What courses do you teach?

I teach Industrial Design Studios (all levels), Drawing, Color & Composition, Visual Communication, Information Architecture, Research Studies, and Senior Studies (Thesis).

What led you to the work you do now?

My undergraduate Industrial Design thesis project was a silver and resin jewelry collection inspired by the contrast between the mountains and the architecture of Bogotá. Without planning much, this idea became a small contemporary jewelry business that won several national design awards and international recognitions. When arriving in Boston in late 2005, I had a very clear goal; I wanted to be part of the city’s vibrant academic environment. My love for education led me to work with high school students in several after-school programs around the city and eventually the Teen Arts Program at the ICA Boston. At the same time, I was working in graphic design and studying fashion design at MASSART. I’m here now after one fateful morning when I talked to Wentworth Interior and Industrial Design students about my design career in a course called Design Magic.

What are you most proud of?

I’m really proud of being where I am in life now. For many years, I’ve worked in several design fields with many great people around the globe, which gives me immense satisfaction; it’s something that makes me happy. I’m proud to share some of my passion for design with my students and inspire them to live a life of careful observation of the world while they inspire me to keep learning. I’m also proud of and humbled by sharing an educational space with my colleagues. Our design conversations interspersed with laughs make my day every time. I’m proud of some recent work I’ve been doing in the graphic arts, especially letterpress, screen-printing posters, and artists’ books. Learning new techniques keeps my design muscles going. I’m also proud of being an eternal tourist of the world.

Describe one thing that you are working on or is happening in your classroom that you are excited about.

This fall, I’m co-teaching an international Junior Design Studio called Future Craft. The project is a collaboration between the Industrial Design program at Wentworth and El Bosque University in Bogotá and has the support of the Colombian Crafts Council. Students from both schools will work together developing new products based on traditional crafts techniques and materials combined with modern design language, production methods, and experimental concepts.

What is one interesting fact about you?

I love electronic music and was pursuing a career as a DJ at some point in my life. Now, I do it as a hobby, and every now and then host events, including nocturnal Techno bike rides. I bike a lot!

Share a quote that guides what you do personally or professionally.

"If you can design one thing, you can design everything.” – Massimo & Lella Vignelli

What's one piece of advice you have for Latinx students at Wentworth?

Embrace and be proud of the culture or background you or your family come from; it is what makes you unique, especially if it’s different from the culture you live in. Having a multicultural point of view gives you a broader understanding of the world. This is something very valuable that will allow you to connect with people at deeper levels and participate with more empathy in collective efforts.

Share any recent publications and other accomplishments.

I received an assistant teaching appointment at Wentworth (December 2020).