| Copyright © 2007-2008 Synergo Arts. All rights reserved. |
History of the Synergo Arts weaving bench program
Pilot project
Awards
The Synergo product design team has been honored with a 2006 Tech Award from the Tech Museum of Innovation's Award
Program for Technology Benefiting Humanity, and the 2007 User-Centered Design Award from the Human Factors and
Ergonomics Society's Product Design Technical Group.
Program for Technology Benefiting Humanity, and the 2007 User-Centered Design Award from the Human Factors and
Ergonomics Society's Product Design Technical Group.
The pilot project took place from May 2005 through February 2007, prior to the
formation of Synergo Arts. Working on a pro bono basis, Synergo LLC conducted
the pilot project with Oxlajuj B'atz', an educational nonprofit project that serves the
300 Mayan women who sell their textiles through fair trade organizations Mayan
Hands and Maya Traditions. The pilot project involved a participatory social
process. The original Synergo product design team consisted of Glenn Smith
and Karen Piegorsch. The core OB pilot project team consisted of Juana Ramos,
Herlinda Tzep, and Ramona Kirschenman.
formation of Synergo Arts. Working on a pro bono basis, Synergo LLC conducted
the pilot project with Oxlajuj B'atz', an educational nonprofit project that serves the
300 Mayan women who sell their textiles through fair trade organizations Mayan
Hands and Maya Traditions. The pilot project involved a participatory social
process. The original Synergo product design team consisted of Glenn Smith
and Karen Piegorsch. The core OB pilot project team consisted of Juana Ramos,
Herlinda Tzep, and Ramona Kirschenman.
Brief articles on the pilot project appeared in the newsletter of Weave A Real
Peace (WARP): Backstrap weavers in Guatemala try out an ergonomic seat,
page 6 of the Winter 2005 issue; and Scaling up: An update on the backstrap
weaver's ergonomic bench, page 6 of the Summer 2007 issue.
Peace (WARP): Backstrap weavers in Guatemala try out an ergonomic seat,
page 6 of the Winter 2005 issue; and Scaling up: An update on the backstrap
weaver's ergonomic bench, page 6 of the Summer 2007 issue.
The success of this work comes from its origins in the indigenous community. Many Mayan women had been looking for alternatives
to the stressful, traditional kneeling posture.
to the stressful, traditional kneeling posture.
| Herlinda Tzep Ramona Kirschenman Juana Ramos |
| Glenn Smith Karen Piegorsch |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |