Agustín Larrosa Batista, a graphic design graduate and co-founder of Pimba Estudio, won the award for best graphic design at the 2018 CLAP Awards, organized by FOROALFA—the most active design community in Ibero-America—and Veredictas, a specialized agency with over two decades of experience.
His project, which aims to rebrand the Maldonado City Government, was developed in 2017 as part of the Corporate Image course taught by Prof. Martín Abud.
What did the winning project entail?
The project involved a brand redesign for the Maldonado City Government. To this end, we first conducted an analysis and assessment of the current state of the organization’s visual communication, and then developed the new brand with its context in mind.
What was the design based on?
The main strategy was to identify the key concept that has remained consistent over the years. Maldonado is a department frequently associated with its scenic attributes, which we strive to highlight in every project; thus, the core idea stems from one of these attractions: whale watching. This can be clearly seen in the image of its coat of arms from 1803, which remains in use to this day, depicting the concepts of strength, exchange, and unity, which reflect the essence of the department.
The solution we came up with was to abstract the shape formed by the trail of water sprayed by whales as they swim against the current—a result of the force they generate to propel themselves forward—and to merge this with the shape of the letter “M” (the initial of the Maldonado department). We then grouped this entire design within a circle to create the sense of unity we mentioned earlier.
What does receiving this recognition mean to you?
The fact that my work has been included in the CLAP Awards is wonderful news, and it makes me very happy to know that a project I created has received international recognition; it really motivates both me and the studio. This is the first time I’ve entered an international competition, and seeing my ideas recognized by the design community fills me with excitement.
From the initial analysis phase to the development of the final brand, I went through some very meaningful stages that allowed me to love every part of the creative process.
What do you do at Pimba Estudio?
I co-founded the studio with my friend and partner, Matías Mirza. At the firm, I focus primarily on graphic design, where we do a lot of work on brand development and its applications, as well as editorial and web design. In addition, for certain projects that call for it, we incorporate illustrations. At the studio, we love to design using simple elements that pack a visual punch, with a somewhat saturated and vibrant color palette.
How did your academic training at ORT contribute to your receiving this award and to your academic life in general?
Since I was already working in the design industry, college allowed me to solidify my understanding of graphic design concepts, which later proved invaluable in my day-to-day work.
The constant encouragement and highly technical feedback from the instructors allowed me to unleash my creativity and fully immerse myself in the project in the best possible way.