Past
Integrative/multidisciplinary activities in the 2003-2006 period

Projects involving ID+ researchers, begun in the stated period, include:
- Digital Media: R&D programme between Universidade do Porto, the University of Texas at
Austin and Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
- INSCAPE, Interactive Storytelling for Creative People programme
- UPMedia, Universidade do Porto television channel and media center, developed in the
context of the School of Communication Sciences.
- Design and management program with several City Halls in the Central Region of Portugal.
- General board of MAPA, a trans-disciplinary initiative bringing together artists, designers,
engineers and cultural agents for the development of digital media. Hosted by Universidade do
Porto, Universidade de Aveiro, Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
- Wine Design: a project for the redefinition of visual aspects of wine culture (in association
with the Great Wine Capitals network and Cãmara Municipal do Porto).
- CCRE - Center for Spatial Communication and Representation (http://sites.up.pt/ccre)
- Creation of collaborative Design Manuals for classroom use
- Creation of website for health care networks (http://oncologiapediatrica.org)
- Creation of open source typography interfaces (http://typeforge.net).

Outreach activities in the 2003-2006 period

Highlights of projects developed under the stated period that display strongest connections
with Society at large include:
- Design and management program with several City Halls in the Central Region of Portugal
(since 2004)
- Internationally awarded (Design Plus (Frankfurt), Red Dot (Essen), Good design – G-Mark
(Tokyo)) Design products with International Industry sectors (CIFIAL, AMTROL-ALFA)
- Organisation of Design workshops for Youth (University of Porto, 2005, 2006)
- Organisation of commemorative events of World Graphics Day (since 1996), under the flag of
ICOGRADA, International Council of Graphic Design Associations
- Organisation of sessions with APD - Portuguese Association of Designers (2006)
- Inventories and exhibitions of Portuguese brands of the early 20th Century
- Ongoing collaboration programs and internships with local Industry
- Consultancy for the Portuguese Center of Design and coordination of its Observatory Unit
(2005 onwards)
- Curatorship of Design exhibitions (eg. InLoco, series of exhibitions on the relationships
between Design and the Fine Arts, Silo - Espaço Cultural, 2004)
- Design exhibitions in coordination with local entities for the development of mutual symbolic
value (eg. Metro do Porto, Cinema Batalha, Corpus Christi).
Future vision of the Unit's activities for the period 2007-2010
It must be pointed out that, as an emerging scientific area in Portugal, Design will witness a
significant growth in this period. Thus, within the next two years, ID+ will approximately
double its FTE researchers/PhDs, its researchers undergoing doctoral programs will grow
accordingly, as will the number of Masters Degree Dissertations.
The first outcome of ID+ will be the publication of a Design, Media and Culture Reader that
aims to signal a shift in Design Research. This Reader will receive contributions from all
associated researchers, as well as invited key figures, and is meant to act as a vehicle for the
placement of Portuguese Design in the international landscape. Additionally, this Reader will be
a strategic instrument in the definition of future working structures and processes for Design
Research.