Podcast Design brief, “Jose’s Brief”

Rooted in Transience: A Reflection on Identity and the Search for Meaning 

In the grand tapestry of human experience, one of our most profound quests is the search for identity and belonging.  

We yearn for a place where we can anchor ourselves, a space where our roots can delve deep into the soil of existence. This universal longing is poignantly captured in a seemingly simple yet deeply symbolic object: a pencil cup designed for architects, fashioned in the shape of a Puerto Rican garita. 

The garita, or guardhouse, is an iconic emblem of Puerto Rico, adorning the ancient city walls of San Juan. It stands as a testament to both history and permanence—qualities architects strive to encapsulate in their creations. Yet, this particular pencil cup, with its unfinished brutalist style, challenges the very notion of permanence. It emerges from its mold raw and unpolished, mirroring the human journey: a continuous process of becoming, never quite complete. 

Atop this architectural homage rests a beautiful enameled orchid, its vibrant burnt orange petals seemingly aflame with life. This orchid is not merely an adornment; it is a profound metaphor for the transitory nature of human existence. Carried by the wind, the orchid clings to the guardhouse, much like how we, as individuals, seek connection and meaning in the world around us. Yet, despite its apparent attachment, the orchid never truly becomes a part of the guardhouse, serving as a reminder of our own impermanence. 

The wide base of this pencil cup—a foundation as broad as it is tall—symbolizes our desire for grounding, a yearning for stability in the ever-shifting sands of life. Like the orchid’s roots spreading across the guardhouse, we too reach out, hoping to find solace and security in the traditions and histories that precede us. But the orchid’s presence also suggests that beauty and life are not confined to the past or the structures we inhabit. Instead, they exist in the vibrant present, in the fiery spirit that burns within us. 

This harmonious blend of unfinished architecture and the delicate enamel of the orchid invites us to reflect deeply on what it means to belong and to be. It urges us to appreciate the beauty in our transient nature, to recognize that while our physical presence may be temporary, the impressions we leave—the fiery flashes of our unique existence—are eternal. 

In the end, the garita pencil cup is more than a desk ornament; it is a profound meditation on identity, belonging, and the ephemeral beauty of life. It reminds us that while we may yearn for roots and permanence, the true poetry of existence lies in embracing our transience, finding meaning and beauty in the fleeting moments that define our journey.