Design, Heritage and Innovation in Évora, Portugal, in collaboration with DAE students
A group of ten DAE students, along with their with studio leader Mortiz Maria Karl (Studio Silva Systems) and Nicoline Dorsman (Advisor Internationalization), have joined student groups from Universidade de Évora, Escola de Art and Escuela Superior de Diseño de Madrid in a project at the boundary of ethnography and design.
INTRODUCTION
DESIGN AS ETHNOTOURISM: ÉVORA is a week long project where students, from different educational backgrounds, along with their tutors work together to understand the “ethno-tourist” by focusing on people, their social interactions and culture, rather than the expected focus on material landmarks. The objective of the week in Évora is to identify its best qualities, what is unique and most enjoyable about living life in this city, and to reflect on how it could be enhanced through design. The fresh eyes of the participants who are not from the city help to recognise the unique features. These elements are situated outside of tourist attraction guides but they are essential in the lives of the citizens of Évora. Some examples of such city components are: a tree, a game, a well-known character or group, a bar, a favorite house, the way neighbors speak to each other, the cobblestones, a meeting place, a drink or food, a celebration, a craft, a sign with the most special street name, etc.
METHODOLOGY
Each day is structured around city explorations, workshops, meetings, discussions and communal dinners.
Participants work in groups of three, each group having a representative from the collaborating countries. Through wandering, the students actively participate in the application of different ethnographic methods and identify its 100 most special elements, mainly related to the way of living in the city. These elements are compiled into a presentation containing objets, pictures, videos of not only material objects but places, people, ways of relation, etc. This field research is realised through different methodologies such as drawing, photography, video, writing and interviews.
Teresa Carvalheira, a former DAE Social Design Master student, is an important participant and tutor in the workshop. She was born and raised in Évora, meaning she could guide the participants through the city and introduce them to local stakeholders.
“The workshop in Evora is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the local climate and heritage and to investigate potential forms of tourism during the upcoming 2027 Evora European Capital of Culture.” — Moritz Maria Karl
OUTCOME
By the end of the week, participants produce different materials including an archive of visual artefacts, a map of landmarks, a methodology that could be applied to other cities and more. Each group also creates a short video highlighting one of the key elements they identified within the city.
“Dear all, I would like to thank each one of you for making this experience in Évora something truly special. Every corner of the city, every laugh, and every lesson have become memories that I will cherish forever. It has been a journey not only physical but also inner, which made me see the magic that happens when people from different cultures come together. Thank you for being so wonderfully diverse and for showing me the beauty of a shared adventure and the union of different worlds. I hope that, like me, you will carry with you the inspiration and strength that comes from the merging of our diverse roots.” — Chiara, exchange student from Universidade de Évora, Escola de Art and Escuela Superior de Diseño de Madrid
The resulting works are showcased as part of the Évora Cultural Capital 2027 program and are included in an international publication.
This exchange has been made possible thanks to the Erasmus+ grant, Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs).
— DAE communications
