This portfolio represents the work I have been doing since 2006. If you would like more information on either of the projects please don’t hesitate to contact me.

1. Ana María Alvarez Mejía
portfolio
Design Strategy and beyond...

2. about me

3. about me
I am a proactive, adaptable and creative Industrial Designer with an ability to
understand the product as well as the context around it, like the market and its
consumers. I manage the projects in a responsible action driven manner plus I
am an effective team player with strong leadership skills.
One of my major strengths is the capability of translating user needs into
strategic directions for a company to determine the ideal product portfolio and
positioning strategy, in order to optimize consumer satisfaction and guarantee
a sustainable future growth.
As designers we have the responsibility to propose and deliver solutions or
opportunities that best suit the user and the society. That is why I believe that
most of the answers to our design questions can be found by talking and
understanding people, their situation, their needs, what they like and what
they dream about.

4. design

5. design
Concept mapping
Interactive play factory
Period
Stand Up, 2006-2007
Client
Kellogg’s
Concept
Design of an interactive factory for children to teach them the
production process of Kellogg’s cereals. The children had to go
through four different activities that taught them the different
steps of the process. At the end they received a pack of cereal.
Location
Divercity (City design for kids to play and learn about how a city
works), Santafé Shopping Mall
Bogotá, Colombia.
Design
AutoCAD rendering

6. design
KELLOGG’S interactive factory
Groups of 8 children could enter the factory and become Kellogg´s employees for 15 minutes.
There were five stations in total. In each station they had to complete a task in order to activate
the next station. Some tasks were team work some competition.
While playing they would learn in simple steps the production process of Frosted Flakes and
Choco flakes. At the end they would receive monopoly money and a small box of cereal.
Complete factory Detail 1: Third station of the circuit Detail 2: Second station from the complete circuit
“Toasting the flakes” “ Baking the rice”

7. design
Coca-Cola music exchange point
Period
Stand Up, 2006-2007
Client
Coca-Cola Company
Concept
The main goal of this project was to design a Coca-Cola station.
The concept behind the design was to create a space for teenagers
to hang out, charge their iPod, listen to music and drink Coca-Cola
inside of shopping malls.
Concept mapping

8. design
Coca-Cola music island
Island designed for teenagers to wait for their friends while they drink
a cold Coca-Cola, listen to music, watch videos and charge their iPod’s.
The concept was made portable and modular for transportation and
easy installation.
Detail 1: Stands to recharge iPod with music Detail 2: Coca-Cola dispenser y juke box View from the top
and watch videos

9. design
Other Projects
Heineken
The designs as well as the production
Period were done in Bogotá , the final products
Stand Up, 2006-2007 were exported and assembled in Panamá.
Clients
Heineken
Visa
Design concepts and production of
various projects for Colombia and
Panamá.
Visa
Interactive wall designed for the entrance
to a children attraction at a shopping mall
in Bogotá.

10. strategic design

11. strategic design
“Moonlight”
Lighting solution for
rural Cambodia
Period
Master, 2007-2009
Concept
The “Moonlight” is a cheap solar powered LED lighting
solution for the poor rural population of Cambodia
that has no access to the electricity grid. This mobile
ambient lighting product should replace the dangerous,
toxic and expensive kerosene lamps that are still widely
spread throughout the Cambodian countryside.
Instead of “designing for the people” the mindset of
the team was “designing with the people”.
The families around the village were involved
throughout the whole product development process,
providing feedback, comments and ideas.
The product will be out in the market this year.
Awards
1st Place Dutch Design Toon van Tuijl 2008
1st Place Feel the Planet Earth Competition 2009
MoonLight
www.teamlumen.blogspot.com

12. strategic design
Moonlight, lighting solution for rural Cambodia
The project lasted 6 months in total. Three of which we lived in a village near Phnom Penh. The main goal was to leave
the country with a tested working prototype. In total we conducted 4 rounds of tests and interviews with the rural
people from the surroundings. We used visual aid and mockups to help us get better results from our participants.
Second round of interviews, seasonal calendar Third round of interviews, mock-ups and scenarios Working prototype with user

13. strategic design
Philips Armonía
Period
Graduation Project, Master, 2007-2009
Project goal
The main goal of the project was to identify possible target groups
that would be interested in using the product. The findings and
conclusions over the project were translated into design requirements
and future advice on how to position and enter the product on the
market.
Product
The Neurofeedback Mp3 Player offers a possibility to balance people’s
mental state by listening to their own music.
Methodology
Cultural probes
Brainstorm sessions
In-depth interviews

14. strategic design
Philips Armonía
The main goal of the project was to define possible users,
approach them and indentify their needs and requirements
for the Neurofeedback player. Various techniques were
used to achieve the goal.
Brainstorm sessions In-depth interviews with the help Focus group
of visual aid

15. contact
Address
Paradijslaan 46, 5611 KP = Anamam
Eindhoven
The Netherlands = Ana Maria Alvarez
E-mail
anama25@gmail.com
Mobile number
+31 615 498 507