Rediseña is an initiative of Montevideo Shopping that was launched in 2011 as the first design competition for products created from discarded items. Rediseña not only succeeded in bringing these products to market, thereby reintroducing them into circulation and perpetuating the circular cycle of design processes; it has also evolved into a program that organizes activities promoting a textile industry grounded in sustainable ethics and responsible consumption.
Clarisa Bielawski, who holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial design and is a professor, noted that “the experience has been very enriching.” She commented that the students seemed very enthusiastic throughout the development of their projects and worked hard to meet the contest deadlines. “It was wonderful to see them when they received all the materials: watching them imagine the different possibilities that opened up for them.”
The challenge posed by the competition, he explained, was to create a product line based on the reuse of waste materials from the mall. That, he pointed out, was a major challenge in itself “due to the uncertainty of not knowing what materials they would be working with.” “At the same time, the projects would have to include a product line that served a specific audience, with sufficient aesthetic and functional appeal to be marketable, while also taking into account their manufacturability. Balancing all these requirements simultaneously highlights the significant challenge this project posed for all participants.”
Working in multidisciplinary teams, with members from both Industrial Design and Graphic Design, was key to developing proposals that integrated these two fields in a comprehensive way. It’s clear how they are learning from one another as the project progresses through its various stages.
Bielawski pointed out that, since they were accustomed to “working with three-dimensionality using stiffer materials or sheets,” the fact that they were provided—primarily—with textile scraps, foam, and canvas “marked a shift in the approach to their projects.” He also highlighted “the cultural aspect as a backdrop”: visiting the Gurvich Museum and immersing themselves in the artist’s world gave them an extra boost. “Fortunately, they rose to the challenge: Gurvich has an extensive and highly varied body of work, which led to a wide range of very different proposals.”
Broadly speaking, he added, they now have a solid foundation on which they will continue to build in order to refine details, bring ideas to life, and communicate them. “So far, we’ve been focusing heavily on the conceptual aspects of the product line, the project briefs, and the details of each individual product. We’ve only brought one to life so far, and the plan this month is to bring the rest to life to complete the family. At the same time, we’re developing the more graphic or visual aspects of each project’s communication at the brand level: naming, identity, communication strategy, and launch.”
Finalists
The finalists for the 2022 edition have been announced; they are currently working on their projects in preparation for the public presentation in early June.
Among the teams that advanced to the final, the following are students from Universidad ORT Uruguay.
Industrial Design
The instructor in charge, Clarisa Bielawski, explained each of the projects that made it to the final round.
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Gabriela Claasen, Agustina Costa, and Sofía Pereyra (a graphic design student)
This team is designing a line of kitchen products aimed at a young audience living in small spaces. Based on the concept of an open-concept kitchen—where tidiness and aesthetics are prioritized because the space is visible from other areas of the home—the accessories complement this concept with a strong aesthetic focus. The designer kitchen accessories are inspired by a work by Gurvich from his time at the Torres García Workshop—where constructivist compositions prevail—and were made from reused waste materials. Among the products in the line are a hanging planter for growing herbs to use fresh in food preparation, a container for kitchen utensils, a serving board, a bread basket, and an apron.
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Valentina Algorta and Macarena Colo
With a focus on students, they took the return to in-person classes into account. Their product line, inspired by Torres García’s period at Gurvich, includes a planner, a canvas bag, a pencil case, a mousepad, and a laptop sleeve, all designed using recycled materials. Their design aesthetic and graphic applications stem from a combination of shapes inspired by the artist, giving this product line its appeal and unique personality.
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Agustín Irrazabal and Sofía Menéndez (graphic design student)
Taking Gurvich’s “Fantastic Worlds” period—and particularly “Man Built in Red”—as their starting point, this team designed a line of outdoor and garden products by repurposing discarded materials. The line includes a single bench, a set of complementary mats, a hammock, a flexible planter, and a birdhouse. This product family prioritizes the waterproofing and durability of the materials for outdoor use, ensuring their adaptability to weather conditions.
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Gianfranco D'Alessandro, Bruno Lara, and Pamela Noll (graphic design student)
After exploring the bending possibilities offered by a particular recycled material, this team decided to develop a line of lighting fixtures in various styles: floor, ceiling, table, and wall lamps. Drawing inspiration from the “Fantastic Worlds” phase of Gurvich’s work—specifically “Cosmic Couple”—they translated the undulating forms characteristic of this piece into three dimensions. This results in a fascinating interplay of light and shadow projected into the space where the light fixtures are placed.
Fashion Design
Instructor: Ana Inés Píriz, Lecturer in Physical Education
- María Sol Corsino and Virginia Lorido
- Pilar Favilla and Rocío Silva
- Celina Martín and Fiorella Muniz
- Julieta Machado and Pilar Chiesa
Launch
Gurvich Museum: June 1, 2022
MVD Shopping: June 3, 2022