A black water bottle. A collection of brightly coloured plastic bracelets. A pair of shoes with a carpeted sole. Individually, these objects might present a confusing story, but together, they weave a powerful narrative about the realities of the migrant experience.

The objects above, along with several others, were curated as part of Arqueología en Tránsito, a mobile exhibition led by Tecnológico de Monterrey and presented in collaboration with World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 and Tijuana Design Week. Inspired by the work of anthropologist Jason De León, who is well-known for documenting migration between Mexico and the United States, the exhibition builds upon previous research conducted by Tecnológico de Monterrey students last year exploring migrant emotions.

“Tecnológico de Monterrey was quite interested in exploring what WDC San Diego Tijuana was doing, and so we started to think about how it would make sense to participate,” shared José Rodrigo de la O Campos, Professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, who co-curated the exhibition alongside Pier Paolo Peruccio, former WDO Board Member who is currently a visiting professor at the university.

“We did a series of workshops and started to build a framework, so that our network of design researchers from Tec de Monterrey could work to identify objects in their own regions. We had a criteria. What is the archaeological value? What is the emotional value? What is the functional value? And if these objects are agents of change or not.”

Presented in collaboration with World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 and Tijuana Design Week, the exhibition is led by Tecnológico de Monterrey. Photo credit: Tecnológico de Monterrey

Focusing on functional design, emotional significance and impact on both users and environment, José, Pier and their collaborators were able to curate a diverse grouping of artifacts that represent Mexico’s diverse regions, from Chiapas to Chihuahua. As noted by José, “the exhibition uses the design platform to invite not only people from Tijuana and San Diego, but others to perhaps change the point of view on what design can do. Each object narrates a unique human experience and the impact of design on our lives.”

One of the more recognized inclusions is common water bottles made from black plastic.  Amidst increasing physical barriers at borders, migrants have begun to carry black bottles, which unlike their clear or white plastic counterparts, do not reflect light and may help individuals evade border patrol.

Oftentimes, migrants will modify the soles of their shoes with additional layers of soft material to mask the traces of the passage through the desert environment. Photo credit: WDO
Oftentimes, migrants will modify the soles of their shoes with additional layers of soft material to mask the traces of the passage through the desert environment. Photo credit: WDO

Other objects include camouflage footwear. Oftentimes, migrants will modify the soles of their shoes with additional layers of soft material to mask the traces of their passage through the desert environment. The exhibition also featured a collection of brightly coloured “protection” bracelets, which when purchased and worn, allow migrants to access areas along their journey that might be controlled by smugglers or clandestine networks.

Brightly-coloured “protection” bracelets that allow migrants to access restricted areas along their journey. Photo credit: WDO

Last month, the exhibition concluded a second installation (its first in the United States) as part of the World Design Experience in San Diego. And while transporting an exhibition across the border is not without its challenges, the curators recognize the importance of telling these stories. “Definitely one thing that makes us really happy is that when you do this type of research, sometimes you’re a little bit lost in the research and then when somebody comes over and expresses how this meant for them, that’s pretty amazing.”

This recognition has indeed been the driving force of this project from the beginning: to give a voice to the voiceless. “What I hope that people could get from this exhibition is perhaps to understand another side of the story from the people who migrate. Their motivations, what they do and how difficult it is to cross a country and to get to another country in this sort of parallel world.”

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José Rodrigo de la O Campos

José Rodrigo de la O Campos is interested in the way design relates to society in Mexico from its aesthetic, social and economic aspects. He sees as alarming the little clarity surrounding what this discipline can achieve, therefore, in addition to practicing it he aims to spread its potential. As an academic at the School of Architecture, Art and Design of the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, de la O constantly contributes to the dissemination of knowledge and literacy in design. Through his academic programs, he has collaborated with The Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, the Home Smart division of Ikea, and other NGOs and institutions.

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Pier Paolo Peruccio

Pier Paolo Peruccio is Full Professor of Design at the Politecnico di Torino (Italy) and Visiting Professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico City (Mexico). He is Scientific Director of the WORLDESIGN magazine (Editoriale Domus), Founder and Director of the SYDERE (Systemic Design Research and Education) Center. Member of the Board of Directors of several organizations such as World Design Organization (2019-2023), the Italian Scientific Society of Design and the PLART Foundation and the Aurelio Peccei Foundation. He is author of books and scientific articles on design history, systems thinking and innovation in design education.

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