Tec professor presents book on history of Mexican design

Ana Elena Mallet, a professor from Tec de Monterrey’s Mexico City Region, spoke about the career of artist Clara Porset to acknowledge the work of this architect and designer and make people aware of the history of Mexican design.

Clara Porset, a naturalized Mexican who was born in Cuba, spent the greater part of her career as a designer in Mexico, where she worked on projects to design furniture and interiors alongside renowned architects such as Luis Barragán and Mario Pani.

“I felt it very important to understand that there were people before our time who reflected on context, on objects, and their relevance to a particular moment, so that we can comprehend the evolution of our discipline of design,” said the expert.

The history of design in Mexico is a discipline under construction. According to Mallet, figures such as Clara help us understand the past so that we can attempt to map out the future of design.

What’s more, the professor said that because of this artist, different challenges will lie ahead for female designers in Mexico.

“They should encourage people to perceive them from an intellectual point of view as Clara Porset did, from a design and professional perspective, and they have to be attuned to their historical moment, to the context and status of women.

“We also need design with gender perspective, which I feel is very important,” said the professor.

Her goal: tracing the history of Mexican design

Mallet, who is also a designer and curator, has more books in the pipeline to continue towards her goal of tracing the history of design in Mexico.

“I’m completing a book on the exhibition we’re holding at the MUAC (University Museum of Contemporary Art) on ‘70 years of craft design in Mexico,’ which will come out this summer.

“Also, I’m working on another book about Clara Porset in relation to architects in Mexico,” she added.

We also need design with gender perspective.

For Ana Elena Mallet, these works contribute greatly to her teaching at the Tec, as they can be used to analyze the future of design.

“These works help us to reexamine ideas and thoughts, analyze certain periods and concepts, and see how past reflections can be applied to the present and whether those reflections still apply, which helps us to review those principles,” she concluded.

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