‘Elles Peuvent. Valorisation Project of Drâa Valley craftsmanship’ was my bachelor degree in Product Design on 2006.
Elles Peuvent was an International co-operation project between Italy and Morocco, that aimed to improve the economic development of the Province of Zagora.
The project team was created by different partners that worked on TaeD (Architecture and Design technologies department), CSM (Furniture experimental centre), the local association ADEDRA (Association de Dèveloppment de la Vallèe du Draa) and the local cooperative AFDES (Association des Femmes pour le Développement et la Solidarité).
The goal was to preserve the skills and local craft techniques related to the palm trees (a core element in life of the region). This project drew on design as a tool to enrich the local craftsmanship and the development of the community.
Five italian students of design (including myself) mixed up their design thinking with the artisans skills to create new products.
In my case, I got impressed how the Moroccan people use the ground as space to accommodate everyday goodies, eat, drink tea or just as meeting spot. Then, I came up with a small table built with palm fiber and reused plastics for personal use.
The affordance shape of this small table easily enables the person to embrace it with the legs and thus, make his daily activities with comfort. Its package is also made with local fabrics that turns to a comfortable carpet in the moment of usage.
