JUAN CAMILO HERNANDEZ CANTOR ©️
Weaving Change
Co-Designing New Paths for remote Colombian Artisan Communities
ARTESANIAS DE COLOMBIA
(Colombian Crafts)
GOVERMENT SOCIAL
INNOVATION PROJECT
Area
Cultural program support of artisans in remote areas of the territory
Team
8 collaborators, including a Head of Design, 3D Designers, Visual Designers, industrial designers , Anthropologists, Social Scientists, Photographers, and experts in Cultural Immersion.
Mentorship
Felipe Rodriguez Cabra ( Head of design) - Ivan Huertas ( Head Industrial designer) - Fabian Parra (Head visual design) - Camila plobador & Paula Perez (Program coordinators)
Year
2018
Location
Bogotá - Colombia 🇨🇴❤️🔥
Tags
Cultural Heritage
Inclusive Product Design
Sustainable Communities
Colombian Artisan Storytelling
Remote Collaboration
Artesanías de Colombia
A national platform celebrating Colombian culture by connecting artisans and designers to co-create unique, high-quality products that reflect the region’s creative cultural identity.
The challenge was to rebuild trust and collaboration between the government institutional programs and their main target audience ( the artisans).
Many remote based artisans across the territory felt they were not fully benefiting from workshops or consultations, while designers lacked efficient tools to follow up and support their projects in remote regions of the country.
Screenshots of the of the final concepts
METHODOLOGY APPROACH
How might we improve the experience of artisans during short consulting?
UNDERSTANDING
We collected in-depth information about the roles, needs, and challenges of both artisans and designers through immersive interviews, field observations, and persona development. This stage aimed to capture the nuances of collaboration across Colombia’s diverse cultural and geographical contexts.
DEFINING
Through Journey Mapping and Service Blueprinting, we identified key pain points within the consultation process - from communication gaps to follow-up limitations. This allowed us to define opportunities for a more transparent and inclusive design ecosystem.
IDEATION
Using industrial design and co-creation methods, we explored how digital tools could support collaboration in low-connectivity environments. The concept of an offline app emerged, enabling users to easily store, organise, and document information during workshops and consulting sessions.
ARTESANO APP
MAPPING EVERY ARTISAN
With a clearer overview, the platform enables easier tracking and follow-up of artisans across different regions.
TRACKING REMOTE CONSULTING
Easily track and visualise each stage of the process.
Designers could easily access without Internet to experience enhancing features
LESSONS
WORKING IN REMOTE AREAS
In Colombia, we worked with artisans in remote areas with limited internet access, so we adopted a creative and resilient approach for communication. We used PowerPoint, video calls, and even sent printed materials to ensure effective consultations.
The bureaucracy of the government
- It was a challenge to deal with the hierarchies of the government system and their endless filters to approve simple decisions.
- We experienced a constant delay of project executions that caused quite frequent disruptions in how we ran the consults, budgeting projects and remote assistance when travel was needed.
THE MAP IS NOT THE TERRITPRY
Developing this digital concept we became more aware of the difficulties and challenges that are involved in typical consulting in remote areas.
LEARNING FROM DIVERSITY
I enjoyed supporting local communities in Colombia and learned about artisans' traditional roles, their use of native materials, and their vital role in preserving Colombian design heritage.
DESIGN MATURITY
I learned a new way to approach visual mood boards and user research methods, creating a new bond between designers and artisans to empathise better, avoid assumptions and solve the roots of the problem.
Like what you’re reading? Curious to know more about this or other projects?Let’s connect and explore future collaborations.
A virtual or in-person coffee could be the beginning.
EXPLORE +
→ TO PROJECTS
JUAN CAMILO
HERNANDEZ CANTOR
Strategic - Social & Future Oriented Designer
All rights reserved 2025 ©️
JUAN CAMILO HERNANDEZ CANTOR ©️
Weaving Change
Co-Designing New Paths for remote Colombian Artisan Communities
ARTESANIAS DE COLOMBIA
(Colombian Crafts)
GOVERMENT SOCIAL INNOVATION PROJECT
GOVERMENT SOCIAL INNOVATION PROJECT
Area
Cultural program support of artisans in remote areas of the territory
Team
8 collaborators, including a Head of Design, 3D Designers, Visual Designers, industrial designers , Anthropologists, Social Scientists, Photographers, and experts in Cultural Immersion.
Mentorship
Felipe Rodriguez Cabra ( Head of design) - Ivan Huertas ( Head Industrial designer) - Fabian Parra (Head visual design) - Camila plobador & Paula Perez (Program coordinators)
Year
2018
Location
Bogotá - Colombia 🇨🇴❤️🔥
Tags
Cultural Heritage
Inclusive Product Design
Sustainable Communities
Colombian Artisan Storytelling
Remote Collaboration
Artesanías de Colombia
A national platform celebrating Colombian culture by connecting artisans and designers to co-create unique, high-quality products that reflect the region’s creative cultural identity.
The challenge was to rebuild trust and collaboration between the government institutional programs and their main target audience ( the artisans).
Many remote based artisans across the territory felt they were not fully benefiting from workshops or consultations, while designers lacked efficient tools to follow up and support their projects in remote regions of the country.
Screenshots of the of the final concepts
METHODOLOGY APPROACH
How might we improve the experience of artisans during short consulting?
UNDERSTANDING
We collected in-depth information about the roles, needs, and challenges of both artisans and designers through immersive interviews, field observations, and persona development. This stage aimed to capture the nuances of collaboration across Colombia’s diverse cultural and geographical contexts.
DEFINING
Through Journey Mapping and Service Blueprinting, we identified key pain points within the consultation process - from communication gaps to follow-up limitations. This allowed us to define opportunities for a more transparent and inclusive design ecosystem.
IDEATION
Using industrial design and co-creation methods, we explored how digital tools could support collaboration in low-connectivity environments. The concept of an offline app emerged, enabling users to easily store, organise, and document information during workshops and consulting sessions.
ARTESANO APP
MAPPING EVERY ARTISAN
With a clearer overview, the platform enables easier tracking and follow-up of artisans across different regions.
TRACKING REMOTE CONSULTING
Easily track and visualise each stage of the process.
Designers could easily access without Internet to experience enhancing features
LESSONS
WORKING IN REMOTE AREAS
In Colombia, we worked with artisans in remote areas with limited internet access, so we adopted a creative and resilient approach for communication. We used PowerPoint, video calls, and even sent printed materials to ensure effective consultations.
The bureaucracy of the government
- It was a challenge to deal with the hierarchies of the government system and their endless filters to approve simple decisions.
- We experienced a constant delay of project executions that caused quite frequent disruptions in how we ran the consults, budgeting projects and remote assistance when travel was needed.
THE MAP IS NOT THE TERRITPRY
Developing this digital concept we became more aware of the difficulties and challenges that are involved in typical consulting in remote areas.
LEARNING FROM DIVERSITY
I enjoyed supporting local communities in Colombia and learned about artisans' traditional roles, their use of native materials, and their vital role in preserving Colombian design heritage.
DESIGN MATURITY
I learned a new way to approach visual mood boards and user research methods, creating a new bond between designers and artisans to empathise better, avoid assumptions and solve the roots of the problem.
Like what you’re reading? Curious to know more about this or other projects?Let’s connect and explore future collaborations.
A virtual or in-person coffee could be the beginning.
EXPLORE +
→ TO PROJECTS
JUAN CAMILO HERNANDEZ CANTOR
Strategic - Social & Future Oriented Designer
All rights reserved 2025 ©️