The team, consisting of Karen Spalter, a graduate with degrees in Multimedia and Graphic Design, along with senior Graphic Design students Florencia Guida and Lucía Barcia, designed a mural for the Plaza Infantil Libertad y Pereira. The mural was painted by artist José Gallino.
This design was created as part of the “Mural Project: Environmental Stewardship and Urban Preservation” contest, in collaboration with the CH Municipality, as part of the plaza’s renovation.
The inauguration took place on February 7 and was attended by Matilde Antía, former mayor of Municipality CH.
For the artists behind the mural, this experience presented a completely new challenge:
“It’s great because it’s a wonderful way to wrap up our degree program—to create a design and share it with the public. The three of us aren’t usually ones to show off our work, but this mural helped us break through that barrier,” explained Lucía.
For Karen, the mural held special personal significance:
This is the square I used to go to when I was a girl, and leaving my mark here means a lot to me.
Creative process
The proposal for the mural was developed based on concepts defined by the municipality, with an emphasis on nature and water:
"If you look at the mural, there's a wave that runs through the entire piece. We wanted the design to make families feel comfortable there, to make them want to be there," Florencia explained.
In addition, the activity within the plaza was taken into account, depicting children and their interactions with their surroundings.
Accustomed to working with print and smaller-scale formats, the process of designing a large-scale project required a deep learning curve in terms of composition, three-dimensionality, and adapting to the space.
The creative process began with an analysis of the space: "First, we visualized the plaza and the wall as a canvas, taking into account elements such as windows and trees that could affect the composition," said Lucía.
They then worked on sketches and finalized the characters and concepts to be depicted. “We divided the mural into sections so we could work on it piece by piece, making sure that in the end everything would fit together perfectly and look like a cohesive whole,” explained Florencia.
Education at Universidad ORT Uruguay
From a technical standpoint, ORTtraining played a key role in the project's implementation.
"The focus on three-dimensionality and scale—something we learned in our design classes—was really helpful. We weren't working on a sheet of paper or a screen, but on a structure that people will physically experience," the designers explained.
Planning was also essential, with regular meetings held to coordinate and refine each stage of the design.
The mural represents not only an academic achievement for these designers, but also a valuable contribution to Montevideo’s urban landscape. Through color, creativity, and collaboration, they succeeded in transforming a public space into a meaningful gathering place.