiful reminder that architecture is not just about buildings, it is about people. It can nurture community, honour culture and support wellbeing. Those ideas resonate deeply with us at MECCA.”
As the fifth recipient of the Women in Design Commission, Xu follows Nipa Doshi (2025), Christien Meindertsma (2024), Bethan Laura Wood (2023) and Tatiana Bilbao (2022).
This Commission, made possible by MECCA’s social change initiative MECCA M-POWER, aims to rebalance gender representation in the arts, providing opportunities for women and girls through the power of design and cultural storytelling.
