Ethnographic Research and Co-Design for Local Economic Growth
Resignifying Hñähñu Artisans Through
Co-Design & Fair Market Access
Extract
As Ethnographic Researcher & Community Strategist for Cooperación Comunitaria AC, I led an 11-month participatory research project with 37 Hñähñu (Otomí) artisan families in Valle del Mezquital, Hidalgo—one of Mexico's most marginalized regions.
I conducted 37 in-depth interviews, mapped extractive commercial chains where intermediaries captured 400%+ profit margins, and co-designed solutions through 15+ participatory workshops to strengthen the Wäda Collective's economic and organizational capacities.
I created 30+ educational materials (videos, infographics, printed content) reaching 6,000+ conscious consumers, and organized direct-sale expo-events in Mexico City that eliminated exploitative intermediaries. By combining ethnographic research with fair-trade market access and cultural storytelling, I increased average monthly sales by 56% ($2,700→$4,200), empowered artisans to independently organize demonstration workshops, and revalorized ixtle fiber cultural heritage at risk of disappearance.
This project demonstrates my ability to conduct rigorous intercultural research, facilitate participatory co-design in Hñähñu communities, and deliver measurable economic impact while preserving indigenous cultural patrimony through strategic thinking.
