Animo
Doernbecher Children’s Hospital (pro bono)
ANIMOApproach
Inspired by Pedro Linares’ fantastical take on cartonería, we collaborated with indigenous Mexican artist, Tekpatl, to create our own 3D-printed and hand-painted alebrijes. Each vibrant, imaginary creature has a unique personality and pattern-selection inspired by a Doernbecher Children’s Hospital patient who visited and dreamed with the INDUSTRY team.
Challenge
How can INDUSTRY bring four kids’ dreams to life in support of Doernbecher Children’s Hospital?
Solution
Alebrijes are a beloved Mexican folk art tradition. They are typically entirely handmade, either from papier-mâché or wood, and express a particular emotion or individual’s personality. Our process, by contrast, represents the intersection of the indomitable human spirit and the miracle of modern technology — a powerful combination familiar to anyone who’s ever stepped foot in Doernbecher.
Our Industrial Design team met with the four Doernbecher patients in creative sessions that yielded the initial inspiration for the animals, color palette and patterns for the Animos. They then designed, digitally rendered and 3D printed the alebrijes in-house for Tekpatl’s personal touch. He hand-painted each Animo with intricate designs, true to the traditional form.
The results speak for themselves. Each Animo bubbles with a unique personality, based on the child who dreamed them. We’re honored to have the opportunity to support the life-changing work happening every day at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital with a project that draws on our agency’s heritage and experiences.
Good health is everything. For children without it, illness can be a challenging experience. The Animo Project is our way of bringing attention to the resilience and persistent joy of the kids at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, while helping to support their cause.
INDUSTRY collaborated with four past and present Doernbecher kids to create their own original Animo toys modeled after alebrijes — a traditional representation in Mexican folk art of someone’s essence or spirit, manifested in a fantastical animal form. Each vibrant, imaginary creature has a unique pattern and personality inspired by the kids, who each got to take home their own Animo.
The four Doernbecher kids came to the INDUSTRY office in downtown Portland to create their Animos with our Industrial Design team.
Avery’s Animo is a playful purple cat that represents her bubbly, affectionate personality.
Analee’s Animo is a panda with wings, illustrative of her empathy and desire to lift others up through acts of service.
Kian’s Animo is a leopard with the tail of a shark, a nod to his dynamic, spunky spirit and love of all types of animals.
Quincy’s Animo is a ferocious (but cute) two-headed dragon brimming with his characteristic strength and tenacity.
While alebrijes are traditionally handcrafted, the Animo process represents the intersection of the indomitable human spirit and the magic of modern technology — a powerful combination familiar to anyone who’s ever stepped foot in Doernbecher.
This interplay between new technology and traditional, emotive practices began with our Industrial Design team designing, digitally rendering and 3D printing the Animos in-house. Then Tekpatl took over, hand-painting each Animo with intricate designs, true to the traditional form.
The results speak for themselves. Each Animo bubbles with a unique personality, based on the child who dreamed them. We’re honored to have the opportunity to support the life-changing work happening every day at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital with a project that draws on our agency’s heritage and professional experiences.
For Meral, one of the founding partners at INDUSTRY, Animo holds special significance. 10 years ago, she and her husband lost their daughter, Mira, only two short days after she was born. Since they only shared those fleeting moments, her Animo is a hummingbird — peacefully suspended in time for a few beautiful seconds and then gone just as fast. Mira’s hummingbird is the 5th Animo, representing change, lightness, harmony and healing.
A decade on, the couple has welcomed three healthy babies at OHSU. Not only is OHSU one of the best hospitals in the nation, it’s also the hospital that helped make her family feel whole again.
