Alfredo Gutiérrez Borrero is a faculty member in the Department of Industrial Design at the University of Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Colombia. He holds a Doctorate in Design and Creation from the University of Caldas (2014-2022), where his doctoral research critically examined design as a modern universalizing practice that sustains exclusions. Gutiérrez Borrero identifies himself as 'a designer and caretaker of human bonds and communities,' reflecting his commitment to relational design practices rather than purely technical approaches. His educational journey culminated in a doctorate from the University of Caldas, where he developed his theoretical framework challenging Western-centric design paradigms. His doctoral research involved a critical review of ontological and pluriversal design currents, examining 'threshold works' where Western design encounters indigenous perspectives (Māori, Samoan, Lakota, and Maya). Gutiérrez Borrero's research centers on decolonial design theory, indigenous knowledge systems, and alternative design approaches that challenge universalizing Western paradigms. He has developed key concepts including DISSOCONS (Diseños del Sur, de los Sures, Otros, Con Otros NombreS), equialtervalentes ('similar-different' design practices), compluridad (community pluralities), and multisures (multiple 'Souths'). His work argues that design should be recognized as a partial practice rather than a universal one, exposing how Western design frameworks often mislabel or appropriate indigenous creation practices. He advocates for 'ambimétodohilogías' - methodological approaches drawing from decolonial, indigenous, and Southern thought to develop a theoretical unframing that reduces disciplinary scope. His scholarly output demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward recognizing diverse creation practices across cultural contexts. Recent publications increasingly focus on how indigenous knowledge systems (Andean, Polynesian, and North American) offer alternative approaches to problem-solving and relationship-building. His concept of 'desproyectualización' (de-projectualization) represents a methodological innovation for engaging with irreducible pluralities of the present without imposing Western design frameworks. Gutiérrez Borrero has made significant contributions to design education, particularly through his long-term work (2009-2012) with industrial design students at the University of Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano on the 'Investigación para Proyecto de Grado' course. He developed classroom dynamics called 'design of communities' to build strong intersubjective bonds. His educational philosophy recognizes a tension between industrial design (based on fixed identity with dogmatic guidelines) and convivial design (based on multiple identifications with zetetic, inquiry-based guidelines). He advocates for the latter approach, which allows students to learn from spontaneity and error. His collaborative work extends to community-based design initiatives like the 'Tinkuy-Alpha18' multiproject discursive community, which explores how designers can collectively define themselves through permanent dialogue to develop individual responsibility projects within team settings. His public intellectual contributions include opinion pieces in Colombian media outlets such as Diario El Tiempo Bogotá and EL ESPECTADOR, addressing topics including peace processes, educational challenges, and regional politics.
