CONTRIBUTION FOR A STRATEGIC VISION ON DESIGN RESEARCH IN PORTUGAL (original) (raw)

Portuguese research in terms of Design is mainly organized into contextual groups related to the schools that offer these courses. Its production exists but it is sparse, it is stimulating but hardly stimulated, it can be recognized but barely known, both nationally and internationally. This study starts with the “history” and methodologies of design in order to make a situation report and try to create a strategic contribution that enables more conscious and active development in the Portuguese economic, social and academic contexts. Besides collecting real information about what is/was done and who does/did scientific research on design in Portugal, it is essential to understand the impact of this work on professional practice or on the institutions that have possibly benefited from its results, as well as to think over the vision and expectation of these agents as far as academic research in this area is concerned. As previously mentioned, Portuguese research in terms of design exists but is not recognized nationally or internationally. This does not suggest any kind of minority on the part of Portuguese researchers, especially if we consider that design study appeared in Universities less than two decades ago and that only in January 2007 did the Portuguese Parliament recognize design as an activity that could be subjected to taxes, or in other words, a profession. Even the Science and Technology Foundation (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCT) started to explicitly include design as a category in masters and doctoral scholarships only two or three years ago. This is likely due to the fact that post-graduation programs in this area are fairly recent. There are very few doctoral courses, which results in a small critical mass. Fortunately, this has been compensated in higher education institutions by doctorates in other knowledge areas, as well as high quality professionals whose contribution is conclusive for the formation of new generations of designers, as well as for the development of research tasks. The creation of the first design courses in Lisbon and Oporto Fine Arts Faculties in 1974, and its further integration in Universities in the 90s, and then the forthcoming of more courses in other university and polytechnic institutions has called attention to the development of design research, as a consequence of these institutions’ missions and the requirements of the teaching profession. As previously referred, the problem of “defining" what corresponds to research in the area of design has brought to debate the question of whether research done on the development of a project for a product (industrial, communication or services) can be considered “scientific” research or if this can only be analyzed according to the norms used in other academic areas. Without an answer to this interesting and essential question, research in design has appeared, which justifies the doctoral courses that can nowadays be found in various Universities, as well as the appearance of research groups and associations (there is now at least one group that is accredited by the FCT and approved by the Lisbon’s IADE - Institute of Visual Arts, Design and Marketing). Notwithstanding, there does not yet exist any systematized information about design research in Portugal. What has been done? What is being done? What are the objectives? How can they be achieved? What resources can be used? Which methodologies can be employed? What kind of research is being developed and what is its importance for the country? What are the challenges for the future? The answer to these questions makes this study relevant as the implementation of the Bologna process implies a new approach to research as a driving force of university life. The answer to these questions seems elemental to enable the alignment of the critical mass that exists in various institutions so as to give credit and visibility to Portuguese design research, within both the academic and the scientific community, and in both the economic and the social context. Only this knowledge can enable the creation of the necessary synergies for a strategic coordination of these diverse efforts and initiatives.