The event, hosted by Christian Font, took place on Wednesday, November 27, in the Delmira Agustini Hall at the Solís Theater.
“Clearing the way for those who will come”
The Dean of the School of Communication and Design, Eduardo Hipogrosso, looked back on the past 25 years, from his responsibilities to the challenges he has faced.
He recalled when, together with ORT’s Director General, Prof. Charlotte de Grünberg, and the rector , Dr. Jorge Grünberg, they met to discuss “a degree program that was previously unknown in our country.” It was in 1994 that they established Uruguay’s first Bachelor’s degree program in Graphic Design.
Two years later, the Bachelor’s Degree in Communication was launched, offering three specializations: Journalism, Advertising, and Audiovisual Studies. In 2002, the Department of Sound was established; in 2004, the Bachelor’s programs in Industrial and Fashion Design were launched; and in 2006, the Multimedia Design program was introduced. In this way, the school gradually expanded into various fields of study until it became, as it is today, the institution offering the widest range of programs in Communication and Design in the country.
Hipogrosso emphasized that, from the very beginning, the school set out to be creative and innovative. These qualities inherently carry a heavy burden of responsibility. “When a new educational opportunity arises in the country, it’s a great chance for those who seize it to lead the creation of a market or to fill the best available positions: paving the way for those who will follow.”
It is impossible to think about innovation without considering the future prospects for these students. That is why, every time we launch a new degree program, we have first gone through a thorough and rigorous process that allows us to be confident in the outcomes of that program. This process involves professional advisors, academics, and even international experts.
For example, he noted “with pride” that the Inter-American Development Bank cited ORT’s contribution “as one of the key factors” that have enabled the video game industry to flourish in Uruguay.
Other milestones that establish the school as a pioneer include the opening of the first university-level 3D Prototyping Lab in 2012 and the creation of Social Media Day Uruguay in 2013. Recently, the school launched its first graduate programs: the Master’s in Communication and Marketing Management and the Specialization Diploma in Communication.
“We are moving toward making educational programs increasingly flexible and interconnected, so that students can choose the professional tracks for their degrees,” said the dean. “This new world will offer us great opportunities, but at the same time it requires us to keep pace with the constant evolution of education and technology. Knowledge becomes obsolete so quickly that it requires us to review our curricula every day, while it forces people to learn how to learn throughout their lives.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALv1f6Xl-VA
Awards 2019
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Charlotte de Grünberg
Professor of French Language and Civilization, English, and Applied Linguistics. In 1977, she became Director General of ORT Uruguay. Since 1988, she has led international projects funded by the European Union and Canada in underserved neighborhoods of Montevideo and other cities, in collaboration with local municipal governments. In 1995, she became General Coordinator of World ORT Latin America. In 2000, she was appointed by World ORT a member of the International Commission on the Future of ORT in the 21st Century. She has been recognized for her contributions to the fields of education and Jewish life at the national and international levels by the Punta del Este Jewish Film Festival, the University of Arts and Communication Sciences of Chile, WIZO, and KKL, among other institutions. In August 2018, she received the Scopus Award from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, awarded for the first time in Uruguay. She is the subject of the book *The Girl Who Watched the Trains Leave*, by Ruperto Long, which recounts the period of her life when, together with her brother and parents, she lived in hiding in France to survive the Shoah. “Charlotte de Grünberg is not just everything I’ve just summarized; she was and is the backbone of everything that Universidad ORT Uruguaystands for, Universidad ORT Uruguayremarked Dean Eduardo Hipogrosso. “She is the one who gave us confidence, courage, and advice, and who pushed us to be better all these years. For that reason, I’m going to quote a phrase of hers that I always remember: ‘Never settle for mediocrity.’”
“I wasn’t expecting this recognition at all,” said the CEO. “I usually call them ‘the ORT family,’ because there’s a lot of heart and soul behind all that technology.”
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Enrique Aguerre
Artist and curator. Director of the National Museum of Visual Arts since 2010. He has been a member of the National Commission for Visual Arts since 2011 and the National Commission for Cultural Heritage since 2016. As a visual artist, he focuses his artistic practice on video and digital media. He has been one of the pioneers of video art and electronic arts in our country, fields he began exploring in the 1990s, and is a leading figure in these areas both locally and regionally. He regularly publishes journalistic articles and essays in specialized catalogs in national and international media.
“We artists can’t imagine art without technology,” he said in his acceptance speech, while also praising the “formal education” that the artistic community has received from ORT.
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Sofía Battegazzore
A pioneer, entrepreneur, and video game producer. For over a decade, she co-led Powerful Robot Games, a pioneering video game studio in Latin America, where she developed projects for companies such as Pixar, Lucasfilm, Cartoon Network, Disney, and Warner Bros., among others. She currently runs her own studio, Payana Games. She has worked on projects such as the app for Loog Guitars, Tiny Giant Leaps, and the game Paleo Detectives (in development). She teaches in the Bachelor’s program in Animation and Video Games at Universidad ORT Uruguay serves on the board of the Uruguayan Chamber of Video Games. Her video games have been exhibited in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia, and have been featured in media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Wired, CNN, BBC, El País, and MIT Technology Review. She was recently honored in the book *Women in Gaming*, which profiles the 100 pioneering women in video games worldwide.
Due to scheduling conflicts, Battegazzore was unable to attend the ceremony. His colleague Gonzalo Frasca accepted the award on his behalf.
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Álvaro Cármenes
Architect. Through his studies and work in drawing, painting, and printmaking, he established himself as an artist and began his academic career as a professor at Universidad ORT Uruguay, where he eventually became academic coordinator and academic secretary of the School of Design. It was in this context that he joined the team that developed the curriculum for Uruguay’s first university degree program in graphic design. He has presented solo and group exhibitions in Uruguay and in various countries across Latin America and Europe, where he has received numerous awards and honors for his artistic and creative work. In 1999, he was the first to broadcast a live text commentary of a soccer match over the internet. Throughout his extensive academic career, he pioneered the use of educational and technological tools that, along with others, helped shape the distinctive profile of graphic designers at Universidad ORT Uruguay left his mark on the profession.
Due to circumstances beyond her control, Cármenes was unable to attend the ceremony to receive her award.
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Juan Ciapessoni
At the age of 40, he has founded seven companies, including The Electric Factory, one of the world’s leaders in digital innovation and production, and the only Latin American company to win SXSW—the world’s leading innovation festival—among many other awards. He has been a professor, academic advisor, and global speaker for over 15 years. He describes himself as an inventor and visionary thinker. He is considered one of the most influential business leaders in Uruguay. His latest project has just been declared of National Interest by Uruguay XXI, and has been described by Fast Company magazine as “an idea that will change the world.”
In his acceptance speech, he said, “I love that this highlights all the people who are working to put Uruguay on the map.”
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Emiliano Cotelo
He began his career as a journalist at CX 30 La Radio, where he worked from 1983 to 1985. He wrote for the weekly newspapers *Jaque* and *Alternativa*, served on the editorial board of *Tres* magazine, and was a journalistic advisor to the editorial staff at the daily newspaper *El Observador*. He hosts and produces the program *En Perspectiva*, which has been on the air for 34 years. He also heads the company En Perspectiva Producciones, founded in January 2015, which is responsible for the radio program En Perspectiva, the website EnPerspectiva.uy, the programming of Radiomundo 1170 AM, and news segments on Nuevo Siglo TV and Cardinal TV. Over the course of these three decades, he has distinguished himself in our journalistic community for his in-depth interviews with local and international political leaders, as well as for hosting iconic radio programs in our country’s history.
“What you’re recognizing here has been possible in my case because I’ve approached it with great rigor and tenacity,” he said. “I’ve played this game as both a journalist and a business executive. In that dual role, I’ve had to face unforeseen challenges, adversity, and also unforced errors.” It hasn’t been easy, he said, so “this recognition is a major morale boost.”
He thanked the university, his family, and everyone who had been part of the journey that began in 1983: “Dozens of co-hosts, journalists, consultants, radio and IT technicians, as well as other colleagues—many of whom, such as panelists, have contributed their time on a volunteer basis,” he noted. He highlighted the role of certain media executives who “made things possible” so that En Perspectiva’s journalism could thrive. He also thanked the advertisers who have placed their trust in the project, as well as the partners who have supported them. “And I’ll save the audience for last—they are the first to appreciate our content, but they also enrich our work by contributing ideas, questions, and ingenuity.”
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Gonzalo Frasca
He holds a PhD in Video Games from IT University of Copenhagen. Throughout his career as a designer, he has created games for companies such as Pixar, Warner Bros., Disney, and Cartoon Network. He is a director at the Norwegian educational studio DragonBox. His most recent project as a co-designer, DragonBox School, was named Finland’s best digital learning system this year. He is a Professor of Video Games at Universidad ORT Uruguay.
During his acceptance speech, Frasca spoke about Battegazzore, who had been honored a short while earlier. “I met her about 25 years ago, when she was figuring out what to do with her creative life,” he said. “I think her search has borne fruit. It’s an honor and a joy for me to work with her. I know it is for ORT as well.”
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Carol Garcia
Ph.D. and professor of Communication and Semiotics. A Brazilian journalist, educator, and trend scout with 30 years of experience in the fashion industry across the Americas, Asia, and Europe. In her academic role, she serves as Director of Internationalization at the São Paulo University Center for Fine Arts and as a professor in the graduate program in Architecture, Urban Planning, and Design at that university. She is also the founder of the National Fashion Colloquium and the International Fashion and Design Congress, both in Brazil. Additionally, she is CEO of the fashion consulting firm Shopping Nomads. She is a professional who played a fundamental role in introducing theoretical study and scientific rigor to fashion education, extending beyond the boundaries of the faculty itself and sharing knowledge with many key players in the fashion system, both in Uruguay and throughout the region.
“Every time I return to Uruguay, I return to my family,” he confessed. “Fashion isn’t the work of a single person: this is recognition for a team that has managed to make a difference for fashion in Uruguay.”
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Claudio Invernizzi
Advertising executive. President of Havas Gurisa. He has worked with various brands both in Uruguay and internationally, and has received numerous national and international awards and honors. Last year, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Uruguayan Advertising Association. He served as director of Televisión Nacional de Uruguay, president of the Uruguayan Advertising Circle, and president of AUDAP. In addition, he served as regional creative director at Havas. He has given lectures in various Latin American countries and served as a judge at dozens of international festivals. He is the author of *Esta empecinada flor* and the novel *La pulseada*, and recently published the novel *La obstinada memoria de Puerto Vírgenes*, for which he has just received his second Bartolomé Hidalgo Award.
“A prerequisite for this recognition is imagination: that space filled with shadows and wonders that allows us to envision the future,” said Invenizzi.
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Hugo Millán
A graduate of the Pedro Fígari School of Applied Arts in Uruguay. At the same time, he trained as an illustrator and costume designer at the French Fashion Center in Montevideo, where he began his career in textile and clothing design. He graduated as a Technical Designer from the “Margarita Xirgú” Multidisciplinary School of Dramatic Arts (EMAD), and has since worked in various fields of the performing arts as a costume designer, set designer, and teacher. In 2018, he was honored at the 20th Hong Kong Dance Awards for his costume and set design for the production of *Le Corsaire*, created for the Sodre National Ballet, as well as with the 2018 Manuel Oribe Award for Culture. He is a professor in the Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design program at Universidad ORT Uruguay has become an international leader in his field due to his talent and the high quality of his creations.
“I think many of us feel the same way: we’re grateful to always be able to work as a team,” Millán said. “For me, it’s a pleasure to be part of that ‘surrogate’ family at the university.”
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Álvaro Moré
He has been an advertising professional since 1978. He is currently president of Young & Rubicam, Wunderman, and Grey. He serves on the ANII Evaluation Committee and the Board of Directors of Endeavor. He has served as president of the Uruguayan Advertising Circle, the Uruguayan Association of Advertising Agencies, and the Uruguayan Advertising Circle. In the academic sphere, he is a member of the academic advisory board of the School of Communication at Universidad ORT Uruguay, where he also served as a professor. As a partner, investor, or director, he is currently involved in 10 communications companies and 10 technology companies.
“ORT has been my home for 27 years,” Moré said. “I was looking for a model to help me start my company, and that model was the university.”
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Rodolfo Musitelli
A photographer and director of a family business that reinvents itself with each generation. Ask anyone about Musitelli Films & Digital, and they’ll tell you it’s much more than just a location and supply company. Over the years, they have helped the film and television production industry become more professional on an international level by supplying top-of-the-line equipment. Their commitment to academia and their contribution to the development of professionals were fundamental in ensuring that this market is highly regarded both locally and internationally, contributing significantly to its growth.
“I can’t accept this award on my own behalf; I feel it’s a recognition of the company’s legacy,” said Musitelli. “It all started long ago, with my father, with the values he passed down to us and the love he instilled in us for cinema.”
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Andrés Rosenblatt
He has been and remains a key figure in the development of audiovisual production, both nationally and in promoting it internationally. He holds a BA in Communication Arts from the New York Institute of Technology. Through his production company, Metrópolis Films, he produced the first major international projects that put Uruguay on the global audiovisual map. He was a driving force behind and collaborated on the drafting of key legislation that today forms the basis for incentives in the national industry. He was part of the team that established the Bachelor’s Degree in Communication at Universidad ORT Uruguay 25 years ago. He was a professor of Executive Production at ORT and a visiting professor at Columbia University.
“I speak on behalf of a small group from a generation that took audiovisual media seriously even before it existed in Uruguay.”
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Franca Rosi
She earned her Ph.D. in Architecture from Sapienza University of Rome. In 1979, she established the first Industrial Design program at the Technological Institute of Costa Rica. In 1988, she launched the first Industrial Design Center in Uruguay. In 1991, she created the Office of Design, Production, and Marketing for artisanal SMEs throughout the country. She directed the European Union project for the development of micro and small artisanal enterprises in the interior of Uruguay. She served as Dean of the School of Design and Communication at the University of the Enterprise. In 2008, she was awarded the title of Knight of the Italian Republic for her work in the field of design in Latin America.
“I discovered a wonderful people in Uruguay,” Rosi said. “I felt a very close connection with all the teachers, the media, and the politicians. I was pioneering a new field: I talked about design, not drawing.”
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Javier Serra
An engineer, he has been one of the key figures in the growth of digital news portals in our country. He is the co-founder and director of Montevideo COMM and Montevideo Portal, a pioneering initiative that has successfully reinvented itself over the years by offering services, platforms, and content of value to Uruguayan society, including an audiovisual channel, streaming broadcasts, and internet services, among others. He actively participates and collaborates in academic developments and professional organizations such as IAB Uruguay. He was a professor at Universidad ORT Uruguay.
“My training as an engineer was a key factor in helping me co-create and co-found a media outlet like Montevideo Portal.”
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Pipe Stein
With a degree in Communication, he has served as a university professor, president of Uruguay’s leading advertising festivals, and a judge for prestigious international awards. According to Equipos Consultores’ annual survey for the past two years, advertisers consider him the country’s top advertising creative and best advertising agency director. He is the director of Notable, an advertising agency he leads alongside Diego Lev, from which they have created iconic campaigns that have won awards in Uruguay and around the world.
“These awards recognize creativity and innovation, but they also share a common thread of ethics, hard work, and dedication,” Stein said. “I’m sure that when we were notified of these awards, we were all looking ahead.”