In our commitment to creativity and art, The Corner Society happily introduces Emily Lozano, a photographer-turned-activist. Below she describes our ongoing collaboration, which you can help out with a small donation on her Kickstarter. Furthermore, all who pledge $5 or more (and send proof via email) will be eligible for a chance to be spotlighted on our site..    

“Hello! I’m a freelance graphic designer in Chicago. Cuba: Branded is a project that explores the state of branding in a communist country, where everything is owned by the state. I plan to travel to Cuba and photograph examples of branding including packaging, printed materials and storefronts. From these I’ll create a set of 20 full color 4 x 6 postcards.

My parents were born in Cuba in 1930. My dad was one of two kids and my mom was one of 9. While I was growing up I heard countless stories about what it was like before Castro’s reign. The food, the parties and the freedoms which we would consider normal.

My dad told me about how he was part of the CIA’s attempts to overthrow Castro. He did this for about 4 years, two years on the island and two years living in Florida and traveling secretly between the two countries. Finally he decided to escape in a little boat with my mom and 2 older sisters. Their lives nearly ended that night. These stories were thrilling to me as a kid and still are. They kept Cuba alive for us.

Eventually my family moved to Chicago. Not long after that I came along. I grew up like any American kid surrounded by branding. Like a lot of kids, I was told to clean my plate because there were starving children who would be grateful for food. That kid was my cousin Anabel. She was about my age and my relatives from Cuba always brought news about what Anabel was doing. I grew up always thinking about her life, which was the polar opposite of mine.

Cuba:Branded is an extension of my curiosity. I grew up there, surrounded by brands, with new ones popping up all the time and even helping to create some. I spend a lot of time thinking about brand loyalty and how consumers make choices based on brands. But what’s Anabel’s experience with brands?

In a country where the state owns and makes everything, what happens to brands? One interesting example is Bacardi. It was a Cuban brand that moved to Puerto Rico after the revolution. But they are still making rum at the old Bacardi location. What does that label look like?

While I’m there I’ll take photos of Cuban “brands” including product packaging, printed materials and storefronts.

I expect to find some established, well-executed brands and a lot of mom and pop trademarks. I’ll collect Cuban made products and will try to meet with the artists who worked on them, if I’m allowed.

I also want to talk to Cubans about how they make choices and if brands enter into that equation. Do they have more than one kind of product? Are some brands better than others? There are many brands of cigars, but is there more than one kind of coffee? Sugar? Does branding influence choices or is it all about price and availability?

I’ll be photographing the brands, so we’ll get to see what the aesthetics are. Is the look of brands stuck in the 50s or have other countries influenced the commercial art there? How is the art made? What’s the design process like?

I plan to travel in the Spring of 2012, and I hope to stay for one or two weeks. My sister will be joining me to help with legal questions and translating, and so that I am not traveling alone. The Corner Society will document my journey.

Your funding will help with:

Travel expenses to Cuba (flights are about $1500)
Travel within Cuba (taxis, car rental, etc.)
Photography supplies (memory cards, etc.)
Hotel stays (while I can stay with family in Matanzas I’ll need to spend some time in Havana as well.)
Product purchases to photograph (I’ll need to purchase food and other household items to photograph the packaging)
Printing costs for the postcards and box

Anything above the goal will help provide a longer stay, better equipment, more product purchases and possibly more postcards for the set.

The finished product will be 20 4 x 6 postcards printed on 100# recycled paper (cardstock) and collected into a box with a full color sleeve. I plan to print these in May or June of 2012.

I realize this project is very expense heavy because of the travel. I’ve tried to make the rewards fair without breaking my budget. If you contribute at $500 or more I will bring back a souvenir for you — something I’ll find it hard to part with!

If you’d like to have extra sets of the postcards please add on $5 for each set. At the end of the funding cycle you’ll have a chance to indicate the quantities you’d like.

Please add $5 for shipping to Canada.
Please add $10 for shipping outside of US or Canada.

I’m sure I will come back with more photos than I can publish at one time so this may lead to a Volume Two.

Feel free to contact me with any questions and please help spread the word. Thank you so much for your support!”