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ID+
Campus de Santiago
Universidade de Aveiro
3810-193 Aveiro
Portugal

Nina Costa
designobs [at] ua.pt
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EN PT

PORTUGUESE
DESIGN ECOSYSTEM

  • Education
  • Research
  • Designers
  • Funding
  • Policy
  • Promotion
  • Support
  • Actors
  • Users
Menu
  • Education
  • Research
  • Designers
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ID+
Campus de Santiago
Universidade de Aveiro
3810-193 Aveiro
Portugal

Nina Costa
ndc [at] ua.pt

Research

publications — 02/03/2021

Towards a Design Observatory: crafting a distributed approach [Research@UA]

Costa, N.; Branco, V.; Costa, R.; Borges, A.; Modesto, A.; Cunca, R.; Silva, A.,

[short abstract] The DesignOBS project aims to collect, map and interpret data about the Portuguese Design Ecosystem, providing more robust and reliable information that may support the creation of strategies and policies for its promotion and evolution. To operationalize the project, a three-step Design research iterative process was put in place: (1) Development of a preliminary observation process based in particular on the analysis and comparison of Design ecosystem models in use at the European level; interviews and in-loco visits with leaders of key international Design centers and the application of the reflection-action process proposed by Schön to refine the observation approach; (2) test the observation approach through its application on a preliminary and manageable case about design doctorates to create a “first portray” of the status quo of national scholarly Design research. Results showed important disparities in the number of Design theses concluded (variations of about 25% registered in different databases), and dubious quality of information. The lack of curation of the information presented in institutional databases makes it difficult to create a reliable map about Design. These results led to the development of guidelines and calls for action which were presented and discussed within the REDE community (national Design schools meeting) in late October 2019. These results and methodology, already published in an international outlet, were evolved to understand some foundational aspects of doctoral research in Design and also the reproducibility of Portuguese research in this field of knowledge. (3) Refinement of the iterative reflexive and distributed observation approach based on the results obtained in stage 1 and 2. This process is now being used to approach other research topics such as the characterization of Design companies in Portugal using databases such as SABI that can provide some information to facilitate the creation of preliminary representations.
publications — 02/03/2021

Towards a Design Observatory: The Case of Scholarly Design Research in Portugal [Design2020]

Costa, N., Branco, V., Costa, R., Borges, A., Modesto, A., Silva, A., & Cunca, R.

The DesignOBS project was created to collect, map and interpret data about the Portuguese Design Ecosystem, providing supportive information for decision making. This study takes advantage of a participative Design perspective to define and test an observation process via a case based on Design doctorates undertaken in Portugal. It emphasises the need for additional participatory analysis and curation by experts to evaluate and develop more reliable information about the discipline. Moreover, it develops recommendations that can enhance the communicability of Design doctorates.
post — 01/11/2020

Dataset available: design doctorates undertaken in Portugal

We published the first curated dataset covering a specific vector of the design ecosystem model proposed by Ana Whicher: design reseach, more specifically, doctoral research.
post — 25/10/2020

REDE#02 National Design Schools meeting: we are back!

The event REDE#02 National Design Schools meetings occurred on October 31st 2020 at the Polytechnic Institute of Cávado e do Ave, Barcelos, Portugal. In total, 26 design schools and 49 participants contributed to develop and discuss multiple topics related with design education and models of collaboration with companies.
publications — 02/09/2020

Protecting the Memory of Objects from Nostalgia [4D]

Borges A., Moura C.

In Das gewöhnliches, Bazon Brock features vulgar objects, inexpensive things used in our everyday lives. Such as Pompey’s artifacts were pivotal to understand life after a historical loss, so do normal objects, our tangible legacy, and our connection with them may very well be what defines our humanity. They not only represent but are also as much cause as they are the consequence of the way we live, contributing to the definition of that lifestyle and thus becoming essential in enhancing social values. Every object has a meaning beyond its materiality, and the shape envisioned by its project promotes a reflection about the way we subsist, depends on our habits, suggests how we can live both individually and collectively, and encompasses a political vision or a rejection of the social organization. Design’s participation in social construction becomes particularly acute in a time that so easily displays the erosion of ethical values, escalatingthedevaluation of truth,theinstitutionalizationof hate speech, and the increasing assemblage of walls. Although history may not repeat itself exactly in the same manner, the warnings should not be ignored, and Design must not withdraw from action. The role of Design in this crossroad becomes particularly emphasized in association with concepts such as memory. If Design’s tolerance is not questioned when considering the respect for culture, the defense of collective knowledge by designers, the familiarity with products with which we have lived throughout generations, it may also become permeable because of that retrospective. Memory seems to entail an inevitable sense of place. When our projects envision evolution but remain a reference to what we know, reminding us of our ancestors’ homes through recognition and emotional value, those objects will inevitably distinguish themselves from others. It is necessary to protect that memory, but the homage to what is local and national is precisely what may become the source of the rhetorical foundation which helps to sustain nationalist discourses. Therefore, the distinction between the notion of memory within Design and ideas such as nostalgia and selective memory becomes imperative, since those are the concepts which may truly feed intolerance. Nevertheless, it is also crucial to demonstrate Design’s intercultural nature, its openness, as well as its contribution to the obliteration of borders and to the absence of possible conflicts between an international perspective and the (conscious or unconscious) resource to the past and to our shared inherited knowledge.
liaisons — 30/03/2020

Networking Events

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National project that looks at design as a factor of innovation as well as cultural and socioeconomic development. The project collects and interprets data from the Portuguese Design ecosystem to promote its knowledge and to influence public policies.

2021 Observatório de Design. Towards a Design Observatory: models, instruments, representations and strategies. Supported by Lisbon Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa 2020) and the Competitiveness and Internationalisation Operational Programme (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-032445), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology.
Code + Design by  K I C K V O I D L Ö O P ,  Communication + Design Cooperative. 

ID+
Campus de Santiago
Universidade de Aveiro
3810-193 Aveiro
Portugal

Nina Costa designobs@ua.pt