“La Tribu Guayaca,” a project developed by students in the Design Workshop I course at FADCOM, was selected as a finalist in the Best Student Project category of the Br 2026 Awards, organized by Br Magazine. The awards ceremony will take place on October 7, 2026. The project was developed under the guidance of professor Da Hee Park and features an exhibition centered on a clan of primates made from recycled paper and cardboard. At the forefront of the composition is a large orangutan that symbolizes unity and protection.
Through these characters, the project weaves together elements of Guayaquil’s identity with a design concept that incorporates the use of recycled materials. The result transforms paper and cardboard into expressive elements capable of creating characters, developing a visual narrative, and conveying a concept. The selection as a finalist recognizes the creative and design process developed by the students during the course, as well as their ability to conceptualize and bring to life a project with a local identity and a sustainable focus.
This recognition represents a learning experience that extends beyond the classroom and allows students to compare their work with projects developed outside the academic setting. At the same time, it helps highlight FADCOM’s talent and the potential of design to address issues related to identity and sustainability.
© Photography: Raúl Ruiz / Text: José Luis Castro
