A Colombian world music label specializing in folklore had produced a beautiful Millo flute compilation record but lacked funding to press and distribute it. To increase their chances of winning a grant from Colombia's Ministry of Culture for music recordings, they needed an album cover and packaging design that conveyed the spirit of Colombian cumbia, and that could be ready in record time while also optimizing costs as much as possible. Therefore, it was necessary to find a quick and effective solution to achieve the goal of winning the funding and raising awareness of the cultural legacy of Millo in Colombian music.

To optimize time, I chose a minimalistic approach for this project and created a symbol that not only incorporated the shape of the Millo but also conveyed a powerful conceptual message as a design element.

For the packaging design, I wanted to capture the essence of cumbia and kept it straightforward yet impactful, even with limited resources. I selected kraft and recyclable papers, using only one ink color: cumbia red. I also added an illustration of a traditional player's hands and typefaces reminiscent of 20th-century Colombian vinyl record designs. Through a careful arrangement of these elements, I created a simple package that allowed the double album and research booklet to take center stage.

We used the design proposal in the grant application, which we were fortunate enough to win. As a result, 1000 copies of the album were produced and distributed to folklore enthusiasts and cultural institutions throughout the country.

I worked closely with the recording producers, one of whom was the label director, to achieve the project's objectives. My role was to design the album cover and packaging, oversee the printing and press process, and direct the portfolio photography.

Our partnership was crucial to achieving the desired outcome for the project, and we worked in real-time to meet the tight deadlines of the application, production, and distribution processes.