DAR Proyectos: Gemstone Puzzles That Keep Andean Craft Alive
DAR Proyectos is turning ancient Peruvian stonework into something playful, personal, and surprisingly modern. Their latest collection features puzzles and functional objects made from native Andean gemstones—blending deep cultural roots with thoughtful, contemporary design.
Behind this collection are Jenny Boucher and Mauricio Navarro, the visionary duo who founded DAR to bring fresh life to traditional artisan techniques at risk of disappearing. From soapstone Tangrams to Angelite laundry clips, their creations invite people to touch, play, and reconnect with the power of handmade heritage.
The Inspiration Behind the Andean Gemstone Puzzle Collection
Michael (GizmoCrowd): This collection blends traditional Andean craftsmanship with modern design. What inspired you to create puzzles and functional objects from semi-precious gemstones,and how does this project help preserve ancient artisan techniques?
Mauricio Navarro: From the beginning, we’ve loved the idea of pairing playfulness with a material that usually feels precious or off-limits — like stone. Gemstones are often treated like things you can admire but not really touch. So we wanted to flip that — to create pieces that invite interaction, that you can actually play with and use in everyday life.
That interaction is really important to us. It gives people a new way to connect with the material — not just as decoration or something beautiful sitting on a shelf, but as something that can be part of a fun, grounding moment. Making it playful opens the door for more people to engage with it, especially those who might not normally be drawn to gems. Plus, the natural stones we work with from the Andes of Peru come in the most amazing colors — which just adds to the whole playful vibe. how does this project help preserve ancient artisan techniques? We expand on this question in answer 4
The Craftsmanship & Cultural Significance
Michael (GizmoCrowd): Many of these gemstones—Angelite, Serpentine, Jasper, and Soapstone—have spiritual and cultural meanings in Andean tradition. How do the materials and carving techniques reflect Peru’s rich artistic heritage?
Mauricio Navarro: Many of these artisans are masters in traditional Inka-style jewelry and souvenir carving, but with fewer tourists and changing markets, their workshops have been steadily disappearing. For some artisans, let´s say, driving a taxi has become a more stable living. And that’s heartbreaking, because generations of skill are being lost. Our approach has been to help keep their craft alive — not by changing what they do, but by offering new ways to apply their skills within the same tradition. By working with native Andean gemstones and using their carving techniques to create playful, modern designs like our puzzles, we’re bridging heritage with relevance. Even if someone isn’t drawn to spiritual stones or cultural motifs, they’re still engaging with the material. In doing so, we’re helping keep that magic alive.
The Unique Fusion of Play & Design
Michael (GizmoCrowd): The collection includes laundry clips, gemstone dice, Soma Cubes, and Tangram puzzles. How did you decide on these objects, and how do they serve as both functional decor and interactive puzzles?
Mauricio Navarro: At DAR, form and function are deeply intertwined. We believe that beauty on its own can sometimes fall flat. Especially today, with so much digital in our lives, people are looking for objects that do something, also that bring meaning or presence into their lives. As makers, we feel a responsibility to go beyond just “making stuff.” Our work is about reimagining an ancient, often intimidating material — stone — and making it more approachable and relevant for modern life. We chose to stay analog. And we give users a good reason to stay off their screens when interacting with our primitive grounding materials!
The element of PLAY popped up as a natural way to shake up the beauty of the material (form) and draw you in to touch it. Function has been a gateway for us. By designing objects like phone holders or puzzle-inspired coasters, we invite new audiences — younger people, men who might not usually engage with gems — to connect with stone in a new way. There’s something special about creating playful pieces that also serve as moments of pause, grounding, and even analog joy.
Social Impact & Supporting Andean Artisans
Michael (GizmoCrowd): The campaign highlights the disappearance of traditional stone workshops and the importance of preserving local skills. How does this project create sustainable work opportunities for artisans and younger generations?
Mauricio Navarro: In the last 10 years, 50% of the stone workshops in our town have disappeared. Techniques native to Perú are at risk of being lost to more un-skilled economic alternatives. Craftsmen aren’t teaching their kids the skills that their parents passed on to them.
OUR COMMITMENT is to create reliable work, support skill building and improve workshops. We believe all these components help to secure the surviving workshops.
- RELIABLE WORK: consolidate regular orders for consistent manufacture
- SKILL BUILIDNG: transferring skills to a younger generation also including women
- IMPROVE WORKSHOPS: upgrade machinery; testing hi-tech tools for optimal performance and better working conditions.
The Future of DAR Proyectos & Andean Design Innovation
Michael (GizmoCrowd): DAR Proyectos has been blending craft and contemporary design for years. What’s next for your studio? Do you plan to expand the gemstone puzzle line or introduce new handcrafted home decor collections?
Mauricio Navarro: We’re always exploring! As creatives, we’re constantly testing new ideas — whether it’s expanding the gemstone puzzle line or experimenting with new materials. Lately, we’ve been mixing stone with ceramics, creating playful containers with geometric shapes and gem handles. Beyond stone, we also work closely with textile artisans — something that’s actually how our journey began. We’ve built a network of over 300 weavers and collaborate on handcrafted pieces for international brands. It’s a part of our work we don’t always highlight, but it’s core to who we are. Whether it’s through puzzles, objects, or textiles, we’re passionate about blending the traditional with the contemporary — and turning heritage into something people can live with, use, and enjoy every day.
Michael (GizmoCrowd): Thank you to Jenny and Mauricio for sharing the story behind DAR Proyectos. Your mission to revive artisan stonework through creative design is not only inspiring but essential. We can’t wait to see how you continue to transform heritage into joyful, modern living—one handcrafted piece at a time.
Andean Gemstone Puzzle Collection
About DAR Proyectos
DAR Proyectos was founded by Jenny Boucher, a Canadian designer passionate about traditional textiles, and Mauricio Navarro, an award-winning Peruvian industrial designer. The pair met in the Peruvian Amazon and have since combined their talents to reimagine indigenous craftsmanship for a global audience. Together, they bring heritage into modern homes—one stone puzzle, textile piece, or handcrafted object at a time.
