de la O-Campos, José Rodrigo

"We live in a time where innovation is seen as a need of competitiveness in companies. Only few understand that innovation is knowing how to be comfortable with uncertainty". José Rodrigo de la O Campos is interested in the way design relates to society in Mexico from its aesthetic, social and economic aspects. He sees as alarming the little clarity surrounding what this discipline can achieve, therefore, in addition to practicing it he aims to spread its potential. To him, his profession is everything but boring: one day he gets to design a chair inspired in sonideros and the next, to analyze mexican flora as an inspiration source for design in precious metals or to create prototypes of alternate reality. This is why, although his projects revolve around Critical Design, the topics he covers in his classes go from understanding the issues that affect Mexico City to cumbia-playing robots or digital manufacturing machines that utilize cochineal dye. In Netherlands, de la O Campos learnt to respect the concept of a project and its communication. Afterwards, he aimed his work towards Critical Design to promote reflection on consumption and the status quo. Que considers design to be an attitude to face adversity and minimize risks with; however, he claims that public and private sectors in Mexico have not understood the significance of investing in culture, innovation, science, technology and design; the latter being the main link between the former and everyday life.