Student Distinctions at IJUP 2025

The Master in Graphic Design and Editorial Projects (MDGPE) is proud to announce that two of our students, Rita Melo and Bruno Barros, have been honored with distinguished awards at the 2025 edition of the Young Research Meeting of the University of Porto (IJUP). Their outstanding work, presented in the Arts category, captivated the audience and highlighted the innovative research being conducted in our program.

Rita Melo during her presentation in the auditorium

Bruno Barros: A Visual Guide for Aspiring Type Designers

Bruno Barros received a distinction for his poster presentation, “SANS SERIF: Visual Beginners Guide to Type Design”. In a bustling and well-attended session, Bruno showcased his project aimed at making the intricate world of type design more accessible to newcomers.

His research addresses the common challenges beginners face, such as fragmented information and a lack of practical guidance. To combat this, Bruno is developing a digital typeface and an accompanying educational manual that simplifies complex concepts through visual aids.

My goal is to empower aspiring designers by providing them with a clear and intuitive entry point into type design,” says Bruno. “This project is about bridging the gap between theory and practice, and fostering a passion for typography.”

We can see Bruno Barros proudly and steadfastly presenting with his award-winning poster, ‘SANS SERIF: Visual Beginners Guide to Type Design,’ to the Jury at IJUP 2025 (in the background: prof.s Joana Rego and Claudia Amandi, and Bruno on the right). This was a short clip captured during the very crowded, very busy, and also very noisy poster session. In the foreground, presenting to the concurrent jury session were Prof. Rui Santos and Pedro Amado, as well as the student Cíntia Funchal, also from the MDGPE.

Rita Melo: Revitalizing the Typographic Workshop

Rita Melo’s oral presentation, “Rehabilitation and Enhancement of the FBAUP Typography Workshop: Research, Inventory, and Promotion of Pedagogical Activities”, was met with great enthusiasm in a packed auditorium. Her project focuses on the revitalization of the Faculty of Fine Arts’ typographic workshop, exploring how traditional letterpress techniques can be meaningfully integrated into a curriculum designed for “digital natives”.

Audience and Juri (Profs. Claudia Amandi and Joana Rego), during Rita Melo’s presentation, while she mesmerizes a very nice audience turnout with her presentation on the revitalization of the FBAUP typographic workshop

Through meticulous research, inventory, and hands-on experimentation, Rita’s work not only preserves the rich heritage of the workshop but also proposes innovative pedagogical approaches that blend analog and digital methodologies.

The FBAUP typographic workshop is a treasure trove of history and craft,” explains Rita. “My research aims to unlock its potential for a new generation of designers, demonstrating how the tangible experience of letterpress can enrich their creative process in the digital age.

Rita even had her own private cheering crew, among assisting and participating students from the Master and the Bachelor’s degrees! 😉 (from left to right, Francisca Rebelo, Eunice Bastos, Catarina Ferreira and Laura Jardim)
A glimpse into the historic and hybrid approaches in the FBAUP typographic workshop, the focus of Rita Melo’s award-winning research

Looking Ahead

The success of Bruno and Rita at IJUP 2025 is a testament to the vibrant and forward-thinking community at MDGPE. Their achievements are sure to inspire future students to engage in groundbreaking research and contribute to the ever-evolving field of graphic design. We encourage all aspiring researchers and designers to consider participating in next year’s event and to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.