The second day of the event organised by FADCOM–ESPOL featured lectures, an awards ceremony for student projects, a celebration with Batucada Popular, and practical workshops. The Faculty of Art, Design and Audiovisual Communication (FADCOM) at ESPOL concluded ‘Vórtice 2026’ on Thursday 15 October, an event dedicated to design and audiovisual communication that brought together students, lecturers and professionals for two days of exchange, learning and creativity. The second day saw a high turnout, with a programme that included lectures, recognition of student work, cultural activities and practical workshops.
Talks to share knowledge and experiences
The academic programme began with a presentation by Catherine Naranjo, followed by talks from Mariela Zúñiga, Luis Avilés and Milton Sancán. The speakers shared their knowledge and experiences with the audience, creating opportunities for reflection on creative processes and professional practices.
Among the topics covered were the narrative and expressive possibilities of pop-up books – a publishing format that incorporates fold-out structures and three-dimensional elements to enrich the reading experience. The lectures were well attended and actively engaged by the audience, introducing students to new perspectives and experiences related to their fields of study.
Recognition of the best student work
Following the talks, an awards ceremony was held to recognise the best student projects from FADCOM’s three degree programmes: Graphic Design, Media Production and Product Design. The event recognised the talent, creativity and hard work demonstrated by the students through their academic projects, highlighting the application of knowledge and the development of proposals across various areas of design and audiovisual communication.
The ceremony was attended by Dr Paola Romero, Vice-Chancellor of ESPOL, who delivered the closing address for Vórtice 2026. During her speech, she emphasised the value of knowledge-sharing and thanked the national and international speakers – including those who participated virtually – as well as the workshop leaders, organisers and attendees who made the event possible.
Batucada Popular set the pace for the closing ceremony
The day continued with a performance by Batucada Popular, which turned the closing ceremony into a collective celebration. Their music and energy encouraged the audience to dance and share a moment of togetherness, lending a festive atmosphere to the event.
Hands-on workshops to complement the experience
As part of the programme, hands-on workshops were led by guest facilitators, during which participants were able to explore creative techniques and processes through practical activities. These sessions complemented the lectures and enabled participants to put their knowledge into practice, strengthening the link between academic learning and project development. With this programme, Vórtice 2026 concluded two days of exchange and experiences that connected the university community with different perspectives on design and audiovisual communication, whilst recognising student work and promoting collaborative learning.
© Photography: Fiorela Avilés, Marlon Suquilanda, and Santiago López / Text: José Luis Castro
