equally as colorful.
In approaching this challenge, Laposse focused on human centered and nature centered design. Fernando had found a material with which he could design meaningful products and restore dignity, prosperity, and community to Tonahuixtla. The process was lengthy and involved partnering with a world class seed bank to deliver to the village the seeds; but as Fernando often states, meaningful design is all about process.
Now, 11 years later, the village thrives again, growing corn and harvesting its colorful husks which Fernando now uses for marquetry and the creation of furniture. But this is not the end of the story. In the process – because good design is all about process and Fernando wanted more for the village than simply to be a source of materials for him – Fernando developed a means through which all participated: he created tools to make the
harvesting of the husks more efficient, he enrolled many of the village women in the design process, and he set about promoting his designs so to generate the demand required to
ensure the entire enterprise and community
would thrive. Still, Fernando keeps his production volume at a level that allows the farmers of Tonahuixtla time to grow the treasured corn using the milpa system. One could not develop a more organic and regenerative economic development model if they tried.
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Opposite Page:
Ravaged landscape near Tonahuixtla
Above:
Denise Costich from CIMMYT with
farmers Delfino, Noé, Nicolas and Eladio
Photographs Courtesy of:
Fernando Laposse