Since returning from studies in Europe and establishing the studio Fango in his hometown of Medellín, Colombia, Francisco Jaramillo has turned to materials rooted in place.

For the Ibuju bench, an elegant composition of cylinders, Jaramillo used yaré, a natural fiber employed by Indigenous weavers across the Amazonas region of southern Colombia. Beyond offering a lighter alternative to hardwoods, whose extraction has contributed to mass deforestation, Jaramillo’s use of yaré in furniture design reflects his commitment to producing objects that are uniquely Colombian.

In collaborating with local artisans and imparting his knowledge of process and material through teaching, he is helping to shape a design culture that does not derive its methods solely from Western or international influences.

“A lot of designers here look at what’s going on in the world and bring it to Colombia,” Jaramillo says, “but for me it’s important to look at my surroundings and my local situation, my city and everything around me.”

Read the full Q&A with Francisco Jaramillo below.

Hometown: Medellín, Colombia

Describe what you make in 140 characters. Designing is a synonym of telling stories through objects.

What’s the last thing you designed? A candleholder.

Do you have a daily creative ritual? Since I was a child I looked at the sky and drew shapes from clouds, [and now] I actually continue doing it.

How do you procrastinate? Looking always for perfection.

What everyday object would you like to redesign? Why? A toothbrush, The only design I like is by Andrea Engesvik for HAY, and it is not easy to find them in Colombia.

Who are your heroes (in design, in life, in both)? The Eames couple, Herzog and De Meuron, and the Memphis movement.

What skill would you most like to learn? Photography.

What is your most treasured possession? All pieces I bring [home]. from my travels make up part of a story, so they become treasures to me.

What’s your earliest memory of an encounter with design? When I was at school, I found the Algues from Bouroullec for Vitra in a local exhibition. This was my first contact with design. I definitely wanted to know more. Nobody had any idea who. the designer was. I began to ask and explore and finally I found the designers, a material, a company… that was the beginning for me.

What contemporary design trend do you despise? Fast production.

Finish this statement: All design should... be emotional.

What’s in your dream house? A part made of Tapia Wall (Rammed earth, tapial)

How can the design world be more inclusive? Design could be more inclusive when the process itself is not only about learning from the artisan, but also sharing skills to conceive a piece.

What do you wish non-designers understood about the design industry? Design takes time. Before buying a copy, think about what happens behind the process.

You can learn more about Fango on their Instagram.

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The Dwell 24: Fango