Design Education. University-industry collaboration, a case study

Design education often happens in hypothetical contexts indifferent to reality or the surrounding context, disregarding articulation between academy and industry and with no attention to approaches that might enable the academy and the business world to get closer and share knowledge and dynamics reflecting the cultural, technological and social realities of present day society. In the expectation of having design education better address the diverse competencies that will enable graduates to deal with future professional challenges in design, a partnership was established between the University Lusiada Norte and "A Portuguesas", a start-up dedicated to versatile "easy-going" footwear and with several sustainability concerns. The present case study was integrated in a 3rd year annual unit -Design III, of the BA in Design of the Faculty of Architecture and Arts of the University Lusiada Norte.