Phone: +31 648774594
nl / col

SIMÓN BALLEN BOTERO

Through my work, I research and study the intangible relations between objects, people and local traditions. Although trained as a designer, my practice is built in close relation to the fields of anthropology and material culture. The word ‘anthropos’ means a human being, and this is exactly my design approach: putting communities, collaborations and people in the centre of my process, and in the stories that I gather/share/tell through my work.

I am interested in the narrative agency of things. To understand objects not merely as physical manifestations but as tools to preserve and celebrate diversity, the people and stories behind the making of things. Conceptually, I see design as a carrier of cultural knowledge and as a narrative medium that can make use of the local realities, to create objects for discourse and empowerment.

I have lived and studied in Colombia, Italy, Finland, Iceland, and the Netherlands where I graduated from the Man and Wellbeing department at the Design Academy Eindhoven with research about Gold in regards to the Colombian heritage, history and identity. Besides I have worked closely with different artisans, communities and indigenous cultures in Europe, Greenland and Latin America.

Design Exhibitions

Conversation between Craftsmen and Designers - Hors Pistes

MUDAC. Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts. 2019

10.07.2019 -12.01.2020 / Lausanne, Switzerland

HOW & WOW, Crafts Council Netherlands & Zuidezee Museum

Dutch Design Week, 2019

19.10.2019 - 27.10.2019 / Eindhoven, Netherlands

“Esto No Es Copia”, Bodega Central

Medellin Design Week. 2019

28.08.2019 - 01.09.2019 / Medellin, Colombia

Design Parade Hyeres.

Villa Noailles, 2019 **Winner Eyes on Talent Award

27.06.2019 - 30.06.2019. / Hyeres, France

'Hope' Exhibition

Curated by Ilse Crawford and Oscar Peña at Kazerne Eindhoven

April - August 2019 / Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Future Classics at the FrozenFountain

February - June 2019 / Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Rencontres au Greenland - Hors Pistes Project

CID Grand-Hornu. 2019

03.02.2019 - 19.05.2019 / Boussu, Belgium

Valeur(s) Exhibition at Merci - Paris

18.01.2019 - 06.02.2019 / Paris, France

Graduation Show G18. Design Academy Eindhoven

Dutch Design Week. 2018

October 2018 / Eindhoven, Netherlands

Hors Pistes Exhibition. Lokal Museum Nuuk.

Results from design residency in Greenland . 2017

14.08.2017 to 10.09.2017 / Nuuk, Greenland

DENF Exhibition . “Children of the Sun”

Dutch Design Week. 2017

October 2017 / Eindhoven, Netherlands

Film programming at TouchBase Exhibition DAE.

Milan Design Week. 2016

April 2016 / Milan, Italy

“Material Freedom” Beyond Books. Lapland University.

Arctic Design Week. 2015

February 2015 / Rovaniemi, Finland

“Material Freedom” Beyond Books. Reading visual languages.

COOL satellite Program. 2014

May - August 2014 / Fellbach, Germany

Experience:

Designer at Studio Formafantasma
Amsterdam, Netherlands / 2019 - Present

Freelancer at Perceptual

Medellin, Colombia / 2018 - Present

Design Residency Hors Pistes Project - Working with local craftspeople
Nuuk, Greenland / Summer 2017

Internship at Studio Formafantasma
Amsterdam, Netherlands / March - July 2017

Assisting Teresa van Dongen - DDW Exhibitions

Eindhoven, Netherlands / October 2014 & 2015

Product Development Intern at Perceptual Studio

Medellin, Colombia / July - August 2014

Teaching Assistant and Student tutor at EAFIT University

Medellin, Colombia / 2011 - 2013

Education:

Design Academy Eindhoven / Man & Well Being

Eindhoven, Netherlands / 2014 - Present

Icelandic Academy of Arts / Exchange Program at Product Design department
Reykjavik, Iceland / Autumn 2016

University of Lapland / Exchange Program at Faculty of Industrial Design

Rovaniemi, Finland / 2013 - 2014

IED - Istituto Europeo di Design / Summer course in Italian Product Design

Milan, Italy / Summer 2012

EAFIT University / Product Design Engineering

Medellin, Colombia / 2010 - 2013

Montessori High School

Medellin, Colombia / 2009

- For a more detailed CV don't hesitate to contact me