Guano Carpets: The Project
Design | Creative Direction | Commercial
Software:
Adobe Illustrator, Blender
It is dedicated to the preservation of a unique weaving tradition in the town of Guano, Ecuador. With only ten artisans left who possess the knowledge of this centuries-old craft, the project emerged as a lifeline for a dying tradition.
The challenge was twofold: the labor-intensive nature of carpet production and the financial unsustainability of the craft, making it unattractive to the younger generation.
The aim of the project was to position the product in the market both locally and internationally, providing a consistent source of income for the artisans. Furthermore, the project intended to create a space for collaborations between the artisans and local artists + designers to create collections that were inspired by Ecuadorian culture, ensuring the preservation of authenticity while avoiding exoticization and folkloric interpretations. Through its efforts, it aspired to revive a fading tradition but has also to introduce it to a new generation, securing its lasting place in Ecuador's cultural heritage.
My role was multi-faceted. I designed one of those collections. Mine was inspired by the concept of 'territory,' wherein I abstracted the cartographies of the Spondyllus Route, a famous coastal tourist route in Ecuador. The concept was to create 'affective ' cartographies to represent the distinctive landscape from a new perspective.
Additionally, I took the lead in crafting a storytelling for the brand identity and overseeing a publicity campaign for promoting a collection inspired by the endangered species in Ecuador.