We could say that Peru is a fashionable country: its culture, food and traditions are becoming more and more well-known this side of the pond. Forgetting about all the tourist attractions, how is it that so many more people are getting to know about this American country. What about its design? Is that not another fashionable industry? It is true that it is becoming more common for Peruvian students to come to Europe to complete their studies in this discipline.
Something is changing in Peruvian design. That is why we approached Anabel, who is currently a second year Industrial Design student. What motivates her? What has stood out to her while studying at CEU Valencia? What are her plans for her career? Anabel gives us some information about her studies, her future and design in Peru. It all seems very promising.
Tell us Anabel, what made you want to launch into studying for a career in Industrial Design?
In Peru, I was already studying at a craft school and it’s an area that I have always been attracted to. I brought everything that I have already learned with me and it has proved to be useful with all the projects that I am currently working on.
We understand that you are a very arty person, or perhaps you consider yourself as more methodical, do you think that in the design profession it is important to combine both of these characteristics?
I am definitely very organised but I am also very creative. I really like organisation, I plan everything down to the tiniest details and I work step by step to create a model. This is a good thing because it gives you time to meet the deadlines for every project. You should however allow the creativity to flow in the process.
“PERU IS RICH IN CULTURE, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STUDY AND APPLY SOME OF THESE THINGS TO MY PROJECTS.”
I think that you have to be just as creative as you are methodical. That is to say that you have to combine these two things to be a good designer. Because of this, it can sometimes take a long time to complete a project.
What products or designers are you taking inspiration from at the moment?
Since starting the degree, I have been drawn more towards Nordic and Italian designers.
Is there a product or design that you would love to have your signature attached to?
Yes, I have spent a bit of time studying an Argentinian designer who collaborated with two Spanish designers and because of this, the design is considered Spanish. I am talking about the butterfly chair or BFC. Nowadays it is considered as a classic design despite it being a piece of work from 1938. Saying that it could very much be considered as a contemporary design.
I love it because on one side, the design is very pretty and on the other, it is a piece that has stood the test of time and does not seem as old as it is.
Our Technical School is turning 30 and was the first Design School in the whole of Spain, so it has already dedicated many years to the development of design. Do you think that design will continue to be a profession with a future?
I think so, above all in Peru. I haven’t seen many degrees at a similar level over there and it isn’t something that you can easily study at University.
Since starting to study here, I have realised that design is something that is really appreciated in Europe. Because of this, I am not sure how easy it will be to open a new studio in Europe. In reality, I would like to learn and study design here so that I can then return to Peru and share everything that I have learnt with everyone over there.
What do you think are the best challenges that industrial designers are currently confronted with?
The most complicated thing is trying to come up with your own design that will be considered as a classic in a couple of years time. That is to say that your piece brings together many different principals for it to be considered as a good design. I also think that all the work that you have already done is very important; sometimes it is the simplest of designs that become classics. I believe in hard work and daily effort.
“VALENCIA IS NOT VERY WELL KNOWN, AT LEAST IN MY COUNTRY, IT HAS HOWEVER SURPRISED ME WITH ITS ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN.”
Is there a project that you have worked on up until know during your degree that you are particularly proud of?
It was a project that I created for the Culture and Project Practice class. It consisted of making a coffee machine for the brand Nespresso but in collaboration with a brand of shoes!
I chose ARO, which is a Spanish shoe brand, based in Barcelona. After completing the market research, I combined ideas from both companies in one coffee maker. I received good feedback from the professors and I am really happy with the result.
Tell us something that has surprised you about your degree!
It really surprised me that the university was so well prepared to help students complete their projects. The School has a well-equipped workshop with a guide or professor who is always there to help you with anything you need. They teach you everything at the beginning and then you are left to work by yourself.
In reality, that is only one of the schools great many characteristics. You also have the opportunity to create 3D projects because there are special printers, they save a lot of time and it’s a great advantage.
How do you manage meeting the deadlines in such a predominantly practical degree like yours?
There is a lot of work. You start thinking of ideas and the you have to present the pre-models…For example, when designing a table you have to do a lot of calculations, present a correct scale and then you can start working on it.
I am happy that I have handed everything in on time. I am very organised which I think has helped me a lot. I do however think that sometimes this can be a disadvantage because I am so organised in everything that I do, I plan absolutely everything but when it comes to studying, it turns out to be very useful.
Valencia is nominated as the World Design capital in 2022; give us three reasons why our city should be chosen!
I would say that Valencia isn’t very well known, in my country at least, but it has really surprised me because although it is a small and quiet city, it is very friendly and has its own charms such as the sea. I love the design and architecture here. For example, there are so many beautiful details in the Mercado Central, its stunning architecture. The Estación del Norte is also very impressive, in fact, it doesn’t even seem like a station but when you go in it is stunning.
I think that more people should get to know Valencia and discover all the beautiful things that it has to offer.
Is there an aspect or traditional material from your country that you have been able to or would like to incorporate into your projects?
Materials, no but design yes, in all its forms. For example, last year in one of my subjects within the final project there was a competition to design a logo. Therefore, I really studied the sculptures that there are in Peru. In Peru, we have more than 24 pre-Incan cultures. I studied the forms a lot and then I applied them to the logo.
Peru is rich in culture, traditions and customs. There is a lot to investigate and then after apply to the design. As I have already said, in the future, I would like to go back to my country and apply everything that I have learned here; I also want to incorporate certain features of my culture into my creations!
Thank you for sharing your experience with us Anabel. We hope that you continue to develop your experience here at CEU with effort, hope and most of all success. The world is your oyster.