Asere Núncue Itiá

Ecobio Enyene Abacuá

Tato Quiñónes

Art Direction & Editorial Success: Asere Núncue Itiá

This project represents one of the greatest editorial successes of my career, having been awarded the prestigious Premio del Lector (Grand Prize) for the best-selling book of the year in Cuba. The challenge from the very beginning was monumental: transforming Tato Quiñones' rigorous, dense historical and anthropological research on the Abacuá secret brotherhoods into a coveted, highly engaging object for the general public.

The art direction strategy deliberately moved away from cold academicism to adopt a much more visceral approach. I designed a magnetic cover that captures the absolute solemnity and pervasive mystery of this Carabalí-origin society, which remains entirely unique in the world outside of Africa. Inside, the typographic layout carefully organizes complex 19th-century archival documents, historical records, and intricate ritual language transcriptions. By implementing a clear visual hierarchy and balanced margins, I succeeded in making an inherently dense and complex reading completely accessible to any reader.

The extraordinary commercial success of the work unequivocally proves that impeccable design, which deeply respects the "symbolic force" and sacred nature of the content, is fully capable of connecting high culture and specialized research with the massive interest of everyday readers. This was achieved through a profound, authentic, and visually resonant publication that set a new precedent in the market. The final volume stands not only as an essential anthropological study but also as a powerful piece of visual storytelling. Every design choice, from the precise grid structure to the intentional use of negative space, worked in harmony to honor Tato Quiñones' voice, ensuring that the legacy of the Abacuá culture was delivered to the public with unmatched dignity, graphic elegance, and unprecedented editorial impact.

Services: Art Direction & Editorial Design

Client: Editorial José Martí

Year: 2014