In the quiet aftermath of a world stilled by a pandemic, a bold vision took flight, casting light on the power of the poster. The Salón Internacional del Póster San Mateo (SIPSM), organized by Fundación Universitaria San Mateo and as shared by its visionary Director, Omar Alonso García Martínez, is a luminous stage where posters become voices of humanity’s deepest questions and brightest dreams. Anchored in the Sustainable Development Goals, this platform calls artists from every horizon to chant visions of equity and sustainability through vivid, visual stories. Guided by manifestos that ignite the spirit, SIPSM transcends the bounds of a mere contest, weaving a global chorus where art and ideas sing of a radiant future. Now, let’s dive into the interview.
What was the philosophy behind the creation of SIPSM? What need in today’s world of design and communication led you to create a global platform for posters?
The philosophy of the event emerged during the pandemic, a time of lockdown, desolation, and contemplation of a possible extinction of the human species, which generated many questions. At that time, I conducted research that resulted in a book titled “Pandemiavisión: Visual Reflections on Confinement,” which I organized and invited a series of image scholars, including Daniel Monje Abril (Colombia), Fernando Gerheim (Brazil), Yamile García Bustamante (Colombia), Flavio Pessoa (Brazil), Julie Brasil (Brazil), Rodrigo Paglieri (Chile/Portugal), and Ciro Palomino Huamaní (Peru), to present their creative experiences during the pandemic. This effectively inspired the idea of creating a socially focused space.
After much reflection, we found the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be an interpretive framework through art and design. We observed that other disciplines, such as engineering, focused more on the goals themselves, which opened the door to using the creative process as a tool for fiction and imagining possible futures.
The philosophy is related to the well-being of the species and its harmony with all environments. SIPSM’s philosophy views life as the source of all knowledge. It is a critical space where images present visual narratives that act as a hermeneutic of context and the future. SIPSM’s philosophy is to imagine well-being for everyone.
The need for a space to contain these experiences was a primary objective. Additionally, we wanted a space that is as environmentally friendly as possible; hence, our publications are freely accessible and digital, allowing books to reach everywhere with minimal environmental impact. Moreover, the website serves as a common hub to explore the project’s history, with previous events, galleries, winner mentions, jury information, and books available for consultation or download.
The platform is essential for SIPSM as it serves as a venue for scientific dissemination from the perspective of the arts.
Why was the poster chosen as the main medium? In the digital and social media era, what unique characteristics make the poster a powerful communication and dialogue tool?
The poster has multiple meanings. One is academic: researchers worldwide use it to present their findings. Another is aesthetic, serving a symbolic function. SIPSM merges these two aspects to foster dialogue between the academic and artistic sensitivities. SIPSM acknowledges the digital and social media era, which is why it is important to engage with similar visual languages. However, the “movement” category goes beyond the traditional poster format, inviting audiovisual creators to present animations, experimental videos, or art videos.
The poster is a powerful tool due to its immediacy in communication. Artists interpret the manifestos of each call and transform them into codes readable by anyone globally. This is crucial, as the communication process is mediated through the language of the image.
What is SIPSM’s relationship with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Each year focuses on a key goal. Why is this connection important, and how can graphic design act as a common language for social change?
The relationship with the SDGs functions as a vehicle for conveying global concerns. While every region has specific issues, there are general concerns affecting humanity. Changing the thematic focus each year allows for new methodologies, invites scholars to write manifestos, and ensures the platform communicates the new process. We also prioritize accessibility so professionals, students, and art enthusiasts worldwide can share their interpretations.
Creating change through design is complex, but it is our language, and this is our contribution to demonstrating that the arts care about the species and the future.
How is the annual theme selected? What is the decision-making process for choosing the theme each edition, and how do you ensure it is relevant and inspiring for designers from different cultures and countries?
We constantly review global events such as hunger, climate change, wars, or equity issues, organizing potential themes in relation to the SDGs. For example, this year’s focus is quality education, prompting reflection on equity, post-pandemic quality, and now artificial intelligence. This highlights emerging knowledge fields and how they affect our thinking, as the brain is like a muscle that atrophies without exercise.
Inspiration comes from communicating through a common language. Manifestos are designed to avoid local perspectives, presenting a global overview that challenges artists to interpret concerns and express their place in the world.
How is the SIPSM jury selected? What criteria are used, and what role do they play in maintaining credibility and diversity of perspectives? Could you also comment on this year’s jury composition and focus?
Juries represent the equity of the event. We select them for their prominence in academic and artistic circles in their countries. Occasionally, we receive jury applications, which we review, and in some cases, select individuals based on extensive experience.
What are the main evaluation criteria for submissions? When evaluating a poster, what does the jury consider most important: visual innovation, clarity of social message, technical quality, or emotional impact?
Evaluation occurs in several stages. First, the SIPSM team reviews all posters for relevance to the theme and alignment with the manifestos. Next, they shortlist 10–20 posters to facilitate manageable jury assessment. Jurors score submissions using a format that anonymizes participants to ensure transparency. Finally, SIPSM compiles the scores to determine the winner.
Is SIPSM more than a competition? Do you see it mainly as a contest or as a cultural-educational platform that can influence designers, universities, and the general public?
SIPSM is not intended as a competition, though awards serve as incentives recognizing artists’ dedication. It is a community of artists concerned with shared futures. It functions as an educational platform, facilitating knowledge exchange through symbolic power.
What are the main challenges of organizing an international event of this magnitude? From logistics to interaction with hundreds of global participants and maintaining evaluation quality and transparency, what difficulties arise, and how are they overcome?
The main challenge is establishing the event as a global showcase. Initially, this seemed impossible, but we have received excellent reception from designers worldwide, surpassing previous participation numbers each year. Logistics are extensive: we work with research students who act as co-directors, coordinate with manifesto authors, and manage jury processes. Challenges include maintaining a common language within the team and ensuring the online platform functions smoothly, addressed through a brand manual outlining SIPSM’s philosophy and aesthetics.
What is SIPSM’s long-term vision? Looking ahead, do you hope the event will achieve a prominent place in the global cultural and artistic landscape in 10 or 20 years?
Our goal is to remain on the global stage for a long time, expand our community annually, and make SIPSM a space for artists to reflect on the future.
What role will new technologies play in SIPSM’s future? With artificial intelligence, the metaverse, and digital media, how do you think these tools will influence artwork creation, exhibition methods, and the definition of design competitions?
New technologies are fundamental as SIPSM is a virtual platform for disseminating arts knowledge with a social focus. AI supports task organization and extends designers’ creative thinking. While authorship in AI raises debates, it is a platform that is here to stay, and artists will interact with it closely or distantly. Nonetheless, handcrafted design will continue to hold a prominent voice.
Connect with SIPSM:
Website: SIPSM
Facebook: Asistente Sipsm
Instagram: sipsm2030
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