The World Design Festival, powered by Tijuana Design Week 2024, presents a dynamic program exploring cutting-edge themes with creativity and innovation.
For 5 days, immerse yourself in the creativity of over 300 designers, engaging workshops, interactive installations, and thought-provoking events. It’s a rare chance to reflect on the past, present, and future of our city and its region through the design lens.
Celebrating creative diversity and offers spaces for experimentation and visual and conceptual exploration, showing the capacity of design to innovate, surprise and transcend conventional limits.
Featured Guests:
Exploring issues of cross-border design, interculturality, and how design impacts and is influenced by different social, economic and cultural contexts.
Featured Guests:
Celebrating the fusion of knowledge, the audacity to imagine possible worlds and the ability to materialize them, leading the way to a shared and sustainable future.
Featured Guests:
Featuring projects that promote joint work between designers from different disciplines and the community.
Featured Guests:
Featuring events that promote learning, design education, and how design can empower people to contribute positively to their community and environment.
Featured Guest:
Featuring events that explore the relationship between design, the city, and history.
Featured Guest:
Designer
Ferrari
Emmy Award Winning Designer & Voice Actress
Emmy award winning Sandra Equihua is a Tijuana born artist, designer and voice actress based in the city of Los Angeles. Sandra received her BFA in Graphic Design at Ibero University in Tijuana, Mexico and shortly after branched to character design for animated series and films. She has had the pleasure of working on different projects at Sony, WB, Disney and Nick Jr. In 2007 at Nickelodeon, with her husband Jorge Gutierrez, she created and designed the multiple Emmy award winning animated series, El Tigre, The Adventures of Manny Rivera. In 2014 she and her husband once again collaborated to make the animated feature The Book of Life, produced by Guillermo del Toro for 20th Century Fox. She most recently designed and voiced characters for the new limited series Maya and the Three at Netflix.
Emmy & Annie Award Winning Director, Writer, and Actor
Emmy and Annie award winning Jorge R. Gutierrez is a Mexican animator, painter, voice actor, writer, and director. Born in Mexico City, raised in Tijuana, CalArts Experimental Animation BFA & MFA, Gutierrez has completed various films, cartoons, and paintings exploring his love affair with Mexican pop and folk culture. Gutierrez was the director & co-writer of the Guillermo Del Toro produced animated feature The Book of Life for Fox which earned him a 2014 Golden Globe Award nomination. He was also the writer & director of the Emmy nominated Son of Jaguar VR short for Google. Along with his wife and muse, Sandra Equihua, they created the multiple Emmy Award-winning animated series El Tigre, The Adventures of Manny Rivera for Nickelodeon. Gutierrez most recently created, wrote and directed the event series Maya and the Three for Netflix which recently won 4 Emmys and 2 Annie Awards, including Best Children’s TV/Media award. Gutierrez is currently developing a Netflix animated feature named I, Chihuahua! with Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias.
Director of Food Design at the Barcelona School of Design and Engineering
Founding Director
The University of California, Design Lab
Former Chief Design Officer of Los Angeles
Christopher Hawthorne is an architecture critic, educator, and filmmaker. He served from 2018 to 2022 as the first Chief Design Officer for the city of Los Angeles, a position appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti. In this role he provided design oversight for major building and infrastructure projects across the city as well as launching initiatives related to housing, architecture, urban design, civic memory, and public art.
From 2004 to 2018 Hawthorne was the architecture critic for the Los Angeles Times. His writing on architecture and the arts has also appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Harvard Design Magazine, Architect, Architectural Record, Domus, and many other publications. With Alanna Stang, he is author of The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture (Princeton Architectural Press).
His earlier teaching appointments include positions at the University of Southern California, Occidental College, the Southern California Institute of Architecture, and U.C. Berkeley. A frequent collaborator with KCET-TV, the PBS affiliate in Los Angeles, Hawthorne wrote and directed the documentary “That Far Corner: Frank Lloyd Wright in Los Angeles,” for which he received an L.A.-area Emmy Award. He also received an Emmy for his work his as executive producer on KCET’s “Third L.A. with Architecture Critic Christopher Hawthorne.” From 2015 to 2022, first at Occidental and then at USC, he led the Third Los Angeles Project, a series of public conversations about architecture, urban planning, mobility, and demographic change in Southern California.
Hawthorne was the Fall 2022 Bernadette Ma Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the U.C. Berkeley College of Environmental Design. He has been a Mid-Career Fellow at Columbia University’s National Arts Journalism Program and a Resident in Criticism at the American Academy in Rome.
Director, Screenwriter, and Producer
VFX artist for Game of Thrones, Wanda Vision, and Stranger Things.
Singer & Songwriter
Ceci Bastida is a Mexican singer-songwriter. Ceci was born in Tijuana, Baja California, México. and is well known for playing keyboards and vocals in Mexico’s punk rock band Tijuana No! at the age of 15.
Artist
Brand Identity Designer
AtticSalt
Research Director / Co-founder
Denise Luna Acevedo studied architecture at Universidad Iberoamericana CDMX-Tijuana. She was a researcher in the program “The New Normal” iteration 2018 at Strelka Institute, where she collaborated in research and design projects for cities, exploring the impact of emerging technologies on new types of interdisciplinary design practices. She is recipient of the full Certificate Scholarship for the Post-Planetary Universal Design Program at The New Centre for Research & Practice.
Partner of estudio santander; co-director of TIOC Think Tank (Temporary Infrastructure of Commitments); recently authored “Dispositivos de Adhesión: Diseños que diseñan” in the book “Repensar los diseños” from UABC. Her work intends to seek alternative forms of architecture practices and explore the possibilities of diverse techniques (analogous, computational) through thinking and practice at a planetary scale, especially from a Latin American context.
Creator and Director
Gamacon
Desde 2008 Hugo ha sido uno de los principales impulsores de la industria mexicana de desarrollo de videojuegos. Al formar la organización sin fines de lucro Gamacon (www.gamacon.mx), creó una de las conferencias más importantes de México, fomentando oportunidades educativas y comerciales para los desarrolladores de juegos mexicanos y estadounidenses. Ha trabajado con varias instituciones educativas, asesorando y complementando sus programas académicos y trabaja incansablemente para promover la cultura y el arte mexicano en los juegos.
Hugo también formó parte de la mesa directiva de la Asociación Mexicana de Desarrolladores de Videojuegos (VGMX) de 2017 a 2019, y formó parte del Gobierno de México en la oficina de ProMéxico en Los Ángeles de 2015 a 2018, a cargo de la industria del desarrollo de software, videojuegos, animaciones y medios creativos. Además, ha sido ponente en la Comic Con de San Diego en varias ocasiones.
Since 2008 Hugo has been one of the main drivers of the Mexican game development industry. By forming the non-profit organization Gamacon (www.gamacon.mx), he created one of the most important conferences in Mexico, fostering educational and commercial opportunities for Mexican and American game developers. He has worked with several educational institutions, advising and complementing their academic programs and works tirelessly to promote Mexican culture and art in games.
Hugo was also part of the board of directors of the Mexican Association of Video Game Developers (VGMX) from 2017 to 2019, and was part of the Mexican Government in the ProMéxico office in Los Angeles from 2015 to 2018, in charge of the software development industry, video games, animations and creative media. In addition, he has been a speaker at San Diego Comic Con on several occasions.
Creative Director
Mother Sponge
Founder
Hola Vicu
Artist and Graphic Designer
Andrea Carrillo Iglesias is an artist and graphic designer currently living between Tijuana and Mexico City.
She is a member of coopia and codirects the studio Vish & Lava
Director
Direction, Photography, Script
Marco Aurelio Celis, 28 years old, lives in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. He won second place in the 2019 Nespresso Talents International Competition with the short film Ruffo, which he directed and which was presented during the Cannes Film Festival 2019 and the Morelia International Film Festival of the same year.
He has worked as a director of photography and director in music videos, short films and local feature films. He was director and cinematographer of the short films Luz de Luna (2018) and La Tierra que Habitamos (2019), a winning short film at the Barcelona Film and Human Rights Festival in the category of Best Documentary Short Film.
He participated as a co-director in the 48 Hour Film Project 2019 with the short film Los de allá, which was recognized with the second national place. He also served as a screenwriter with El Cielo no nos pertenece, a winning short in the 2021 edition of the same contest. He was also director of cinematography of Los Fundadores, a Puma de Plata-winning debut film at FICUNAM, directed by Diego Hernández.
Artist & Choreographer
Dimitri Chamblas (born 1974) is a French dancer and contemporary dance choreographer, as well as artistic director and film producer.
His work has been exhibited at Tate Modern, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Geffen Contemporary (MOCA), the Opéra National de Paris, and Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.
Over the course of his career he has collaborated with choreographers Lil Buck, Boris Charmatz, William Forsythe, Benjamin Millepied, and Mathilde Monnier; artists Christian Boltanski, Dan Colen, Andy Goldsworthy, Kim Gordon, Alex Prager, and Xavier Veilhan; director Rebecca Zlotowski; creative directors Virginie Viard, Jean Paul Gautier, and Karl Lagerfeld; composer Heiner Goebbels; and conductor Barbara Hannigan.
¡Encontramos arte en donde quiera que veamos! Historia del arte, cultura pop y artistas locales en un solo lugar!
We find art everywhere we look! Art history, pop culture, and local artists in one place!
Director
Manuella Dalle studied political science and sociology before she started directing documentaries for the show “Strip tease” for the major French channel France 3. After this, she captured the world of contemporary art by directing portraits of artists ranging from photographers to street-artists to sculptors for the internationally recognized Franco-German channel Arte.
In 2013, while living in Los Angeles, she directed a feature film on a French-Colombian priest that decided to create a multi-cultural church. This documentary granted her international recognition: it was shown in many film festivals around the world and was bought in several countries.
She also directed some free-form videos reflecting on contemporary art and technology (“Je me souviens” for 3eme scène de l’Opéra de Paris and « Scan 1 » for Biennale de Montrouge).
In 2016, she focussed on the world of young artists at the Opéra and initiated the documentary “Opéra Académie” that also aired on major French channel France 2.
She moved back to Los Angeles where she made severals films about and with artists such as Ed Ruscha or Kim Gordon.
She is now doing a documentary about dance in a high security men prison at Lancaster, California.
Sketchbook Club Tijuana es un club social que mantiene un espacio positivo de estímulo y motivación.
Sketchbook Club Tijuana is a social club that maintains a positive space of encouragement and motivation.
Todos somos y hacemos Diseño.
We all are and we all do Design.
Founder
Dear Honey
Illustrator
Mexican illustrator Charles Glaubitz lives in Tijuana, a block away from the beach where he used to surf, breakdance, freestyle and such since he was young boy. Born from a German-American father and mother from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico he now splits his professional time between his art and his teaching at the San Diego City College, across the border.
CLIENTS
Rolling Stone Magazine, Info World Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Jensen Group, The Townsend Agency,Lumbre Magazine, Old Globe Theaters, Harcourt & Brace, Rafael Lopez Illustration, Aiga San Diego, Nickelodeon Magazine, Revista DF, Visual Asylum,Murphy Design, San Diego City College, Motorized Transit System, San Diego Youth & community services, San Diego Community Clinics, UCLA Magazine, UCSD Magazine, Baltimore Magazine, American Airlines, Spirit Magzine, PC Magazine, PlanSponsor Plansponsor Magazine, Storage Magazine.
AWARDS/PUBLICATIONS
Illustrations have been recognized by American Illustration 22, 24 and Comunication Arts Magazine 2002 Fresh section, 3×3 Magazine 2012, 2013.
Multidisciplinary Visual Artist
Multidisciplinary Visual Artist. In my work I explore the constructions of nature on a micro and macro level; the diverse elements that conform it, the complexity of its systems, the geological processes, its natural cycles as well as reflect on our relationship to nature.
I delve into these notions of nature from different viewing points, by circling between environmental science and philosophical elements. I re-appropriate graphic symbols that represent scientific data and add new invented ones; I use found imagery and re-contextualize it forming imagined geologies that contain layers of visual information that evokes the transformation of our ecosystem, serving as both, a commentary and a reflection on our present imprint from an ecological view.
I work across disciplines such as drawing, painting, mixed media and installation; using materials like paper, collage, found imagery and textiles depending on the nature of the work.
I graduated from my BA at the University of the State of Baja California, 2009. I’ve participated in collective and solo shows in the Tijuana, San Diego and Los Angeles area, as well as Mexico City, Monterrey and Oaxaca. I was a grant recipient of FONCA Jóvenes Creadores (2019-20); I’ve been rewarded with Artists Residencies in Amsterdam, Melbourne, Oaxaca and Enschede NL. I’ve participated in National and International Biennales in Mexico since 2014.
Founder
Proyecto.Anda
Proyecto Anda es una fundación sin fines de lucro para crear una comunidad inclusiva y activa para personas con discapacidad.
Architect
Jorge Gracia is a Mexican Architect who graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana Noroeste in 1997, he is the founder and principal of graciastudio (est. 2004).
Recipient of multiple awards and recognitions, both at the national and international level, within the practice of architecture, including: ’30 promesas 2009’ Grupo Expansion, ‘Design Vanguard 2012’ Architectural Record, ‘Emerging Voices 2013’ Architectural League of New York, ‘Obra del Año 2013’ ArchDaily, ‘Best of the Best’ Red Dot Awards 2014 and ’10 Despachos generadores de cambio 2016’ Grupo Expansion Obras.
His international conferences include ‘Virginia Tech’ in Blacksburg Virginia, ‘Australian Institute of Architects’ (2013), ‘Architectural Record Innovation Conference’ (2014) in Los Angeles California and ‘Cooper Union’ (2013) in New York.
Founder of Escuela Libre de Arquitectura (2014), school of Architecture in downtown Tijuana, where he is currently the Director.
Co-founder
Temporary Office
Professor
Universidad Iberoamericana
Creative Director, Illustrator, Graphic Designer, and Painter.
As I grew up, I realized my interest in drawing and decided to study something related. I got a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and then I started working in different companies in departments such as marketing, graphic design, editorial and illustration. In addition, I have over seven years working as an illustrator.
Twelve years ago, I decided to move to the city of Tijuana for the first time and I started working in the area of web design and social media. Since I was always drawing and illustrating as a hobby, I was looking to start working on more important projects.
In 2015 I returned to my hometown and started working in a newspaper, in the illustration department, after a few years, I started working in a government department, where I developed programs to help poor children.
Nowadays, I work as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer with my own project called @MaikMaravilla.
Researcher of Cultural Studies
El Colegio de la Frontera Norte
Photographer
David Maung is an American photographer who has worked extensively in Tijuana, Mexico, since 1991 where he has developed a keen and intimate understanding of the complex and dynamic issues that define the region.
His work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Life, The Washington Post, European Pressphoto Agency, Catholic News Service, Al-Jazeera, Der Spiegel, Courrier International, Gatopardo, Proceso, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Physicians for Human Rights and Smithsonian. His work has been exhibited in the United States, Germany, Mexico and Colombia.
David organizes workshops and activities to foment dialogue on the ethics, aesthetics and social responsibility of photography. His work as an educator seeks to provide a better understanding of U.S.-Mexico border issues and create opportunities to explore the unique visual, social and cultural panorama of the U.S./Mexico border region.
His personal photography work gives David a chance to reflect on internal perceptions of place and the passage of time, which provides a welcome counterbalance to his work as a photojournalist
Founder
Perro y Arena
Perro y Arena is a ceramics project and design studio by Tijuana-born artist Socrates Marko Medina.
Socrates’s work is a visual poetry, exploring the spiritual connection between humans and the Baja Californian fauna. The clay he shapes reflects the textures and tones of Baja’s Mediterranean landscapes, while his animal figurines transport us to a mythical world where we can dance with coyotes and hares under the moonlight. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand in his Tijuana studio.
Socrates’s artistic journey began during his Bachelor’s in Architecture with a minor in Art History at Cal Poly Pomona, where his first encounter with ceramics sparked an intuitive and nostalgic connection. While working in the design field in Los Angeles, he founded Perro y Arena in 2018, initially as a personal endeavor to share his creations with friends and family.
In 2021, he returned to his native Tijuana, turning his artistic passion into a full-time pursuit. He has been part of various exhibitions across the US and Mexico, earning awards such as the Premio Nacional de la Cerámica XLV and serving as an artist in residence at the Mingei International Museum during San Diego Design Week in 2022.
The studio actively partners with like-minded creatives who share a profound passion for and connection to the natural environment. Through these interdisciplinary collaborations, Perro y Arena seeks to create a richer tapestry that celebrates the intersection of art and nature.
Perro y Arena is not just a ceramics studio; it’s an invitation to step into a world where art and design seamlessly blends with nature, and myths come to life through clay.
Academic Coordinator
CETYS Universidad Tijuana
Academic Coordinator and professor at CETYS Universidad campus Tijuana.
Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science: Intelligent Systems at Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Research interests: optimization, intelligent systems, robotics, neuroscience, human interface devices, computer graphic, software design and electronics.
Associate Professor
Universidad de Monterrey
Passionate self-taught 3D, motion, and design artist with experience in advertising, videogames, education, and digital marketing. In the last 2 years, I have been pushing my skills to teams management and multiple projects, helping me to develop a meticulous artistic perspective not only in this field but in general art itself.
I’ve been had the opportunity to collaborate with national brands as a motion designer freelancer, and Lead campaigns in a national university in Mexico. As a 3D artist, I’ve worked in AAA titles as an environment and props artist.
Graphic Designer
Teacher
Cedim Mexico
Cartoonist and Character Designer
IAMO
Curator
Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá – MAMBO
Head of UX & Product Design
FreeWill
Founder
Paper Panas
Founder
FreshForm
Faculty and L&D Consultate
School of Business at CETYS Universidad
Architect & Designer
Originally from Peru, Giacomo Castagnola lived and worked for many years in the Tijuana-San Diego border region, where he established Estudio Germen, an architecture and design studio investigating the self-organizing, “informal” city. Currently working between Mexico City and San Francisco, much of Castagnola’s work explores the in-betweens and overlaps of document, body, furniture, and architecture in an attempt to create different structures and systems of exhibition to make galleries and museums function more like public spaces.
His evolving family of designs and furniture pieces begin with objects that react to interaction with the body of the user; followed by loitering street benches that intervene into left-over areas in public space; to body-containers made by the repeated accretion of a single unit of the same material; and finally to interconnected tables that develop into art exhibition display platforms. By accumulation and expansion, his designs aim to transforms space and to extend the body.
Art Director and Designer
Taller de Marca
Diseñador y productor gráfico independiente. Ha trabajado en proyectos tanto corporativos y publicitarios como del mundo del arte y el entretenimiento, diseñando para clientes como: Levi’s, Adidas, Miller beer y GlobalSat entre otros.
Independent graphic designer and producer. He has worked on corporate and advertising projects and in the world of art and entertainment, designing for clients such as: Levi’s, Adidas, Miller beer, and GlobalSat among others.
Professor and Researcher
Facultad de Arquitectura Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
Artist
My work is the evolution of memories, dreams, and reflections with my surroundings. I collect objects that transmit intimacy, or items that have a high energy imprint. These objects, along with ancient creation stories and myths serve as inspiration for my sculptures and paintings.
Adding details to my everyday search of beauty, they help elaborate a visual journal that explores my identity, vulnerability and internal awareness. I am particularly attracted to organic elements that have a life expectancy or that change their material state. The slow process of decay and metamorphoses is a revelation that renders life ever-present.
Register: https://whova.com/portal/registration/world1_202407/
Download the event app: https://whova.com/portal/world1_202407/?source=download_page
TMX – Typography Mexico presents: Citizen Narrative Laboratory. Developed in Mexicali and Calexico in 2023 by Héctor Ruíz, a student from Mexicali at the MFA Design for Social Innovation SVA. It’s a project that iconizes languages and transborder identities.
Speaker: Héctor Ruiz
Location: Escuela libre de Arquitectura
BOSQUE (FOREST), created by Fernanda Uribe, goes beyond a mere enchanted garden installation; it’s an immersive design experience where sculpture and functional design blend in perfect harmony. Featuring handmade miniature ceramic sculptures, this immersive installation draws inspiration from the rich biodiversity of forests and jungles. Here, imaginary plants, flowers, fungi, and insects come to life through the sculptures, stimulating all senses.
Exhibition by Fernanda Uribe
Location: Observatorio
Join Miles & Louie for the kickoff of ‘Welcome Home,’ a series of events, talks, and workshops for TJDW. Start the week with the first #CoffeeLoverTakeover featuring coffee and drinks from @diberzos.mx
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
Launch of a limited edition piece as part of Tijuana Design Week, come and try it on!
Located at the Monstera Showroom.
Monstera is a space that promotes design and handmade culture through its management and exhibition.
We invite you to color the canvas with illustrations by RADIANTE. We will have materials available so you can participate. The piece will be ready to enjoyed by the entire public throughout the entire week of Tijuana Design Week.
Located at the Yerbabuena showroom.
Yerbabuena is a platform for art, design, creative and artisanal brands from Mexico and abroad. It represents a cultural community that admires daily through restored furniture, vintage, antiques and contemporary objects.
Welcome and presentation of SWEET SWEET WORKSHOP & ALCATRAZ APPAREL with their collaborative project, BLOOM. – Omar Ruiz + Eduardo Franco
Located at the Yerbabuena showroom.
Yerbabuena is a platform for art, design, creative and artisanal brands from Mexico and abroad. It represents a cultural community that admires daily through restored furniture, vintage, antiques and contemporary objects.
Welcome cocktail and presentation of the “Maison” collection, accompanied by food & drinks by Moxxo & diBerZos. Additionally, complimentary tastings will be available throughout all their events courtesy of @primoelaperitivo and @mezcalunion.
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
Workshop for the structural development of artistic proposals for grants, competitions or to simply explain your work: from biography, CV, background, justification and objectives. Given by Charles Glaubitz visual artist. Recipient of the FONCA Young Creators 2005 in painting and of the National System of Creators 2013/2016 and 2019/22 in Graphic Narrative. Lecturer at San Diego City College 2001-2011. Professor in two courses at Domestika, Tutor of Young Creators and Jury of the National System of Creators.
Speaker: Charles Glaubitz
Location: Escuela libre de Arquitectura
Exhibition designed by Maik Maravilla, a journey through the childhood memories of a city that no longer exists, yet somehow endures. Through a glance at the everyday reality that has partially faded, utilizing the power of ink, duality, black and white, light and darkness, to create an impression on the viewer’s memories.
Exhibition by Maik Maravilla
Location: Lucky House
We invite you to celebrate with us the tenth anniversary of OBJECT with the exhibition of “The drunk dance of Xochilpilli” by Martín Levêque.
Martín Levêque’s sculptures present a unique expression of Xochilpilli. This French artist makes his Tijuana debut, capturing the essence of Xochilpilli’s intoxicating dance with a variety of materials. Her works explore the interaction between form and movement, celebrating the vitality of life and creativity.
Installation: Martin Leveque
Curatorship: Illya Haro
Host: Veronica Hernandez
Private event – by invitation.
Located at the Object Showroom
Object is an intercultural platform that promotes Mexican design. They offer a selection of artists and designers focused mainly on rescuing the traditional craftsmanship of our country. Design pieces made with natural, noble and high quality materials. We opened our doors in June 2014, celebrating 10 years! We are proud to represent more than 45 brands, accessible worldwide through this online store.
Ballet Workshop for Adults: We invite the community to experience the discipline of ballet as a tool for bodily expression. Age: 18 and older.
Presented by Conservatorio de Danza México
Location: Conservatorio de Danza México
Register: https://whova.com/portal/registration/world1_202407/
Download the event app: https://whova.com/portal/world1_202407/?source=download_page
As part of the “Pollution Prevention at Alamar Creek” initiative, the community is encouraged to explore waste management solutions. Through diagnostics and discussions, challenges and opportunities are identified, culminating in practical activities to generate sustainable solutions. The suggestions collected at the end will inform future community strategies.
Location: CETYS Universidad
Celebrate World Design Festival 2024 with our VIP CULTURAL TOUR hosted by Art Scene Baja. Explore a diverse selection of renowned architects, designers, and artists, alongside discovering exceptional and innovative sites around Tijuana that promise to inspire and captivate. See route below:
Join Miles & Louie for ‘Welcome Home,’ a series of events, talks, and workshops for TJDW. Start Thursday off with #CoffeeLoverTakeover featuring coffee from Mamá Lourenzza.
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
TMX – Typography Mexico presents: Citizen Narrative Laboratory. Developed in Mexicali and Calexico in 2023 by Héctor Ruíz, a student from Mexicali at the MFA Design for Social Innovation SVA. It’s a project that iconizes languages and transborder identities.
Speaker: Héctor Ruiz
Location: Escuela libre de Arquitectura
BOSQUE (FOREST), created by Fernanda Uribe, goes beyond a mere enchanted garden installation; it’s an immersive design experience where sculpture and functional design blend in perfect harmony. Featuring handmade miniature ceramic sculptures, this immersive installation draws inspiration from the rich biodiversity of forests and jungles. Here, imaginary plants, flowers, fungi, and insects come to life through the sculptures, stimulating all senses.
Exhibition by Fernanda Uribe
Location: Observatorio
Landscapes of Baja highlights the influence of regional landscapes in its collection through high-temperature handmade ceramics, a technique perfected in Mexico, exploring textures, shapes and colors that evoke the essence of the region, highlighting the intertwining of culture and the natural environment through art.
Makario stands out as a space with multiple uses, highlighting its Showroom that offers a unique experience in handcrafted utilitarian design focused on gastronomy.
Located at Makario Stoneware. Open 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM May 2 – 4.
Introducing No Cuerpo, a digital platform focused on creating content in the realms of art, entrepreneurship, and social reality, presented in design, audiovisual, and written formats. Its aim is to showcase local talent and foster connections among various social actors. Supported by the Ministry of Culture through its Support System for Creation and Cultural Projects, it promotes artists, entrepreneurs, and civil associations at both local and national levels.
Speaker: No Cuerpo
Location: Observatorio
Screening of a video-documentary on the history, evolution and environmental impact of denim. Accompanied by a collection by Totem Denim.
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
Social gathering to meet other designers, illustrators, and artists from Tijuana’s creative community. Bring your drawing materials and enjoy good beer! Bring a friend. Make a friend.
Location: Norte Brewing Co.
BOSQUE (FOREST), created by Fernanda Uribe, goes beyond a mere enchanted garden installation; it’s an immersive design experience where sculpture and functional design blend in perfect harmony. Featuring handmade miniature ceramic sculptures, this immersive installation draws inspiration from the rich biodiversity of forests and jungles. Here, imaginary plants, flowers, fungi, and insects come to life through the sculptures, stimulating all senses.
Location: Observatorio
Temporalities of a Sanctuary showcases a pictorial exploration centered on nature from a cosmological, geological, and ecological perspective. It combines painting, drawing, mixed media, and collage, through various conventional and unconventional mediums to construct hybrid landscapes that blend the tangible with the abstract, the physical with the conceptual, and reveal a worldview of exploration and reflection.
Speaker: Vero Glezqui
Location: Casa de la Cultura
“FADINGS” is an exhibition that showcases how SPEL moves between the digital and the analog, merging different techniques and bringing design to the streets and vice versa. Everything blends in a fluid exhibition that includes murals, paintings, ceramics, merchandise, and furniture.
Speaker: Spel Uno
Interactive installation with audio processors that help to reflect on music and sound as a playful phenomenon. Taught by the founders: Fernando Servín and Efrén Castro.
Located at the Monstera Showroom.
Monstera is a space that promotes design and handmade culture through its management and exhibition.
Exhibition designed by Maik Maravilla, a journey through the childhood memories of a city that no longer exists, yet somehow endures. Through a glance at the everyday reality that has partially faded, utilizing the power of ink, duality, black and white, light and darkness, to create an impression on the viewer’s memories.
Exhibition by Maik Maravilla
Location: Lucky House
As a collective comprised of PAAT, Perro y Arena, Hola Vicu, and Clever Studio, we first aim to migrate our ideas across the boundaries of other creative minds (cross-border). In the past, before legal borders existed, inhabitants shared knowledge, products, and emotions, wandering along the coast. We want to plant this idea from within so that its fruits may sprout in the near future, allowing us to navigate creative borders and find communal solutions.
Location: Restaurante Bhumi
Contemporary Dance Workshop for Adults: An invitation to the community to experience contemporary dance as a tool for bodily expression. Age: 18 and older.
Presented by Conservatorio de Danza México
Location: Conservatorio de Danza México
Register: https://whova.com/portal/registration/world1_202407/
Download the event app: https://whova.com/portal/world1_202407/?source=download_page
Get tickets for the shuttle service: https://whova.com/portal/registration/world1_202407/
Shuttle Times from the Tijuana side of the border to CECUT: 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM
Shuttle Times from CECUT to TJ border: 10:00AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM
The pick-up point will be at across the Tijuana Border at ABC Tijuana Line Terminal and Drop-off at CECUT.
More details are available once the purchase is made. Check out our FAQ for further questions.
CreativeMornings Tijuana: Monthly conversations highlighting how design shapes the region, offering chances to learn directly from creatives. May’s speaker is Andrea Carrillo Iglesias, an artist and graphic designer currently living between Tijuana and Mexico City.
Speaker: Andrea Carrillo
Location: Enigma Creative
Limited Shuttle service from San Diego to CECUT (Tijuana, MX) is available Friday (5/3). Only 45 spots per day are available, pick up time at 9 AM in SD and return to SD at 6 PM. Must have a valid passport. Get tickets here.
Join Miles & Louie for ‘Welcome Home,’ a series of events, talks, and workshops for TJDW. Start Friday off with #CoffeeLoverTakeover featuring coffee w/ Daniel Navarro, Montenegro Café.
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
Join a talk and workshop with Krzysztof Wodiczko, renowned for his large-scale slide and video projections on architectural facades and monuments. Since the late 1980s, his work has actively involved marginalized and estranged city residents. He has completed over 90 of these public projections in countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Holland, Northern Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.
This event is first come first serve.
Speaker: Krzysztof Wodiczko
Location: CECUT Sala de video
BOSQUE (FOREST), created by Fernanda Uribe, goes beyond a mere enchanted garden installation; it’s an immersive design experience where sculpture and functional design blend in perfect harmony. Featuring handmade miniature ceramic sculptures, this immersive installation draws inspiration from the rich biodiversity of forests and jungles. Here, imaginary plants, flowers, fungi, and insects come to life through the sculptures, stimulating all senses.
Location: Observatorio
In a world interconnected by digital media, extended reality, data, and algorithms, it is essential for designers of the future to collaborate with technology and shape experiences that enrich people’s lives. The canvases used by a designer are changing and the limiting boxes we have historically designed within are disappearing. Borderless Experiences (Part 1) is a presentation to explore the future of experience design. The lecture will be presented by Scott Robinson, the founder of FreshForm, an Experience Design & Innovation Consultancy based in San Diego, CA. *Attendees can join the Lecture (Part 1 – May 3), the Workshop (Part 2 – May 4), or both.
Speaker: Scott Robinson
Location: Escuela Libre de Arquitectura
Landscapes of Baja highlights the influence of regional landscapes in its collection through high-temperature handmade ceramics, a technique perfected in Mexico, exploring textures, shapes and colors that evoke the essence of the region, highlighting the intertwining of culture and the natural environment through art.
Makario stands out as a space with multiple uses, highlighting its Showroom that offers a unique experience in handcrafted utilitarian design focused on gastronomy.
Located at Makario Stoneware. Open 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM May 2 – 4.
As a collective comprised of PAAT, Perro y Arena, Hola Vicu, and Clever Studio, we first aim to migrate our ideas across the boundaries of other creative minds (cross-border). In the past, before legal borders existed, inhabitants shared knowledge, products, and emotions, wandering along the coast. We want to plant this idea from within so that its fruits may sprout in the near future, allowing us to navigate creative borders and find communal solutions
Location: Restaurante Bhumi
Bilingual book explores favorite spots through the eyes of San Diego and Tijuana locals. By Megan Groth.
Matiz Estudio is a multifaceted design space where causalities, teachings and observations of materiality are shared.
Each event reflects our commitment to innovation and dialogue in design.
Located at Matiz Studio
Screening of a video-documentary on the history, evolution and environmental impact of denim. Accompanied by a collection by Totem Denim.
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
Creative Movement Workshop for Children: We emphasize the importance of childhood as the present and future of our society, discovering and exploring our voice through movement. Age: 6 to 10 years old.
Location: Conservatorio de Danza México
All-Included oyster and seafood tasting by Chef Oswaldo Flores Chef Oswaldo Floreswith mixology by Barthemiabeer Manos de Calaca and musical selection by VMS Radio.
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
Cost: Early bird – $800 MN (first 20 people) and general – $1,100 MN
Exhibition designed by Maik Maravilla, a journey through the childhood memories of a city that no longer exists, yet somehow endures. Through a glance at the everyday reality that has partially faded, utilizing the power of ink, duality, black and white, light and darkness, to create an impression on the viewer’s memories.
Location: Lucky House
Register: https://whova.com/portal/registration/world1_202407/
Download the event app: https://whova.com/portal/world1_202407/?source=download_page
Limited Shuttle service from San Diego to CECUT (Tijuana, MX) is available Saturday (5/4). Only 45 spots per day are available, pick up time at 8 AM in SD and return to SD at 9 PM. Must have a valid passport. Get tickets here.
Get tickets for the shuttle service: https://whova.com/portal/registration/world1_202407/
Shuttle Times from the Tijuana side of the border to CECUT: 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM
Shuttle Times from CECUT to TJ border: 10:00AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM
The pick-up point will be at across the Tijuana Border at ABC Tijuana Line Terminal and Drop-off at CECUT.
More details are available once the purchase is made. Check out our FAQ for further questions.
Sandra Equihua and Jorge R. Gutiérrez, a dynamic duo raised in Tijuana, blend creative vision with commercial success. Deeply rooted in Mexican culture and digital animation, they’ve crafted compelling characters and stories. Gutiérrez, a CalArts alum, shone with “The Book of Life” and, alongside Equihua, released award-winning series like “El Tigre” and “Maya and the Three,” achieving global recognition and multiple Emmys and Annies. Equihua, notable for her illustration and character design, has worked with major brands, with her art showcased internationally.
Location: CECUT – Sala Carlos Monsivais
Borderless Experiences (Part 2) is a workshop to investigate and map a future in experience design and digital products. The workshop will be facilitated by Scott Robinson, the founder of FreshForm, an Experience Design & Innovation Consultancy based in San Diego, CA. *Attendees can join the Lecture (Part 1, May 3), the Workshop (Part 2, May 4), or both.
Speaker: Scott Robinson, Founder /CEO, FreshForm
Location: Escuela Libre de Arquitectura
“We Do & Care” is a mentoring program that guides girls from elementary, middle, and high schools toward STEM fields. Through an internship at CETYS University, they will learn how to apply science in the real world.
Speaker: Nataly Medina, Academic Coordinator, CETYS Universidad Tijuana
Location: CETYS Universidad
Celebrate World Design Festival 2024 with our VIP CULTURAL TOUR: VALLE EDITION hosted by Art Scene Baja. Explore a diverse selection of renowned architects, designers, and artists, alongside discovering exceptional and innovative sites around Ensenada & Valle de Guadalupe that promise to inspire and captivate. See route below:
An architect and prominent professor at the Universidad Iberoamericana, where she also serves as the Institutional Research Coordinator, this scholar blends her passion for teaching with deep research into urban acoustics, from sound pollution to the design of healthy public spaces. With a PhD from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and expertise in Museography, she’s the author of “Sound Guide for a City” and a fervent activist for the right to rest and silence. She balances her research work with being a mother and her role as a collector of sonic experiences, promoting the importance of listening to our city.
Speaker: Jimena de Gortari Ludlow, Professor, Universidad Iberoamericana
Location: CECUT – Sala Federico Campbell
Talk with the Muebles Cuevas team about the inspiration and process of furniture design, including presentation of the piece in collaboration with M&L.
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
Since 2007, Educación para Compartir (EpC) has impacted over 1.8 million people in 13 countries, fostering better global citizenship from childhood through play. This Mexican organization, with its methodology focused on values, socio-emotional skills, and sustainability, prepares individuals of all ages to be agents of change.
Discover in this conference how EpC encourages the development of attitudes and knowledge for a better future from a young age, presented by Misael García Sámano, who has led educational projects with the Ministry of Public Education, LEGO Foundation, BBVA Bancomer, and the New York Historical Society Museum.
Speaker: Misael García
Location: CECUT – Foro Luna
Olga Margarita Dávila, a multifaceted artist who operates as a curator, manager, educator, and writer, discusses flexible thoughts on memory and its passage through artistic visuals in and from Tijuana in her talk. With a background in Architecture, Art History, Education, and Curatorship, she has conducted over 300 international exhibitions. Her notable projects include works in Hong Kong, Germany, and the SHAPED IN MEXICO series in London, among others, as well as significant collaborations in Tijuana: “Benjamín Serrano: Transcendence and Vanguard from” and “OBRA NEGRA – An Approach to Constructing Tijuana’s Visual Culture,” both at the Tijuana Cultural Center, with the latter co-curated with Carlos Ashida. She is currently the Chief Curator at LAGOS in Mexico City and Berlin, also contributing to art residency projects.
Speaker: OlgaMargarita Dávila
Location: CECUT – Sala de video
This panel presented by Empírica highlights the fusion of creativity, technology, and design in modern storytelling, featuring VFX experts Jorge R. Gutiérrez, Sandra Equihua, and Alejandro Miranda. Gutiérrez and Equihua, known for “El Tigre” and “Maya and the Three,” along with Miranda from Vértigo VFX with contributions to “Game of Thrones” and “Stranger Things,” will discuss how design and visual effects push the boundaries of storytelling.
Location: CECUT – Sala Carlos Monsivais
Speakers
Come and draw with the personalized instruction of Ismael Alejandro Moreno Ozuna (IAMO), Caricaturist and Character Designer, and learn drawing skills focused on cartoon characters. This workshop is recommended for artists of all levels who are interested in illustration and animation projects.
Speaker: Ismael Alejandro Moreno
Location: Observatorio
Kid-friendly Event
Join Miles & Louie for ‘Welcome Home,’ a series of events, talks, and workshops for TJDW. Start Saturday off with #CoffeeLoverTakeover featuring coffee w/Alberto Martinez.
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
After a thirty-year career as a design educator and graphic designer, San Diego State University Professor Emerita Susan Merritt went back to school and earned an MA in Design Research, Writing and Criticism from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Now, as researcher, writer, and curator she focuses on visual communication, material culture, and design history. Merritt’s current research delves into the history of the AIGA Symbol Signs project, a system of transportation symbols developed in 1974 for the US Department of Transportation by the American Institute of Graphic Arts, as it was called back then. Merritt was first exposed to icon-based wayfinding systems when she lived in Europe as a postgraduate student at the Basel School of Design. She was fascinated by this first-of-its-kind effort in the United States and has spent the last several years researching its beginnings, development by an AIGA committee of five led by Tom Geismar, and final designs by Roger Cook and Don Shanosky.
Speaker: Susan Merritt
Location: CECUT – Sala Federico Campbell
Edgar Morejón, renowned for teaching advanced figure drawing and Experimental Design, tailors his classes to current technologies to meet job market demands. He constantly seeks new processes and techniques, including the use of bioplastics, to innovate in silhouettes and textures. Proud of his students, he celebrates their achievements: awards in a! design, features in Harper’s Bazaar, exhibitions at the MARCO Museum, and notable participation in international competitions, such as a finalist in the Dorothy Waxman contest in 2019.
Speaker: Edgar Morejón
Location: CECUT – Foro Luna
Food designer, art director and teacher, she directs the Food Design Lab and the Study Abroad program at Elisava, School of Design and Engineering in Barcelona, Spain. Co-founder of FORK, the Food Design Organization, which provides partnerships between Food Design projects and institutions. PhD in Food Design from the University of Lisbon. Graduated in Design at Elisava and in Fine Arts at UB. Master in Branding at Parsons School of Design, NY. Master in Pedagogy at UPC and Master in Design and Communication at Elisava. Worked in NY with Milton Glaser and, in Barcelona, founded @tactica.barcelona to work on transdisciplinary, social and sustainable design projects focused on food.
Location: CECUT – Sala Carlos Monsivais
Passionate about video games, Hugo Abel Castro has led the drive for the industry in Mexico since 2008, founding Gamacon and the BC Media Lab accelerator. He has worked in cultural and educational promotion for video games, participated in San Diego Comic-Con, and collaborated with ProMéxico in Los Angeles, focusing on the software, video games, animation, and creative media industry. Recently, he was appointed as the North American leader of the IGDA’s SIG Incubator, which brings together 80 incubators and accelerators from 50 different countries
Location: CECUT – Sala de video
Multidisciplinary workshop for the creation of a piece of jewelry with a ceramic charm. Taught by: Ada de Disbau (jewelry) and Mongiselle (ceramics).
Cost $950 mx
Capacity: 8 people.
Direct registration at Monstera.
Located at the Monstera Showroom.
Monstera is a space that promotes design and handmade culture through its management and exhibition.
BOSQUE (FOREST), created by Fernanda Uribe, goes beyond a mere enchanted garden installation; it’s an immersive design experience where sculpture and functional design blend in perfect harmony. Featuring handmade miniature ceramic sculptures, this immersive installation draws inspiration from the rich biodiversity of forests and jungles. Here, imaginary plants, flowers, fungi, and insects come to life through the sculptures, stimulating all senses.
Location: Observatorio
3D Artist for Video Games, Film, and Advertising. Throughout their career, they have collaborated as a 3D Artist for AAA video games. For Ubisoft, they notably served as an Environment, Props & Leveling Artist on maps for the title Roller Champions.
Location: CECUT – Foro Luna
Jorge Gracia is a Mexican Architect who graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana Noroeste in 1997, he is the founder and principal of graciastudio (est. 2004).
Recipient of multiple awards and recognitions, both at the national and international level, within the practice of architecture, including: ’30 promesas 2009’ Grupo Expansion, ‘Design Vanguard 2012’ Architectural Record, ‘Emerging Voices 2013’ Architectural League of New York, ‘Obra del Año 2013’ ArchDaily, ‘Best of the Best’ Red Dot Awards 2014 and ’10 Despachos generadores de cambio 2016’ Grupo Expansion Obras.
His international conferences include ‘Virginia Tech’ in Blacksburg Virginia, ‘Australian Institute of Architects’ (2013), ‘Architectural Record Innovation Conference’ (2014) in Los Angeles California and ‘Cooper Union’ (2013) in New York. Founder of Escuela Libre de Arquitectura (2014), school of Architecture in downtown Tijuana, where he is currently the Director.
Location: CECUT – Sala Federico Campbell
Independent graphic designer and producer with experience in projects for brands like Levi’s and Adidas. Notably part of the Nortec collective, he was Grammy-nominated for his design work with Nortec Collective and Bostich+Fussible. Editor of “El Paso del Nortec-This is Tijuana” and awarded for his art direction with HIP entertainment group. As a creative director, he contributed to new seasons of Plaza Sésamo for Latin America and worked on projects for Christina Aguilera and Bette Midler with Veneno Inc and Discovery Communications. His work has been exhibited worldwide and featured in publications like Flaunt Magazine and Latin American Graphic Designers by TASCHEN. Recently, he released “TIJUANA COVERS: A Graphic Journey Through Tijuana Music via Its Covers,” adding to his distinguished career.
Location: CECUT – Sala Carlos Monsivais
Landscapes of Baja highlights the influence of regional landscapes in its collection through high-temperature handmade ceramics, a technique perfected in Mexico, exploring textures, shapes and colors that evoke the essence of the region, highlighting the intertwining of culture and the natural environment through art.
Makario stands out as a space with multiple uses, highlighting its Showroom that offers a unique experience in handcrafted utilitarian design focused on gastronomy.
Located at Makario Stoneware. Open 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM May 2 – 4.
We bring together 20 designers from various disciplines, in which we investigate and invite you to reflect on the purpose of design, our region and the new paths of design to be explored. Curated by Matiz Estudio.
Accompanied by our friends from Carmelita Molino y Cocina: Chef José Figueroa will prepare regional products using Mexico’s native corn, from where his passion for home cooking and his eagerness to highlight the best of Baja California’s cuisine originates. Mezcal Yemanja mezcals and wild agaves from the Oaxaca region, a bridge between mezcal producing communities and people who love good distillates. Present in our exhibition during Tijuana Design Week 2024 to share their experience.
Matiz Estudio is a multifaceted design space where causalities, teachings and observations of materiality are shared.
Each event reflects our commitment to innovation and dialogue in design.
Located at Matiz Estudio
This dynamic will consist of instant portraits using the same hand-painted background by Jeovanna Perez. Each registration will have a maximum duration of 15 minutes. To participate it is necessary to reserve your place in advance. The registration fee is $500 MN or $30 USD (cash only).
Matiz Estudio is a multifaceted design space where causalities, teachings and observations of materiality are shared.
Each event reflects our commitment to innovation and dialogue in design.
Located at Matiz Estudio.
Currently, rescue beacon prototypes are designed and constructed by border patrol agents. This workshop, organized by Redesigning Border Rescue Beacons (RBRB), aims to redesign a border rescue beacon prototype through idea generation and data, to save lives more effectively and deploy them in remote areas of the border region surrounding San Diego.
Speakers: Redesigning Border Rescue Beacons (RBRB)
Location: Casa de la Cultura
Don has retired five times since 1993, first from founding the Cognitive Science Department at UC San Diego, then working at Apple as a UX Architect, and later establishing UC San Diego’s Design Lab in 2020. Currently, he serves on the board of NN/g and The Don Norman Design Award and Summit charity. The essence of the Don Norman Design Award (DNDA) is rooted in the principles from Don Norman’s book, “Design for a Better World: Meaningful, Sustainable, Humanity Centered,” published by MIT Press in 2023, which underpins our organization’s philosophy. He is only 88 years old, so he looks forward to many more activities.
Location: CECUT – Sala Federico Campbell
Carmen Cuenca and Andrea Torreblanca, Executive Director and Director of Curatorial Projects respectively, will present how the Insiteart.org archive, launched to the public in 2019, serves as a vital tool for research and art preservation. The talk will highlight the archive’s use in reexamining over 250 artistic projects through new video productions and interviews, demonstrating its role in keeping art history alive and fostering cultural dialogue.
Location: Escuela Libre de Arquitectura
Lorena Santana is a certified organizational coach and consultant, lecturer, and researcher at undergraduate and graduate levels with over 25 years of experience. Her area of expertise lies in labor studies, organizational development, leadership, business model generation, and competency development for the Industry 4.0.
Speaker: Lorena Santana
Location: CECUT – Foro Luna
Sheba Najmi, Founder and Executive Director of Tech for Change, illustrates how global populism and nationalism reveal widespread disillusionment with governments, marked by a profound trust gap. Despite the challenges faced by the underprivileged with governmental services, Sheba’s work through Code for Pakistan and various civic technology initiatives shows a beacon of hope. Through her leadership, innovative solutions are bridging connections between citizens and governments, leveraging skills for significant social impact, and developing services tailored to community needs. Her efforts exemplify how design and technology can bridge the divide, offering practical lessons for making a difference in the public sector.
Speaker: Sheba Najmi
Location: CECUT – Sala de video
An online platform to showcase Tijuana’s diverse mural art scene. The page will include an interactive map pinpointing significant murals, offering details about each artwork and the respective artist. This project aims to enhance appreciation for Tijuana’s mural art among U.S. tourists and local residents.
Speaker: David Maung
Location: CECUT – Sala de video
Yee Foo Lai (Vincent) is a Singaporean Architectural/Industrial Designer based in New York, co-founder of Temporary Office, a multi-disciplinary design collaborative, known for ‘Touch the Valley’, a project that won the Lexus Design Award 2023. Their work in architecture includes ‘common-sky’, showcased at the Swiss Architecture Museum symposium. Lai is currently a Project Designer at Trahan Architects and holds a Master of Architecture from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts from NUS Singapore, where he was awarded the AKZO Nobel Gold Medal. He has worked at international firms like Adjaye Associates and SOM.
Speaker: Yee Foo Lai
Location: CECUT – Sala de video
“Transborder Type” emerges as a symbol of cross-border collaborative design, a creation for the World Design Capital Tijuana San Diego 2024. Designed by Diego Negrete (Tijuana) and Sean Kelley (San Diego), this typeface family represents not just a geographical union but also a fusion of culture, creativity, and innovation, reinforcing the message that design knows no borders. Presented by the Tijuana Design Week festival and the Typography Mexico (TMX) platform, it highlights its free accessibility under SIL OFL and Creative Commons licenses.
Location: CECUT – Sala Federico Campbell
Speakers: Diego Negrete and Sean Kelley
This panel invites experts to share how they visually conceptualize their projects, emphasizing production design as a key element of audiovisual narrative. It will focus on how design helps to tell stories, create worlds, and evoke emotions, analyzing the treatment of emotional, psychological, sociological, and historical themes from the script to achieve a unified aesthetic and visual coherence in cinematic works.
Panelists:
Location: CECUT – Sala Carlos Monsivais
Acelerart is a permanent program that seeks to boost the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) in Tijuana, promoted by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and CETYS University.
Location: CECUT – Foro Luna
As a collective comprised of PAAT, Perro y Arena, Hola Vicu, and Clever Studio, we first aim to migrate our ideas across the boundaries of other creative minds (cross-border). In the past, before legal borders existed, inhabitants shared knowledge, products, and emotions, wandering along the coast. We want to plant this idea from within so that its fruits may sprout in the near future, allowing us to navigate creative borders and find communal solutions.
Location: Restaurante Bhumi
Lizzie Zelter, born in 1996 in New York and currently based in San Diego, is an artist who runs Two Rooms, a gallery and project space. Her work, which includes paintings and installations, investigates everyday architecture and interior spaces through unusual perspectives, reflection, and fragmentation. Zelter holds a Master’s in Visual Arts from Columbia University (2022) and a Bachelor’s in Global Cultural Studies from Duke University (2018). She has exhibited widely in the United States and internationally, with her first solo exhibition in Tijuana, Mexico.
Location: Sala de Espera
Exploring Charles Glaubitz’s process from idea to visual, visual to painting, and painting to graphic narrative. Stories help us interpret reality, while symbols and metaphors reveal the unseen. By framing our interests in comic strips, we can create narratives that uncover the internal to the visible, extending beyond mere words and images.
Speaker: Charles Glaubitz
Location: CECUT – Sala Federico Campbell
Join an inspiring panel where the transformative power of lighting design in audiovisual storytelling will be explored. This discussion will shed light on how carefully designed lighting is not just a technical requirement but a profound narrative force that shapes emotions, defines characters, and builds immersive worlds. Discover the art and science behind lighting design and how it becomes a pivotal element in bringing stories to life on screen.
Panelists
Todos Somos Diseño is a multidisciplinary platform for the Spanish-speaking creative industry, primarily focused on the promotion of new creative minds. Through its offerings, it has positioned itself as a promoter and creator of content that finds an outlet in its own annual festival and podcast format.
Location: CECUT – Sala de video
Luis Fernando Sánchez Reyna, known in the art scene as happyxsnacks, is a Tijuana B.C. native whose creativity has blossomed into a unique artistic journey. He uses art as a lens to explore his identity, emotions, and life experiences. With an early background in video editing and content creation, the pandemic marked a turning point for Luis, pushing him towards a more introspective and expressive approach to art, exploring themes of transition, relationships, and meaning.
Location: Observatorio
Join the celebration at the “World Design Party” with the talented Tijuana artist Ceci Bastida! We are waiting for you in the legendary “La Estrella” ballroom for an unforgettable night of music and design. Let’s talk about design — let’s dance by design! Drinks available for purchase, many food options close by.
Location: La Estrella Ballroom
We inhabit the space of the Mexico Dance Conservatory through body, dance, and ceramics, aiming to activate the senses through observation. An artistic collaboration between Tijuana Dance Company, Manuella Dalle, and Dimitri Chamblas.
Presenters: Tijuana Dance Company, Manuella Dalle, Dimitri Chamblas
Location: Conservatorio de Danza México
Register: https://whova.com/portal/registration/world1_202407/
Download the event app: https://whova.com/portal/world1_202407/?source=download_page
Limited Shuttle service from San Diego to CECUT (Tijuana, MX) is available on Sunday (5/5). Only 45 spots per day are available, pick up time at 8 AM in SD and return to SD at 9 PM. Must have a valid passport. Get tickets here.
Get tickets for the shuttle service: https://whova.com/portal/registration/world1_202407/
Shuttle Times from the Tijuana side of the border to CECUT: 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM
Shuttle Times from CECUT to TJ border: 10:00AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM
The pick-up point will be at across the Tijuana Border at ABC Tijuana Line Terminal and Drop-off at CECUT.
More details are available once the purchase is made. Check out our FAQ for further questions.
Christopher Hawthorne is a renowned architecture critic, educator, and filmmaker. From 2018 to 2022, he served as the first Chief Design Officer of the City of Los Angeles, overseeing the design of major construction and infrastructure projects, and launching initiatives in housing, urban planning, civic memory, and public art. As the architecture critic for the Los Angeles Times from 2004 to 2018, his work has also been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic, among others. Co-author of “The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture,” Hawthorne has taught at prestigious institutions and collaborated with KCET-TV, earning two Emmys for his documentaries on architecture and urbanism in Los Angeles.
Location: CECUT – Sala Federico Campbell
English session, Spanish translation available
Alejandro Magallanes, from Mexico City and a graduate of the National School of Plastic Arts, specializes in the creative fusion of letters and images, for both commissions and pleasure. The author of ten children’s books, two poetry volumes, and artist’s books, his work ranges from book and poster design to animations and collages, with international recognition and monographs published in China, Spain, and Germany. A member of the International Graphic Alliance since 2004, his work challenges the notion that a picture is worth a thousand words, exploring the deep connection between images and emotions.
Location: CECUT – Sala Federico Campbell
Spanish session, no translation
BOSQUE (FOREST), created by Fernanda Uribe, goes beyond a mere enchanted garden installation; it’s an immersive design experience where sculpture and functional design blend in perfect harmony. Featuring handmade miniature ceramic sculptures, this immersive installation draws inspiration from the rich biodiversity of forests and jungles. Here, imaginary plants, flowers, fungi, and insects come to life through the sculptures, stimulating all senses.
Location: Observatorio
“Design Technology and Digital Production, An Architecture Anthology” is a publication from Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. This work is a detailed analysis of theoretical and technological concerns in architecture over the last decade, compiling projects and essays that mark the transition from the first to the second digital turn. The volume features contributions from distinguished architects, academics, and critics, providing a rigorous and updated view of the discipline, especially through the lens of the recent post-digital perspective.
Denise Luna Acevedo, and Alejandro Santander Amaya will engage in dialogue about this book, addressing topics such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and the importance of various pedagogies in architecture. With their chapter “Architecture as Worldmaking”, Denise and Alejandro contribute to the work, exploring the ways in which new architectures will shape our future.
Speakers:
Location: CECUT – Sala de video
Spanish session, no translation
Carlos Sánchez, a distinguished Mexican automobile designer with roots in Mexico City and Tijuana, has built his career in Europe, notably in Turin, Italy. Educated at the Art Center College of Design and starting at Volkswagen Mexico, he excelled in automotive design both in Germany and Mexico. In Turin, he worked at the IDEA Design Institute and as assistant Chief Designer at Italdesign-Giugiaro, contributing to significant projects like the Lamborghini Gallardo. He is currently the Design Project Manager at Pininfarina SpA, the studio behind Ferrari. A motorsport enthusiast, he has been involved in major sporting events and contributed to the SENNA movie and the publication of an award-winning book.
Location: CECUT – Sala Carlos Monsivais
Spanish session, English translation available
Join Miles & Louie for ‘Welcome Home,’ a series of events, talks, and workshops for TJDW. Start Sunday off with #CoffeeLoverTakeover featuring coffee w/Danie Brewing.
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
Latin America is ground zero for planetary emergencies. The urgency to confront, design, and intervene in a world of asymmetrical crisis has exalted existing practices to engage in the frontlines of change. The design for better worlds and a healed planet begins and ends in Latin America.
Three invited panelists will engage in a discussion to invoke and provoke thinking about technologies from Latin American worlds.
Panelists
Moderated by Alejandro Santander
Location: CECUT – Sala de video
Spanish session, no translation
Giacomo Castagnola, founder of Germen Estudio and expert in creating museographic experiences, will share his insights. With a background from MIT and hailing from Lima, Castagnola has ranged from Tijuana/San Diego to Mexico City, pushing the boundaries of traditional museography. His approach transforms museum visits into dynamic and memorable experiences through the innovative use of materials and construction systems that enhance the interaction between the artwork, the viewer, and the museum space. Germen Estudio specializes in art exhibitions, anthropology, and community narratives, advocating for active and versatile museography.
Location: CECUT – Sala Federico Campbell
Spanish session, English translation available
Join the discussion panel hosted by Design City, where the concept of the “Citizen Designer” will be explored. This concept views the city’s residents as experts in urban design.
CECUT – Foro Luna
Spanish session, no translation
In 1974, amid environmental and urban challenges, Donald Appleyard and Kevin Lynch introduced “Temporary Paradise?”—a visionary plan for the San Diego-Tijuana region, warning of its potential fleeting beauty without careful management. Over 50 years, this plan has guided sustainable, livable, and equitable growth. As we mark its 50th anniversary, coinciding with the San Diego-Tijuana designation as the 2024 World Design Capital, Dr. Bruce Appleyard, Donald’s son, reflects on its lasting impact and its role in current cross-border urban planning initiatives.
Speaker: Bruce Appleyard
Location: CECUT – Foro Luna
English session, no translation
Jorge Alderete, also known as Dr. Alderete, is a prominent Argentine graphic artist, illustrator, and designer. He has lived in Mexico since 1998, where he co-founded the Vértigo Gallery. He also plays the theremin and performs live drawing with Sonido Gallo Negro. A member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale since 2015, his work has been featured in Taschen publications such as “Illustration Now!” and “Latin American Graphic Design”. He was supported by Mexico’s National System of Creators (FONCA) from 2018 to 2021.
Location: CECUT – Sala Carlos Monsivais
Spanish session, English translation available
Imagine a world where citizens have a real and direct voice in the decisions shaping their lives. What would your community look like if local residents had the final say on park designs, street colors, or the quality of education? Plugin Democracy represents a bold experiment in open-source governance. This platform provides communities with the tools to break free from the constraints of traditional representative systems, embracing the power of direct and participatory democracy. The purpose of Plugin Democracy is to offer these tools to explore that possible world.
Speaker: Joseph Gregory Martínez
Location: CECUT – Foro Luna
Spanish session, no translation
Join Music Director Pavlo Getman and students of the Tijuana Youth Symphony along with guest musicians from the San Diego Youth Orchestra in performances of classical music and popular songs. They will also perform the work co-commissioned for the World Design Capital 2024 “Unlimited” by composer Andrés Martín.
Location: CECUT – Sala Federico Campbell
Kid Friendly event
Closing BBQ with burgers by Ghost Burgers and ice cream by Attaboy.
Exclusive menu and flavors for the event.
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
This discussion panel serves as an open window to the projects and aspirations of four young entrepreneurs. It’s an invitation to reflect on the crucial role of design in shaping a more sustainable, inclusive, and creative future. Through their personal stories, encounters with challenges, and visions for the future, we’ll discover how design is sculpting the world around us.
Speakers:
Location: CECUT – Sala de video
Spanish session, no translation
As a collective comprised of PAAT, Perro y Arena, Hola Vicu, and Clever Studio, we first aim to migrate our ideas across the boundaries of other creative minds (cross-border). In the past, before legal borders existed, inhabitants shared knowledge, products, and emotions, wandering along the coast. We want to plant this idea from within so that its fruits may sprout in the near future, allowing us to navigate creative borders and find communal solutions.
Self guided installation located inside Restaurante Bhumi
This series of audiovisual screenings features projects distinguished by their production design, cinematography, lighting, and visual effects, all crucial elements in storytelling. The showcase includes short films, music videos, commercials, and more, aiming to display the audiovisual richness of Tijuana and San Diego.
Ceramics workshop given by Cono.06 in collaboration with Furansu and M&L. Special snacks from Algo Groovy during the event. Limited capacity: 20 people. Cost: $1,200 MN
They’ll be waiting for you at their home, Maison Louie.
Miles & Louie, a brand from Tijuana that is committed to slow fashion: well-made shoes and accessories, like those of yesteryear.
Disclaimer: Registration is required to attend any of the World Design Festival Powered by TJDW events. Please be aware that events and times are subject to change, we encourage you to check back often and download the Whova event app to be up to date!
Make the most out of your World Design Festival experience. Download the World Design Festival Powered by TJDW event app and get access to exclusive features.
Attendees will be responsible for their own transportation for all 5 days of the event.
However, in partnership with MexiCoach, there will be two shuttle options:
Limited Shuttle service from San Diego to CECUT (Tijuana, MX) is available Friday (5/3), Saturday (5/4), and Sunday (5/5). Only 45 spots per day are available, pick up time at 9 AM in SD and return to SD at 6 PM. Must have a valid passport.
Shuttle Service on the Tijuana side of the border to CECUT. This is a great option for attendees looking to park or take the trolley by the border and cross on foot. Shuttles will run every 2 hours starting at 8:30 AM til 5 PM.
To guarantee your spot on the shuttle, please purchase your ticket beforehand here.
The pick-up point will be across the Tijuana Border at the Baja California Railroad Company Parking Lot (click here to learn how to walk there from Ped East) and Drop-off at CECUT.
We’re celebrating the diverse region of Tijuana San Diego, tickets to the World Design Festival Powered by TJDW for free thanks to our wonderful organizers and partners. With a ticket you get access to world-class designers from Mexico, the US, and Internationally. Each ticket will get you access to sessions for the certain day(s) you’ve registered, however, events are on a first-come first-served basis. We advise you to arrive early to guarantee a spot.
Please refer to our “How to Get to World Design Week Powered by TJDW” page with full details on different transportation options, hotel recommendations, and travel tips.
It is highly preffered that you download the Whova app. Through the app you will get World Design Festival Powered TJDW announcements, have the ability to create your own agenda, chat online with speakers and other attendees and see events happenings at World Design Festival. You also have the option to view the schedule on Whovas desktop option.
