Diseño de productos editoriales como herramienta para el fomento del uso activo de la lengua Kichwa en niños de la parroquia Juan Benigno Vela

Abstract

This project falls within the field of editorial, educational, and cultural design, focusing on the creation of children's products that contribute to promoting the active use of the Kichwa language among children aged five to nine in the Juan Benigno Vela parish. The research arose from the decline in the daily use of Kichwa among younger generations and seeks to restore Kichwa to its place within the community's cultural identity, knowledge, and practices. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, incorporating bibliographic, documentary, and field research. Surveys were administered to parents, observation checklists were used with children, and interviews were conducted with teachers, community members, and design professionals. An iconographic analysis of local cultural references was also performed. The results showed that Kichwa remains present primarily in the home, but its daily use among children is limited. Families value language learning and prefer materials that include drawings, colors, legible letters, picture books, and elements from the environment that represent the culture. Based on these findings, we propose the design of bilingual, visual, and educational children's books that use everyday words, play activities, characters, and elements of Chibuleo culture, such as clothing, animals, food, and landscapes. Through these books, we aim to help children recognize, understand, and practice Kichwa through learning activities that allow them to play and connect with the culture. Our goal is for these books to foster cultural identity from childhood.