Organised by Fundación Diseño Madrid, the BID is one of the most reckoned events in Ibero-American design.
The innovative mathematical learning system developed by Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD) professors Francisco Zamorano and Catalina Cortés was awarded in the Digital Design category at the Ibero-American Design Biennial (BID) 2024. This event, considered the most important in Ibero-American design, is organized by Fundación Diseño Madrid and is held every two years at the Matadero Madrid Design Center.
The BID serves as a platform that not only awards the prestigious BID Seal, symbolizing quality and excellence, but also highlights projects that tackle critical challenges and promote sustainability. In this edition, two projects from UDD were selected as finalists and showcased in Madrid in October, with TAMI (Tangible Mathematics Interface) winning the award.
TAMI is an innovative technological system that transforms mathematics learning by turning abstract concepts into tangible experiences. Using physical objects, or “tokens,” students can manipulate mathematical visualizations on touch screens, fostering a collaborative understanding of the subject. This approach challenges traditional teaching methods and promotes an inclusive and engaging learning environment, integrating multiple senses to make mathematics more accessible.
“TAMI’s proposal seeks to transform mathematics education into a meaningful, active, and enriching experience, redefining the role of technological tools in the learning process,” explained Francisco Zamorano.
In addition to the winning project, two UDD Design alumni were finalists for BID 2024 with the following projects:
Mary Buenaventura founded Refashion, the first sustainable fashion startup in Latin America, supported by Start-Up Chile, CORFO, and UDD Ventures. Refashion rejects fast fashion, a significant challenge for the industry due to its environmental and social impact. Instead, Refashion promotes second-hand fashion, helping its community to buy less and better, investing in more durable and higher quality items. The platform allows users to sell their items quickly and efficiently, reaching thousands of buyers across Chile.
In collaboration with Mengqiao Liu, Pilar Valdivia presents SurFace, an interactive artwork that explores themes of identity, data mining, surveillance, and AI ethics. Using a facial recognition suite that includes Google and Meta models, the piece analyses the viewer’s face and predicts their gender, ethnicity, age, and emotional state. As viewers move, tracking and data mining continue to invite reflection on how labels and assumptions influence our perceptions and behaviours. SurFace was created using DeepFace, TouchDesigner, and Ableton Live 12.
