Magalhães catalogue - Circumnavigation's 5th centenary Commemorations

+

The Mission Structure Customer, via the Marine Museum and Task Group for the 5th centenary of Ferdinand Magellan Circumnavigation (2019-2022) contacted Mapa to develop an exclusive merchandising catalogue, for consultation and possible purchase of items to be distributed in schools, on official visits, in the various countries and places where events around this historic date were taking place.

Firstly, a survey and investigation was carried out to find out the historical context, the cartography and narratives of the time, images of Magellan and the ships, etc., to which the collection of the Navy Library contributed greatly.

Once we had gathered the available content, we tried to create a narrative that would make sense applied to merchandising, and that would have different readings, trying to cover all the information gathered on the Magellan expedition (from astronomy, to animal and plant species, the layout of the world, the crossing of cultures,...).

The catalogue was therefore designed based only on mock ups, as they would only be visual proposals, duly budgeted and with minimum purchase quantities, varying according to typologies and the constraints of each supplier consulted.

The logic of the catalogue followed the different needs and events of the client and potential end clients, and was divided into thematic collections:

Prestige Collection (with institutional gifts in mind) - This first section is dedicated to the noblest and most unique elements of the selection, crossing the thematic axes. Personalised pieces, in silver, silk, for personal use, valued in everyday life (silver pens, ties, handkerchiefs)

Traveller Collection - The portulanos synthesise the permanent tension between imagination and knowledge of an era when anything was possible. They introduced the compass rose to increase its rigour and thematic motifs to cover the vast gaps that existed in geographical knowledge. The collection made by Ortelius served as the visual basis for a collection dedicated to the traveller (stationery, t-shirts, tottebags, small essential accessories)

The Naturalist's Collection - The discovery of previously unknown animals, plants and cultures fascinated our ancestors, between imagination and empirical records. This collection explores this duality, with naturalistic records, sensory richness and a play of colours that inspires an emotional reading (memory game, badges and pins, stationery).

Teacher's Collection - The legacy of the circumnavigation voyage appeals, as the Commission states, to the highest values of humanity, such as tolerance, intercultural dialogue or respect for the natural world and its sustainability.

Through knowledge, exploring, for example, the science of the Discoveries and the sensory euphoria of Spices, we discuss the past, present and future.

Products have also been selected that can be used as a souvenir at the end of an activity related to the Commemorations (educational suitcase).