2nd International Conference
on Design & Industry
25-27 March 2026
District C, Guimarães, Portugal
<our theme>
Design for Different Futures
Learning with Nature
</our theme>
About the 2nd Edition
In a rapidly transforming world, the second edition of DESIGN COMMIT is set to break boundaries, fostering a dynamic relationship between design, industry, and nature. As a global platform for dialogue and collaboration, this in-person event brings together visionary researchers, pioneering designers, creative academics, forward-thinking technology companies, startups, business associations, and policymakers.
The 2026 edition embraces the theme “Design for Different Futures | Learning with Nature,” reinforcing the need to integrate nature’s intelligence into design and industry. DESIGN COMMIT 2026 cultivates an ecosystem where innovation and sustainability are not opposing forces but interconnected drivers of progress. By exploring cutting-edge materials, AI-driven design, and regenerative systems, we seek to reimagine the future of design and industry—one where creativity, responsibility, and resilience shape a world in harmony with nature.
Through interdisciplinary exchange and knowledge-sharing, the event serves as a catalyst for transformative ideas, empowering participants to co-create solutions that align with both technological advancements and the urgent need for environmental and social responsibility.
Our Purpose
At the heart of DESIGN COMMIT 2026 lies a fundamental commitment: to redefine the role of design as a force for sustainability, inclusion, and resilience. Our purpose is to challenge conventional models and explore how nature-inspired solutions, biomimicry, and circular economy principles can drive innovation across industries.
Aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda, this edition is dedicated to fostering regenerative practices, ethical production, and responsible technological integration. We will address urgent global challenges—climate change, digital inclusion, and sustainable manufacturing—by leveraging research, experimentation, and collaboration to push the boundaries of design’s impact on society and the environment.
As we navigate a world shaped by unprecedented challenges, DESIGN COMMIT 2026 is a call to action: embrace nature’s wisdom, harness emerging technologies, and co-create a future where design is a tool for innovation and a catalyst for planetary well-being.
Updated 26/06/2025
Conference Chairs
General Chair
Maria João Félix
School of Design, Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave, and Research & Education in Design research group (REDES) from the Center for Research in Architecture Urbanism and Design (CIAUD).
Chair
Fátima Pombo
Department of Communication and Art of University of Aveiro and Industries Research Group from the Research Institute for Design, Media and Culture (ID+).
fpombo@ua.pt
Chair
Rita Almendra
Lisbon School of Architecture (FA ULisboa) and Research & Education in Design research group (REDES) from the Center for Research in Architecture Urbanism and Design (CIAUD).
General Chair
Paulo Cruz
School of Architecture, Art and Design of the University of Minho and Research & Education in Design and Technology Group (DeTech) from the Laboratory of Landscape, Heritage and Territory (Lab2PT)
Chair
Fernando Moreira da Silva
Lisbon School of Architecture (FA ULisboa) and Research & Education in Design research group (REDES) from the Center for Research in Architecture Urbanism and Design (CIAUD).
Conference Editorial Committee
Maria João Félix
School of Design, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave (PT)
Fátima Pombo
Department of Communication and Art, University of Aveiro
(PT)
Fernando Moreira da Silva
Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT)
Paulo Cruz
School of Architecture, Art and Design, University of Minho (PT)
Rita Assoreira Almendra
Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT)
Scientific Committee
Afonso Borges > | Department of Communication and Art, University of Aveiro (PT) |
Alba Cappellieri > | Department of Design, Politecnico Di Milano (IT) |
Alexandra Cruchinho > | School of Communication, Architecture, Art and Information Technologies, Lusófona University (PT) |
Ana Cristina Broega > | Department of Textile Engineering, University of Minho (PT) |
Ana Thudichum Vasconcelos > | Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Ana Melo > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Ana Moreira da Silva > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Annette Svaneklink Jakobsen > | Department of Design, Media and Educational Science, University of Southern Denmark (DK) |
António Gil Campos > | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro (PT) |
António Gorgel Pinto > | IADE - Universidade Europeia (PT) |
Bartolomeu Paiva > | Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (PT) |
Bernardo Providência > | School of Architecture, Art and Design, University of Minho (PT) |
Bettina Maisch > | Munich University of Applied Sciences (DE) |
Brigitte Mozota > | University of Quebec in Montreal (CA) |
Bruno Figueiredo > | School of Architecture, Art and Design, University of Minho (PT) |
Carlos Duarte > | IADE – Universidade Europeia (PT) |
Carlos Rosa > | IADE – Universidade Europeia (PT) |
Cristina Isabel dos Santos > | Polytechnic Institute of Beja (PT) |
Daniel Brandão > | Department of Communication Sciences, University of Minho (PT) |
Daniel Raposo > | Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco (PT) |
Deniz Hasirci > | Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, İzmir University of Economicsi (TR) |
Eduardo Noronha > | School of Architecture, Art and Design, University of Minho (PT) |
Elisabete Rolo > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Emília Duarte > | IADE – Universidade Europeia (PT) |
Emílio Vilar > | Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Fátima Pombo > | Department of Communication and Art, University of Aveiro (PT) |
Fernando Poeiras > | Caldas da Rainha School of Arts and Design, Polytechnic of Leiria (PT) |
Fernando Moreira da Silva > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Filipe Brandão > | School of Architecture, Art and Design of the University of Minho (PT) |
Francesco Galli > | IULM University Milan (IT) |
Gilberto Santos > | ID+ Research Institute for Design, Media and Culture (PT) |
Giovanni Maria Conti > | Design Department, Politecnico di Milano (IT) |
Gonçalo Gomes > | Department of Communication and Art, University of Aveiro (PT) |
Hande Ayanoğlu > | IADE – Universidade Europeia (PT) |
Heitor Alvelos > | Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Porto (PT) |
Hélder Carvalho > | Department of Textile Engineering, University of Minho (PT) |
Hugo Farias > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Ida Nilstad Pettersen > | Department of Design, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO) |
Inês Simões > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Inês Veiga > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Jeremy Aston > | College of Art and Design, ESAD (PT) |
João Batalheiro Ferreira > | IADE – Universidade Europeia (PT) |
João Carlos Martins > | Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo (PT) |
João Neves > | Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco (PT) |
João Sampaio > | Department of Communication and Art, University of Aveiro (PT) |
Joana Cunha > | Department of Textile Engineering, University of Minho (PT) |
José Carlos Sá > | School of Engineering, Polytechnic of Porto (PT) |
José Silveira Dias > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
José Machado > | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minho (PT) |
José Gago da Silva > | School of Arts, University of Évora (PT) |
Katja Tschimmel > | University of Porto (PT) |
Lígia Lopes > | Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Porto (PT) |
Liliana Soares > | Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo (PT) |
Liliana Neves > | Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco (PT) |
Liesbeth Huybrechts > | Faculty of Architecture and Art, Hasselt University (BE) |
Lisha Ren > | College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University (CN) |
Louise Valentine > | School of Textiles and Design, Heriot Watt University, Dubai Campus (AE) |
Luis Carlos Paschoarelli > | Department of Design, São Paulo State University (BR) |
Luís Mota > | Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo (PT) |
Marco Neves da Silva > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Maria Inês Secca Ruivo > | Department of Visual Arts and Design, University of Évora (PT) |
Maria João Delgado > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Maria João Félix > | School of Design, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave (PT) |
Mariana Eidler Diaz > | Barcelona School of Design and Eginnering , Elisava (ES) |
Miguel Carvalhais > | Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Porto (PT) |
Miguel de Aboim Borges > | ISMAT – Instituto Superior Manuel Teixeira Gomes (PT) |
Miguel Duarte > | School of Architecture, Art and Design, University of Minho (PT) |
Mónica Romãozinho > | University of Beira Interior (PT) |
Nena Zutshi > | World University of Design (IN) |
Nuno Duarte Martins > | School of Design, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave (PT) |
Noël Palomo-Lovinski > | School of Fashion, College of the Arts, Kent State University (US) |
Özlem Er > | Department of Industrial Design, Istanbul Bilgi University (TR) |
Patrizia Ranzo > | Università della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” (IT) |
Paula Trigueiros > | School of Architecture, Art and Design, University of Minho (PT) |
Paulo Silva > | Department of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences, University of Aveiro |
Paulo J. S. Cruz > | School of Architecture, Art and Design, University of Minho (PT) |
Pedro Bandeira Maia > | Coimbra School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (PT) |
Raquel Pelayo > | Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto (PT) |
Renato Bispo > | Caldas da Rainha School of Arts and Design, Polytechnic of Leiria (PT) |
Renee Wever > | Department of Management and Engineering, Linköping University (SE) |
Ricardo Bonacho > | Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology, at Universidade Europeia (PT) |
Ricardo Simões > | School of Design, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave (PT) |
Rita Assoreira Almendra > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Rita Salvado > | University of Beira Interior (PT) |
Rui Marcelino > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Rute Gomes > | Lisbon School of Architecture, University of Lisbon (PT) |
Sara Gancho > | IADE – Universidade Europeia (PT) |
Silvia Held > | University of São Paulo (BR) |
Sílvia Soares > | School of Architecture, Art and Design, University of Minho (PT) |
Silvina Félix > | School of Design, Management and Production Technologies Northern Aveiro, University of Aveiro (PT) |
Soraia Ala > | School of Design, Management and Production Technologies Northern Aveiro, University of Aveiro (PT) |
Stuart Walker > | Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) |
Susana Cruz Barreto > | Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Porto (PT) |
Suzana Dias > | School of Design, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave (PT) |
Tenna Tvedebrink > | Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology; Aalborg University (DK) |
Terence Love > | Love Services Pty Ltd, Australia (AU) |
Teresa Franqueira > | Department of Communication and Art, University of Aveiro (PT) |
Vera Barradas Martins > | Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre (PT) |
Violeta Clemente > | School of Design, Management and Production Technologies Northern Aveiro, University of Aveiro (PT) |
Victor Neto > | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro (PT) |
Organization Committee
Daniel Raposo
Eduardo Noronha
Fátima Pombo
Fernando Moreira da Silva
Filipe Brandão
Maria João Félix
Paula Trigueiros
Paulo Cruz
Pedro Bandeira Maia
Rita Almendra
Rita da Cruz Tavares
Rogério Ribeiro
Sílvia Soares
Sónia Seixas
Suzana Dias
Verónica Duarte
Honorary Commitee
FULL PROFESSOR OF THE LISBON SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
Carlos Francisco Lucas Dias Coelho
PRESIDENT OF THE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF CÁVADO AND AVE
Maria José Fernandes
RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF AVEIRO
Paulo Jorge Ferreira
PRESIDENT OF THE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF CASTELO BRANCO
António Fernandes
RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINHO
Rui Vieira de Castro
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FOUNDATION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Maria Madalena dos Santos Alves
MAYOR OF BRAGA CITY COUNCIL
Ricardo Bruno Antunes Machado Rio
Volunteers/Students
Coming soon…
Credits
Art Direction
Conference Chairs
Design, Communication & Web Design
Rita da Cruz Tavares
Rogério Ribeiro
Original Logo Design
Nuno Martins
Event Organization Partners
Be Formal
Fátima Ribeiro
Manuela Sequeira Campos
Olivetravel
Paula Oliveira