During our stay in Cuba on the occasion of the second group exhibition of Geo-graphical, we had the pleasure of visiting the store of Cuban Design Conga, Art & Design, recently opened to the public, accompanied by his manager, the Cuban designer Luis Ramirez, vice president of Caguayo Foundation and member of the industrial design studio Dekuba.
Conga, Art & Design is located on 3rd street, between 16 and 18, in the neighborhood of Miramar. The store offers original and exclusive Cuban design items, combining high aesthetic, functional and cultural values with custom manufacturing.
We offer this interview emerged from our exchanges with Luis Ramirez around the concept, plans, and motivations surrounding this interesting space, which allows marketing the best creations of Cuban designers.
How the idea of creating Conga was born?
It arises with the desire to create a necessary option for an existing market, still dissatisfied, that looks for a product with good design and optimal bill.
What needs seeks to satisfy?
Spiritual needs and usage needs. If both were complementary as we try, then we would also be happy.
What kind of public intends to capture?
A sensitive public who loves detail.
What values of the Cuban design make it marketable and profitable?
Its originality, creativity, the ability to achieve a good finish even on a craft production; the exclusivity and its feasibility.
Why the name Conga?
Conga is the name, but it comes with a surname: Art and Design. The conga is a Cuban dance rhythm we inherited from our African ancestors. The conga moves and unites disparate people the way that unites art and design, it complements them inextricably. The conga makes people happy, cheers up, and stimulates. It gives life, as do art and design.
What designers have joined the project?
Raul Valdes, Nelson Ponce, Edel Rodriguez, Monica Pestano, Alberto Lescay, Gisell Reigada, Marlen Castellanos, Milvia Perez, Francisco Armando, Nadia Medina, Lourdes Leon, Luis Ramirez, Jose Raul Ajuria, Renato Hernandez and Mayelín Guevara.
What are the criteria for choosing the products and the creators who exhibit at Conga?
The product functionality, its good bill, the innovative and aesthetically pleasing. If it is also educational, good! Creators can be designers, artists, architects and creative people with good job in the applied arts.
Through what channels you plan to communicate with the potential customers?
Through the mass media such as radio and television, the Internet, using social networks. Also with inexpensive and effective alternative means such as folding and loose, by word of mouth, which is achieved when the product does not disappoint.
What are the main challenges of a project of this type?
That the best creative designers, artists, architects ... - are interested in starting to produce their designs, albeit on a small scale, and that the marketing of their products receive double satisfaction when their designs deserve it, while that practice helps them or serve as a laboratory experiment of social and economic impact of its products on that market we want to reach.
Is Conga looking for new talents who want to showcase their products?
We are interested in new and old talents to join and start moving their design products. Age is not a limiting factor in this endeavor to summon the best.
Future projects?
If all goes well, to continue to create new spaces to show and market our products in the rest of the country, and if something went wrong, to correct the mistakes, learning from them, and redirect our compass, to achieve the best course. We are very optimistic and persistent.
(From Geo-graphic website)
