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About
Benefits
Trips
- Tanzania
- Guatemala
- Zanzibar
- Rajasthan
- Join Us
- Past Projects
News
Resources
Contact

Other resources

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Please visit the links below for travel information such as packing, money and cultural tips:

India May 2018

India October 2018

ABOUT US

CoDA (CoDesign Abroad) facilitates immersive, collaborative and design-based projects around the globe between designers (students and professionals), and underserved communities. We use a human-centered problem solving approach and design-thinking tools to capacity build within those communities.

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The Aplastada(Squished), Fuego, and Floreciente ca

The Aplastada(Squished), Fuego, and Floreciente candle holders were designed based on lessons learned during the previous visit by the Sheridan Guatemala Field Study. Designing precise connections between two materials, produced by different artisan groups working in different regions of Guatemala, is nearly impossible. Instead, the team developed concepts based on simple connections, where each part depends on the other to become a complete object.
For the ceramic components, the team collaborated with @SelvaSavia. When we visited their workshop at the end of the trip, we brought rough ceramic models. Their response was remarkable, within seconds they deftly reproduced the forms, demonstrating incredible hand building skills. Together we iterated scale and openings, particularly for Fuego, where the cut-outs influence how the candlelight escapes and casts shadows.
• Aplastada invites a round sphere to rest in any direction on its “squished” wooden cushion.
• Floreciente (cut-away sphere) allows light to escape upward and outward as it sits on a simple wooden dish.
• Fuego, inspired by Guatemala’s dramatic volcanic landscapes, uses patterned cut-outs to create lively shadows and contribute to a playful tabletop scene.

Esfera (sphere) Complementing existing @itzawood p

Esfera (sphere)
Complementing existing @itzawood products was one of the team’s objectives, and the Sphere collection was designed to work with a candle holder they already produced. Combined, these objects create a playful table top scape suitable for restaurants -our targeted user group.
Designing the grinders also introduced new hardware and a new level of precision to the workshop. Unlike many turned objects, pepper grinders require carefully machined internal cavities and tight tolerances to house the grinding mechanism. While pepper grinders are plentiful in the world, adding them to the @itzawood collections makes sense: The product aligns well with the price point of their work, while showcasing the beauty of their certified sustainable tropical hardwoods.
The form also highlights the artisans’ exceptional craftsmanship, particularly in shaping, sanding and finishing. The smooth spherical surface is ideal for a handheld object, inviting touch, while demonstrating the care and skill that goes into each piece.

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© CoDesign Abroad 2026

© CoDesign Abroad 2026

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