Celebrating a Growing, Engaged Academic Community in the 18th edition of IJUP – Encontro de Investigação Jovem da Universidade do Porto —the annual Young Researchers Meeting of the University of Porto.
This year the event counted with the participation of dozens of students from FBAUP, from the MDIP, MIEI, MDI and especially from the MDGPE master’s program. A recorded participation from a whopping batch of 18 students — our best record so far!
Several students (a growing number) had the courage and the proud determination to present their research in an oral communication. Despite some still insisting on delivering it in Portuguese, it was a great practice session. With feedback and criticism. Namely:
- Illustration as an Instrument for Education and Scientific Dissemination: Internship at the National Museum of Natural History and Science from Francisca Paixão (supervised By Emília Costa)
- Sub-brand Design in the Cultural Context: Identity Design Project for the Education Service of the Soares dos Reis National Museum, from Inês Leite (supervised By Emília Costa)
- Asprela Central Park: Articulation between Landscape Architecture and Editorial Design in the Representation of Narrative Flow, from Maria Reis (supervised By Emília Costa)
- Pictograms as universal communication tools in drug administration: a graphic design project to improve health literacy, from Sérgio Brito (supervised By Emília Costa)
- Rehabilitation and Enhancement of the FBAUP Typography Workshop: Research, Inventory, and Promotion of Pedagogical Activities, from Rita Melo (Supervised by Pedro Amado an Graciela Machado)
- The Colors of Alto Douro Vinhateiro: Documenting and Communicating Territorial Identity Through an Editorial Artifact, from Fátima Ribeiro (supervised by Emília Costa)
Other notable communications include the communications from Margarida Lemos or posters from Sara Duarte (from the MIEI) just to name a few.
The Posters sessions are still the most sought after of the students. Despite the (very difficult format and short 3minute pitch to the juri) they sill prefer this visual medium. The MDGPE this year counted with the research poster presentations:
- Design undermarket logic—A critical analysis of graphic design and its practice in an unequal society, from Cíntia Carvalho (supervised by Cristina Ferreira);
- SANS SERIF: Visual Beginners Guide to Type Design, from Bruno Barros (Supervised by Pedro Amado);
- Brick chimneys in Greater Porto, from André Soares (supervised by Cristina Ferreira)
- Considerations on Condensing Typefaces, from Daniel Sousa (supervised by Pedro Amado);
- Reading in color, feeling emotions – The psychology of color in Planeta Tangerina, from Sofia Silva (supervised by Cristina Ferreira);
- The Impact of Photography on the creation of a Visual Identity, from Pedro Monteiro (supervised by Cristina Ferreira);
- The Evolution of Ukrainian Cyrillic: Historical Roots and Modern Digital Fonts, from Anastasiia Zavalniuk, (supervised by Pedro Amado);
- NOM[br]E. Historical development of the terminology used in the anatomy of the book, from Melissa Gaviria (Supervised by Pedro Amado and Rúben Dias);
- Visual Identity in Music: Analysis of the graphic expression of José Afonso’s discs from 1974 to 1985, from Alexandra Aidos (supervised by José Carneiro);
- From Dust You Came and to a Dust Jacket You Shall Return: An Exploration of Books as a Method of Interment and Memorial, from Christine Andres (supervised by Cristina Ferreira);
- Designing Narratives: An Exploration of Editorial Design and the Importance of Archives. Internship report at silvadesigners studio, from Marta Fernandes (Supervised by Pedro Amado );
- “The Little Prince”: Accessibility and Engagement Through AR and Motion, from Hugo Carvalho (one of the few 1st year masters’ students with a project supervised by Cristina Ferreira)
Huge congratulations to all the students of the Master in Graphic Design and Editorial Projects for their inspiring energy and active participation in this year’s communications and poster sessions. Your dedication to sharing research, discussing ideas, and supporting one another continues to shape a vibrant academic culture — one that’s collaborative, inquisitive, and always expanding.
It’s especially exciting to see how the Master’s community has grown in recent years, both in numbers and in the diversity of projects being developed. The sessions were filled with rich discussions, critical insights, and generous feedback — a testament to your commitment as researchers, designers, and communicators.
We were also proud to welcome alumni back to the program, not only to reconnect but to continue contributing to this evolving space of knowledge and practice. And of course, a special thank you to the many students who attended to support their colleagues — your presence, questions, and thoughtful engagement made these sessions even more meaningful.
Whether presenting or listening, everyone played a part in making this an intellectually rewarding and creatively energizing moment in our academic year. Let’s keep the momentum going — building bridges between design, research, and the many communities we serve.
Here’s to your ongoing curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking — and to the growing strength of this master’s program. Well done, everyone!