In June 2019, Pumapapel founder and Benilde alumna Amy Lopez Nayve shared her expertise at World Industrial Design Week at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. This annual celebration hosted by the Benildean Industrial Designers student organization is anticipated across various Philippine higher education institutions. This week gives budding designers a chance to connect with and learn from local and international design industry professionals.

The theme “ECO” was evident throughout the week. Aside from being synonymous with sustainability, the theme was an acronym for the words “explore,” “create,” and “optimize”— three words that encapsulate what Pumapapel does. In her talk, Amy highlighted paper as one of the more sustainable materials available on the planet. It’s biodegradable, and has an increasing range of renewable resources too, making it all the more special as a material.

Amy recounted her journey to becoming a paper engineer from the very beginning. She’s had an affinity for creative paper projects as early as seven years old. Young Amy integrated paper craft in many of her school projects. She studied her favorite pop-up books, applied her understanding, and innovated remarkable paper mechanisms that solved her design problems. By 2018, Amy was a fresh graduate who had already received recognition from the Movable Books Society, bringing Filipino paper artistry up on the global stage.

Amy showcased her story and amazed the audience with demonstrations of her wonderful pop-up works onstage. From books, cards, to packaging, Amy’s mastery of paper engineering transforms paper into outstanding visual and interactive experiences.

The WIDW community witnessed her passion for the craft and enthusiasm to share her expertise through the freeform workshop later on. The workshop ignited the students’ creativity, encouraging them to transcend the perceived limits of their chosen fields and explore new dimensions in paper.

Want Amy to be a guest speaker or conduct a workshop at your institution? Reach out to Pumapapel through http://www.pumapapelcrafts.com/contact to make it happen!