The exhibition titled “Musicians of the Guayaquil Museum of Popular Music,” marking the conclusion of the project developed in the Graphic Design 1 course, taught by Mónica Robles. In this space, students presented proposals for the rhetorical design of commemorative sets inspired by artists from the Museum, reinterpreting iconic albums through a contemporary lens that linked memory, local identity, and visual narrative.
The process began with an analysis of five selected songs, based on which each team conceptually reconstructed an album, designed a series of coasters, and prototyped a scarf. The methodology integrated contextual research, the construction of visual rhetoric, validation with an external audience, and the development of mockups, culminating in sublimation printing as part of the project’s technical completion. It was not merely a matter of redesigning graphic elements, but of constructing visual narratives capable of reinterpreting cultural references.
The work was developed in the classroom as a real-world application exercise where theory and practice engaged in constant dialogue and were then projected into the exhibition space. This approach allowed students to understand design as a system of meanings capable of reinterpreting cultural heritage through contemporary languages. The exhibition’s significance lies in its ability to connect tradition and modernity, demonstrating that graphic design can serve as a bridge between collective memory and new generations, contributing cultural value through critical analysis, research, and visual reflection.
© Photography: Patricia Robelly / Written:: José Luis Castro
