Abstract
This study focuses on a pedagogical approach implemented in an academic context with second-year undergraduate Communication Design students at Porto Lusófona University during the Spring semester of 2021/22. As part of their Communication Design II unit, students had the opportunity to create an environmental awareness campaign for Porto, supported by the Porto City Council. The project centred around citizenship behaviours and sustainable practices: waste reduction and recycling, promoting initiatives to decrease traffic congestion and carbon emissions. The goal was to raise awareness among residents and tourists in Porto about the importance of sustainable practices intended to generate local and global Impact. The creative process used the Design Thinking methodology (problem definition, project ideation, prototyping and implementation). The paper is structured into four main parts: Introduction, Literature Review, Work Methodology, and Conclusion. This Pedagogical Practice has demonstrated preparing Design students to use their skills to promote positive societal changes. It empowered them with a strong sense of purpose, social relevance, and the ability to contribute to a sustainable and innovative future. Additionally, the opportunity to showcase their work in the city added practical value to their academic efforts and enhanced the quality of their portfolios. They became motivated to identify opportunities, take initiative, and become agents of transformation. Instilling responsibility and ethics equipped them to become conscientious designers capable of making a significant positive difference through their creative solutions.
Presenters
Carla CadeteAssociate Professor of Communication Design, FCAATI, Lusófona University/HEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Lab, Porto, Portugal
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2024 Special Focus—Cultures of Transformative Design
KEYWORDS
PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICE, SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE, TRANSFORMATIVE DESIGN, DESIGN CAMPAIGN
