VIRTUAL: Prague Heritages
Abstract
This research aims to obtain an awareness of the polysemic nature of the terminologies surrounding a subject such as Crafts, facilitating a mutual understanding between students, creative professionals, and the universe of industries and traditional sectors in Northern Portugal. Crafts and other related terms, such as artisan, maker, folk art, manufacture, traditional, skill and crafts, are often employed and articulated with ambiguity, mainly because different disciplines have studied crafts from different perspectives. Additionally, ‘crafts’ can signify many distinct economic processes and exchanges, serving different professional purposes. The research has found evidence of this ambivalence in terminology through literature review, personal interaction with local primary sources, and observation of scientific panels and research groups. Being aware of such differences can be advantageous for Design Research and Design practice. Therefore, we present a list of key terms to allow further discussion, contributing to a clearer taxonomy that intends to gather practical intelligibility less focused on a terminological point of view. We are looking for common ground on the definition of terminologies for this context based on the inference that each term can say different things in different instances. The employed methodology consists of a systematised cross-referencing of terminologies and a series of semi-structured interviews among active professionals, namely designers, experts/researchers, and craftspeople. Their statements were recorded and extrapolated to compare how different actors working in similar or neighbouring knowledge areas understood and employed the range of key crafts-related terms.
Diana Vieira-da-Silva is a Doctoral Student in Design from the Institute for Research in Design, Media and Culture (ID+), an association between University of Porto, and the University of Aveiro. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Architecture by the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (2010). Diana developed her professional practice as an architect, designer, consultant, and creative director. She works at the intersection of design, architecture and traditional crafts.
Heitor Alvelos. PhD RCA, 2003; MFA SAIC, 1992. Associate Professor in Design, University of Porto; coordinator of Unexpected Media Lab at ID+; Executive Board Member, European Academy of Design; Member of Academia Europaea; Chairman of the Scientific Board (HSS), Foundation for Science and Technology (2016-2022). Recent research includes”Anti-Amnesia: Design research as an agent for narrative and material regeneration and reinvention”, and “An Infodemic of Disorientation: design as mediator between scientific knowledge and cognitive bias.” Heitor has provided consultancy for the Portuguese Ministry of Science, AHRC UK, and the New European Bauhaus. More at www.benevolentanger.org
Nuno Valentim. Ph.D. in Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, University Porto (FAUP). MSc in Architectural Rehabilitation, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto. Associated Professor at FAUP. Author of Gallery of Biodiversity, Porto; Extension of the Lycée Français, Porto; Bolhão Market Rehabilitation, Porto. Member of “BIOPOLIS – Teaming to Upgrade to Excellence in Environmental Biology, Ecosystem Research, and AgroBiodiversity”; Member of the Technical-Scientific Board from “Reabilitar como Regra” working on the adequacy of regulations to building rehabilitation (2017/2019). Selected prizes include the International Architectural Award (2019); National Urban Rehabilitation (2018) IHRU/Nuno Teotónio Pereira National (2017).
João de Almada (2014).; Júlio Dolbeth born in Angola in 1973, lives and works in Porto. PhD in Art and Design, area of illustration, Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto in 2014 (FBAUP). Master in Multimedia Art in 2002 (FBAUP) and Degree in Communication Design in 1996 (FBAUP). Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto. Co-founder and curator of the gallery Dama Aflita, in Porto, between 2008 and 2016. Artist and illustrator, he has been exhibiting regularly in solo and group exhibitions.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Wednesday 28th June, 2023