This week on AVD Inspire, I’m joined by the brilliant Laura Noriega — Founder and Creative Director of TRIBUTO, a design brand that celebrates Mexico’s cultural heritage through timeless, handmade objects.

Laura’s story is all about leaving, returning, and rediscovering her creative roots. She studied and worked in Barcelona, Milan, and even Kyoto — chasing inspiration all over the world. But when she returned to Guadalajara, she found her true calling: reconnecting with her culture and championing the artisans who keep traditional craft alive.

Together with her sister, Laura built TRIBUTO into a brand that’s as much about people and poetry as it is about products. But what really lights Laura up is community, collaboration, and proving that craft is not a thing of the past — it’s the future.

In this episode, we talk about:

– Laura’s journey from studying abroad to returning home to Guadalajara

– How her friend’s simple drawing shifted the entire course of her life

– Founding TRIBUTO with her sister and why family makes the best creative partners

– Why Mexico’s artisans and workshops are having a global design moment

– The challenges (and beauty) of weaving tradition into contemporary design

– Measuring real impact and what it means to uplift communities through craft

– Guadalajara’s rise as a design destination (and why you need to visit!)

– Laura’s rituals that keep her grounded...literally!

About Laura Noriega

Laura Noriega is a Mexican designer, thinker, and collaborator with a background in Product Design and Interior Architecture. She is the Founder and Creative Director of TRIBUTO, the brand she launched with her sister to design and produce handmade objects rooted in cultural heritage and traditional local production.

Her work has been celebrated globally — from Architectural Digest México’s AD100 Creative Gurus to PHAIDON’s Designed for Life: The World’s Best Product Designers and Salone Satellite: 20 Years of Creativity. Beyond beautiful objects, Laura is passionate about teaching, leading workshops, and creating processes that spark dialogue between contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship.

Connect with Laura & TRIBUTO

Want more of Laura’s world of culture, craft, and creative collaboration? Follow her here:

• Website: tributo.mx

• Instagram: @tributomx | @laura_noriega

• Facebook: TRIBUTO