Faculty of Art, Design, and Audiovisual Communication (FADCOM) at ESPOL experienced two intense days of inspiration and creativity with VÓRTICE 2025, its highly anticipated international design and audiovisual communication event. Students, teachers, and professionals gathered on October 22 and 23 at the ESPOL Prosperina Theater (Building 7B) to share ideas, experiences, and new ways of thinking about creativity.
During the morning of the first day, the keynote speeches offered inspiring and practical content. Ileana Matamoros opened with an in-depth look at documentary film and audiovisual narratives, encouraging students to explore new ways of storytelling. Enrique Valderrama shared his experience in the video game industry, from indie projects to triple-A titles, highlighting the importance of coordination and creativity in multidisciplinary teams.
Javo Martínez captivated the audience with cinematography and visual narrative techniques, while Billy Soto connected the past and present, presenting pre-Columbian graphics and their reinterpretation in contemporary art, generating a dialogue between history and creativity. In the afternoon, workshops allowed students to apply what they had learned. Javo Martínez offered an additional workshop on spatial composition, where each participant explored how to organize elements in space to enhance audiovisual narrative. The energy and enthusiasm of the attendees were evident, and learning took place in a practical and collaborative way.
At the end of the afternoon, a welcome cocktail party was held at POP UP Teatro Café Urdesa, where audiovisual production students presented their short films. It was an event where emerging talent was showcased to the community and guests. The second day continued with a program full of leading figures in design and visual communication. Arturo del Pozo showed how to create 3D characters for video games, sharing industry secrets.
Sandra Morales took students into the world of inclusive typography and Latin American design. Tito Torres explored the relationship between identity, heritage, and multimedia, and Claudia Alonso invited reflection on gender representation and image. The virtual conference by Simon Buckingham Shum, from Australia, closed the day with a global perspective on artificial intelligence and creative learning, broadcast live to Auditorium U002 (Building 14B) at FADCOM.
The closing was a memorable moment: Tito Torres' visual projection transformed the exterior of FADCOM into a video mapping show where light, sound, and visual memory merged, leaving all attendees amazed by the immersive and sensory experience.
In addition, we had the musical accompaniment of DJ Blumman, who enhanced the experience with a set of electronic music, creating a unique atmosphere that complemented the visual narrative and elevated the energy of the event. VÓRTICE 2025 was a celebration of talent and creativity.
Students, teachers, and speakers shared experiences, knowledge, and passion, consolidating FADCOM as a benchmark for artistic and communicative innovation in Ecuador. The excitement and learning experienced during these two days will continue to inspire projects and new ideas for a long time to come.
© Photography: Cristopher Mite / Karina Martínez / Kayla Yépez / Daniel Castelo Written: José Luis Castro
