Inside Project Synergy: Get to Know Us
Explore the unique evolution of Project Synergy—an initiative that blends creativity and collaboration. From its origins during lockdown to the issues we've published, get to know our project's evolution. Find out how you can get involved in shaping its future.
“What is Project Synergy, exactly?”
For us, it has always been hard to explain what we’re really about.
We’re a changing project with changing objectives and changing members. We could say it just flows. We function as a project of collaboration through creativity, powered by the sheer curiosity of exploring something new and connecting with new people. In essence, synergy is the project, its objective, and its form.
To put it more simply, we’re a group of people who do creative projects together and reflect on significant concepts through the lens of art, culture, and everything in between.
This article delves into the story of our initiative and where we plan to go next.
How We Started Out
Project Synergy's roots stretch back to the pandemic's grip through lockdown. Amidst the flood of gloomy headlines, we created a space to reconnect with the outside world through something that brought us meaning.
We came to life as a virtual space where different people touched on the same topic and explored it differently creatively.
We publish the outcomes of those explorations in our themed digital publications, which are available to all our readers. At its heart, the mission was to dig deep for meaning via creative reflection, different from a traditional digital magazine, and we aimed to curate our content carefully, always focusing on the personal value each piece offered. Initially created by the co-founders and nurtured by a growing collective, the project drew together creators spanning 15+ countries.
Our first meeting. We met via Zoom to talk about the project’s aim and objective and to choose the theme of our first issue - Origins. In this picture, you can see people from 12 different nationalities.
Our First Contributors
In the early stages of Project Synergy, our first contributors bore pivotal roles, helping to propel the initiative into its creative orbit.
Among these, we highlight the joint interview featuring the dynamic duo of songwriters Carlos Cruzalegui and Sebastián Llosa. This piece extended to the realms of branding through our collaboration with José Clemente, a Peruvian designer. We reached out to Lee Shulman, a British film director turned founder of The Anonymous Project, who shared his expertise and motivated the project’s trajectory. Applying sound as a means of interpretation, DJ Matias Buche crafted an hour-long music track that wove tribal and cosmic-like sounds to inspire reflection on what origins meant musically.
Cayetano García, a thriving art director, embarked on an exploration of skin and clothing, offering a personal slant on origins. Aitana Castillo’s emotive Mother's Day letter unveiled her core understanding of her beginnings, a narrative both intimate and universal. The short film "On Remembering” by Al-Reem Al-Beshr skillfully unravelled childhood nostalgia through a poignant monologue. Its elegance offered an exquisite reflection of times past.
While over 30 contributors equally lent their voices to the project, we'll leave the discovery to your perusal. Dive into our inaugural issue here.
These early contributors weren't just contributors—they were catalysts. They revealed the expansive horizons of a digital product, crafting a multimedia project that, in time, inspired two more publications. Working together shaped the project's essence with our collective enthusiasm and creative energy.
Highlights from our previous issues. Work by Gabriel Alexandru Rat, Gianfranco Suito, Aitana Castillo Kujon, Jose Antonio Rosas, Francisca Meinedo, Alessandra Risi Castoldi, Gianfranco Suito, Laura Mendoza, Renan Paredes.
Navigating Change
We have faced our fair share of obstacles.
Though technology-enabled, remote collaboration brought its own brand of fatigue. The question lingered: could a team function effectively solely online?
The transition from college to adulthood brought its own set of obstacles. When life got in the way, the crew naturally shrank in size. Nonetheless, we faced these challenges immediately, with the team and contributors working together to move the project forward.
We learned significant insights from these situations. While we cannot claim to have fully solved the problem of change, we have accepted it as a source of growth. We continually adapt and evolve our teamwork, recruitment, and processes to meet changing conditions.
A critical insight was the shift from a college project mindset to a more mature perspective. We decided to give the project the time needed to evolve into something more sophisticated, including depth and consideration.
Where We are Now
Two years later, we can proudly say we have published three issues, each exploring the meaning of “Origins”, “Home”, and “Design”, respectively. Personal projects by selected finalists grace each edition, while creative industry leaders offer insights through interviews. The platform's recurring content, MUSE, adds to our collection of shorter content offerings.
As Project Synergy evolves, our mission remains: fostering meaning through creativity and connection. Each publication expands boundaries, portraying the human experience and reflecting on our place in the world.
Project Synergy's renewed journey centers on connection, creativity, and curiosity. Our commitment remains unwavering as we expand collaborative ventures.
Expect an evolving number of activities that fuse diverse talents and perspectives.
Become Involved
Become part of Project Synergy by following us on Instagram. Join our vibrant fold as a contributor to MUSE, Issue 4, or even take the helm as an editor. From Monday, the 21st of August, applications are open for joining the project.
Be prepared for Issue 4's imminent unveiling—where your voice can shape the narrative.
Your involvement fuels our evolution.
Finally - our gratitude extends to all contributors and supporters who've propelled this project forward.