Design Pioneers, Bolivia

Funded by USAID

Design Director, Aid to Artisans BOLIVIA

Developing a local market for artisans through high-end retail. Bolivia

Several Bolivian small artisan businesses were unable to join Aid to Artisan’s activities in international trade fairs due to their limited export experience and production capacities in quantities, price points, raw materials provision, standardization and other challenges.

Therefore, Daniela and her team developed a concept of high-end exhibitions featuring high-quality products targeting international residents and tourists in the local market in order to enhanced buyer perception towards handmade products and help local artisans sell in better prices.

Product development was based on cultural research into ancient Andean cultures highlighting ethnic attributes, at the same time, appeal as fashionable women accessories and contemporary home décor.

Talented groups of artisans worked with Daniela and developed a wide range of products in Alpaca fiber, based in current market trends and cultural inspiration.

Daniela and designers Andrés Palacios and Gerard Minakawa worked in a wide range of materials: bamboo, wood, iron, horn, natural fibers and others. Creative exhibitions presented between 1,000 and 2,500 products in each retail fair.

The ATA project in Bolivia became a landmark due to its implementation of an innovative training methodology, the pioneering introduction of product design and development within the local craft sector and generating high sales. The success of the program’s sales and the quality of its exhibitions were without precedent. Some groups of artisans that were able to export participated in product development activities with another international designers and achieved export orders.

The project culminated in exceeding sales and project beneficiary indicators with more than $500,000 in sales benefiting 20 groups and 1,800 artisans).

A local market was opened for beautiful innovative contemporary products that could be purchased at prices guaranteeing a greatly improved income for producers.