The Challenge

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Global brands in the retail sector often face a disconnect between high-impact marketing goals and the logistical realities of mass production. Designing for multinational clients like Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever required creating display systems that could withstand high-traffic environments while remaining cost-effective for production runs of thousands. The primary hurdle was navigating the limited industrial infrastructure in Latin America, which demanded a design approach that was sophisticated in output but highly resourceful in its execution.

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The Strategy

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• Frugal Industrialization: Implemented a "Design for Manufacturing" (DfM) mindset from day one, ensuring every part could be fabricated using local metalworks and carpentry without the need for prohibitively expensive imported tooling.

• Modular Scalability: Developed modular display systems that allowed for easy assembly and flat-packing. This reduced shipping volumes and storage costs, enabling efficient distribution from manufacturing hubs in Colombia and Costa Rica to various regional markets.

• Resourceful Materiality: Leveraged a frugal approach to material selection, optimizing the use of metal, wood, and acrylics to achieve a premium "brand-aligned" look while maintaining a low unit price at high volumes.

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The Process

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• Contextual Discovery: Conducted deep-dive sessions with brand managers to define the "retail battlefield", analyzing space constraints, load-bearing requirements for products, and graphic communication needs.

• Industrial Design & 3D Visualization: Utilized Autodesk 3D Max, Rhino, SolidWorks, V-Ray and KeyShot to create precision digital twins. This allowed for rapid iteration and feedback, ensuring the client could visualize the final product in its retail context before any material was cut.

• Factory-Floor Prototyping: Bridged the gap between the studio and the shop floor at INDEX, my family's metalworks and carpentry manufacturing company. I personally worked within the production line to develop the "Gold Unit" (the final approved prototype), creating custom jigs and molds to ensure consistency across mass production runs.

• Supply Chain Coordination: Managed the end-to-end lifecycle, from procurement and procurement of raw materials to quality control and final logistics, ensuring thousands of units met international brand standards.

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The Result

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• Mass-Scale Deployment: Successfully delivered and shipped thousands of units for brands including Unilever, Nestlé, and local leaders like Moco de Gorila, achieving high durability and retail presence.

• Industrial Efficiency: By designing within local constraints, we reduced manufacturing waste and optimized production times, proving that frugal design is a competitive advantage in emerging markets.

• Enduring Partnership: The success of these projects established a decade-long reputation for reliability and technical excellence, a legacy I continue to build upon today through Frugal Studio.

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Project Details

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• Role: Lead Industrial Designer & Production Coordinator

• Tools: Autodesk 3D Max, Rhino, SolidWorks, V-Ray and KeyShot

• Key Tech: Metal fabrication (CNC, welding), Carpentry, Acrylic forming, Mass-production assembly

• Related Services: Product Design & Development, 3D Product Rendering