Artisan Development & Cultural Preservation at Scale

The Institution

Artesanías de Colombia is a corporation under Colombia's Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism that promotes and develops traditional and modern Colombian handicrafts. The organization works to improve commercialization of artisan products internally and abroad as a brand of Colombian identity and culture.

This is an exceptionally well-established institution that reaches artisan communities throughout Colombia—often in remote areas where even state services struggle to operate.

The Role: Head of Design, Antioquia Region

For eight months (Feb-Sept 2018), I directed all design activities for Antioquia region, working with artisans practicing:

Woodworking • Ceramics • Leather craft • Basketry • Metalwork • Stone masonry • Textile weaving • And many others

I was responsible for directing support for 400+ artisans, helping them improve products, techniques, and market positioning while preserving cultural traditions and craft knowledge.

The Challenge: Tradition Meets Market

Artisan communities possess profound craft knowledge passed through generations. But they often lack:

• Understanding of contemporary market demands
• Product development methodology
• Pricing strategies that reflect true value
• Visual merchandising and presentation skills
• Access to broader distribution channels

My job wasn't to impose "design" on traditional practices. It was to bridge worlds—helping artisans understand what markets wanted while preserving the cultural integrity and traditional techniques that made their work valuable.

This required cultural sensitivity, humility, and deep listening.

The Work

Training & Workshops

I created and delivered educational programs covering:

Market trends analysis — What contemporary consumers seek Product development methodology — How to iterate designs while maintaining tradition Pricing strategies — Understanding cost, value, and market positioning Quality standards — Meeting commercial requirements without losing craft character Visual presentation — How to photograph, display, and communicate products

These weren't academic exercises. They were practical, hands-on sessions adapted to each community's specific context, materials, and traditions.

Direct Artisan Support

I provided ongoing consultation and guidance to individual artisans and cooperatives:

• Analyzing existing products and suggesting refinements
• Introducing new techniques or applications of traditional methods
• Connecting artisans with market opportunities
• Problem-solving technical challenges in production

National Product Line Curation

At year's end, I curated a national product line representing Antioquia—selecting and developing products that would showcase the region at Artesanías de Colombia's national exhibitions and sales channels.

Curation criteria:

Modern shapes highlighting artisan history — Products that fit contemporary households while telling cultural stories Innovative material use — New applications of traditional materials Traditional techniques in modern contexts — Old methods producing contemporary objects Market viability — Beautiful and culturally significant, but also commercially practical

This collection represented the best of Antioquia's craft traditions adapted for national and international markets.

Internal Innovation: Documentary Content

I also promoted internal modernization of Artesanías de Colombia's communications.

I proposed creating short documentary videos showcasing artisan stories—not just products, but the people, communities, and cultural contexts behind the crafts.

These videos would serve as:

• Promotional materials for the organization
• Educational content for consumers to understand craft value
• Dignity and recognition for artisans whose work deserves documentation

Artesanías de Colombia operates in places where even the state sometimes cannot reach. Telling these stories matters.

Why This Work Succeeded

My background in activism and natural sense of communitarianism helped me interact authentically with communities. I wasn't coming as expert imposing knowledge; I was facilitator helping artisans access tools they needed.

I listened first. Understanding each community's traditions, constraints, and aspirations before suggesting anything.

I respected craft knowledge. These artisans were masters of techniques I could never replicate. My job was to help them translate that mastery into market opportunity—not to "fix" their work.

I connected dots. Trends happening in Bogotá or international markets could inform local production without erasing local identity.

Skills Demonstrated

Design leadership at scale — Coordinating support for 400+ artisans across diverse disciplines Cultural sensitivity — Working respectfully within traditional communities Training and education — Developing programs for non-designer audiences Product curation — Selecting and refining products for national representation Cross-sector collaboration — Bridging government institution, artisan communities, and markets Community organizing — My activism background directly informed this work

Note on Documentation

Due to NDA restrictions, I cannot show final products developed during this period. However, I can share:

• Process photography (workshops, community engagement, working sessions)
• Training materials and presentation decks
• Market analysis and trend research
• Methodology documentation

The story of this work is in the process, not just the products.

Legacy

The artisans I worked with gained new market access, improved pricing power, and refined products. The national line I curated represented Antioquia at major exhibitions.

More importantly, this work demonstrated that design leadership isn't just about making things—it's about empowering people to make things better themselves.