Añú

Overview

Añú emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic as a speculative  design response to the fragility of artisan economies in times of global  crisis. Initially conceived as a Design Futures project, it evolved  into a tactical application: a co-designed home decor brand that  partners with Mexican artisans to integrate traditional textiles into  contemporary urban living.

Context

The pandemic revealed deep  inequities in access to digital infrastructure, especially for artisans working outside the formal economy. While digital marketplaces expanded, many artisans lacked the resources to compete—professional photography, SEO/SEM knowledge, and product logistics remained largely inaccessible. Añú was created to respond to this gap, blending co-design methodologies with design foresight to envision more inclusive economic models.

Approach

Through Design Futures and Design Thinking  methodologies, the project identified key signals of change, systemic  barriers, and opportunity spaces for craft within the digital era. Añú  positions tradition not as fixed, but as a dynamic force—capable of  evolving through collaboration, adaptation, and storytelling. Each  product is co-designed with artisans, resisting mass reproduction while  celebrating the singularity of handcrafted work.

Outcome

Añú  is more than a brand—by translating artisan practices into forms that resonate with urban aesthetics, the project aims to expand visibility and value for handmade work. As co-founder, Majovilla envisions Añú as a living system—one that uses design methodologies to activate new markets, and ensure cultural continuity in uncertain futures.