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CAS Design Cultures

Study trip Guatemala 2027

April 19–28, 2027
In a nutshell
Impressions of earlier study trips to Guatemala
Travel and Seminar Program
Highlights
Themes & Learning Goals
Facilitation
Registration
Further Impressions

April 19–28, 2027

From April 19–28, 2027 the CAS Design Cultures offers a 10-day study trip experience for participants to immerse in the indigenous context at Lake Atitlán in Guatemala and at the same time contribute to projects around the topic of circular design and regeneration. Participants get to experience a complete, real-world cycle—from waste treatment to soil substrates for agriculture and reforestation. This study trip is an opportunity for everyone who wants to take their design practice to the next level, leave their comfort zone, experience circular design and co-creation principles. Participants get to know and practice a diverse set of methods and approaches and encounter the Mayan cosmovision, take part in a traditional ceremony, and explore relationships between people, land, and regeneration. The program is a balance between impulse inputs, reflection and a hands-on design project in collaboration with local experts and members from different Mayan communities at Lake Atitlán.

In a nutshell

What: 10-day study trip to Guatemala
When: 19–28 April 2027
Where: Guatemala City, Santa Catarina Palopó, Lake Atitlán
Registration deadline: 4 January 2027
Cost: CHF 2,800 excluding flights, accommodation and meals
People and organisations involved: Mona Mijthab (ZHdK Strategic Design and Mosan), Nadine Heuberger, Link4
Contact: Katharina Nill

Interested?
A hybrid information session will take place on 4 June 2026 at 5 pm (please register here). Or contact us via form to stay up to date.

The study trip (5 ECTS) is part of the modular CAS Design Cultures within the MAS Strategic Design continuing education programme. The trip can also be booked independently of the CAS programme.

Impressions of earlier study trips to Guatemala

Travel and Seminar Program

Individual Travel
Participants are responsible for arranging their own round-trip flights to Guatemala City.
All participants should arrive by Sunday evening, April 18, 2027. An informal get-together with refreshments will be held around 6 p.m.
Day 1 | 19.4.2027: Get a taste of Guatemala City, then continue on to Santa Catarina Palopó
After arriving in Guatemala City the day before, the group travels on to Lake Atitlán, where participants will stay in simple accommodations in the village of Santa Catarina Palopó and experience the local way of life.
Day 2–5 | 20.–23.4.2027: Seminar program and immersive experiences in and around Santa Catarina Palopó
A central element is learning about the Mosan System, an innovative circular system that covers the entire cycle from waste collection and processing to fertilizer production, soil application, and tree planting. The program combines day trips, field trips, expert meetings, co-creation sessions, and hands-on learning, such as assisting with tree planting as part of local reforestation efforts.
The program is conducted in English and Spanish with translation provided. Knowledge of Spanish is not required but is welcome.
Day 6–7 | 24.–25.4.2027: A weekend off with optional excursions
Two of the ten days of the trip can be spent as you wish—the team offers optional excursions.
Day 8–9 | 26.–27.4.2027: Seminar program and immersive experiences in and around Santa Catarina Palopó
The immersive program continues with group and individual discussions on how the experiences and principles can be applied to the professional context back home. The seminar program concludes on Tuesday, April 27.
Day 10 | 28.4.2027: Goodbye and shuttle to Guatemala City
Departure day from Lake Atitlán and shuttle to Guatemala City. An optional stop in Antigua is available.
Recommendations for continuing your journey to other highlights in the country will follow.
Individual Return or Onward Travel
Upon arrival in Guatemala City, participants are responsible for arranging their own return or onward travel.

Highlights

Circular system “from waste to resource”: experience the Mosan innovation in practice
Ecological and science-based approaches to regeneration and soil health
Practical examples for climate resilience
Co-creation with local stakeholders and community actors
Contribution to a regeneration initiative in the Guatemalan highlands (e.g. planting, soil work, reforestation activity)
Learning from local ecosystems and land stewardship practices
Immersion in Mayan cosmovision and participation in a traditional ceremony
Exposure to the vibrant cultural context of the Lake Atitlán region

Themes & Learning Goals

Participants deepen their profile as strategic designers with a strong sensitivity to intercultural contexts. The course supports the application and integration of approaches such as Design Thinking, Systems Thinking, and Participatory Design in real-world settings. Key learning areas include:

Developing intercultural competencies through direct engagement in unfamiliar contexts
Strengthening strategic design skills
Applying design methods, tools, and mindsets in complex, real-world situations
Participating in relevant local initiatives alongside practitioners and community actors
Understanding circular design and circular economy principles through lived systems
Exploring nutrient cycles, regenerative agriculture, and soil health
Engaging with agroforestry, permaculture, and landscape regeneration practices

The program emphasizes learning through participation, reflection, and collaboration, enabling participants to expand their design practice beyond conventional settings.

Facilitation

The study trip will be facilitated by different people.

Nadine Heuberger will accompany the tour group and be available to answer any questions regarding travel arrangements. At Rochester-Bern Executive Programs, an independent continuing education foundation for executives and board members based at the University of Bern, she is responsible for developing new continuing education programmes. Since 2019, she has been offering international group educational tours through her own company, Explorer Circle GmbH, under the motto “Business, culture & networking”.

Mona Mijthab is a social entrepreneur with 10 years experience in teaching and research at ZHdK. Mona is member of the ZHdK Strategic Design core team and partially based in Switzerland and Guatemala. Mona founded Mosan, a social enterprise developing circular and climate-positive systems, transforming waste into biochar, which is used as a soil enhancer in agriculture, to regenerate soils and increase farmer resilience.

Omar Crespo is a Guatemalan expert in participatory design, consultant at MIT D-Lab, and the founder of the organization Link4, a social enterprise that fosters local innovation and multi stakeholder collaboration, capacity building and social impact experiences. The team is composed of Guatemalan experts and local community members guiding study trip participants through this immersive experience.

Both organizations Mosan and Link4 are based in Santa Catarina Palopó since 2018 as active members and facilitators in the local innovation ecosystem. Study Trip participants get to delve in and contribute to the ongoing innovation process within the community.

Katharina Nill is coordinating and supporting the trip on behalf of ZHdK.

Registration

Registration for the study trip to Guatemala is handled directly through the ZHdK online tool (ONLA). Further information on how to use ONLA can be found below.
Registration opens on June 4, 2026.

→ Register here for the study trip to Guatemala (April 19–28, 2027)

The ZHdK Strategic Design team is available to answer any questions.

Informations about online application
You can interrupt the application process at any time and complete it at a later date. The information you have entered will be saved. Mandatory fields are marked with a *.
Once you have entered all your information, complete the process by clicking on “Finish entry”. The data can no longer be amended. Your submission will be reviewed by the Continuing Education Office.
Please check your e-mail spam folder during the application period. If you have any further questions about online application or experience any technical difficulties, please contact the Continuing Education Centre: Contact
Sign in with ZHdK login or SWITCH edu-ID
If you already have a ZHdK login, you can sign in with your normal access data. Those without a ZHdK login require a SWITCH edu-ID in order to apply online. You can create one really easily here.
Required documents
Curriculum Vitae
A brief and clear list of your education and professional career history.
Covering letter
Set out your reason for applying for the continuing education degree programme on a maximum of one side of A4. If you do not have a university degree, please describe your professional experience up to this point and why you are applying for your chosen continuing education degree programme (maximum of two sides of A4).
Photo of yourself in JPG format
Upload a recent photo in passport photo quality (at least 320 x 400 pixels). The photo must be high-contrast and your face must be clearly visible. It may not feature other people or objects.
Social security number
If you live or work in Switzerland, you will find your Swiss social security number (756…) on your OASI card or on your Swiss health insurance card.
The documents must be uploaded in PDF format. If you have several individual PDF files, you can upload these one after another.
Terms and conditions
Registration for the study trip does not constitute registration for the CAS Design Cultures or other modules that can be booked separately as part of this CAS. The general terms and conditions of the Center for Continuing Education apply.