Mr. Martinez, an Industrial Designer in Santiago, Chile, became The Future School’s Regional Director for Latin America in 2019. His research and organizational skills and diversity of projects in design, architecture, project management and development, are ideal in filling his role. Extensive travels throughout Europe, the US, Mexico, and South America provided him a broad perspective on global issues. Since his youth, he has been dedicated to knowing the natural and urban environment of Chile and neighboring countries, creating professionally cooperative ties throughout Chile and Ecuador (ie. at Reino Studio), and the tripartite borders of the Amazon. He has organized eco-trips along the Amazon River in Brazil and Ecuador, across the Atacama desert, and multiple glacial expeditions on mountains and volcanoes at the Chilean cordillera.

In 2005, while studying Industrial Design at the University of Chile in Santiago, he lead the foundation of Graphic Arts Studio for all students to engage in art activities and print techniques to addressing social and political injustices, and specifically promoting the idea that education is an universal right. The legacy of inspiring students to create and act upon those issues continues even after the university closed the studio in 2019. Today, even after graduating, many former students, inspired and encouraged by Mr. Martinez’s open studio project, are still engaged in actions for activism for social justice, a testament to his dedication to influence for change for the better.

Francisco is also author of articles about Design with trans-disciplinary intersections including his Design Manifesto [link], on the renowned online magazine of design.

He has experience as project developer, including land planning and economic connectivity. Because of his roots (the Diaguitas from the Elqui Valley, Chile), he has always been interested and active with other local cultures and native communities such as the Mapuches and Aymaras, and continues his friendship with the Shuar communities in Ecuador and Tikunas in Colombia. Throughout his career he has coordinated exchange activities, and today, through The Future School, is able to offer internships and special projects with these communities by either providing design needs and in areas such as tourist development, foreign language practices, music or ecological farming.