Conference
DRIVE – Design Related Investigation Conference is organized and promoted by the Master in Design at the School of Media Arts and Design (ESMAD P.PORTO).
Now in its 8th edition, DRIVE has established itself as a key platform for debate, focused on the dynamics of design research. Our aim is to bring together researchers, professionals and students, with particular attention to the scientific and creative work developed within Master’s programs in Design.
Alongside a robust program featuring renowned keynote speakers, DRIVE 2026 continues its focus on the new generation of designers and Master’s students. In this context, we are hosting the 2nd Forum for MA Students in Design, a dedicated space for sharing and dissemination.
We invite all Design Master’s students to submit extended abstracts presenting their research projects, which will then be converted into scientific posters – whether the research is completed or ongoing. Once accepted, the original research proposals must be converted into scientific posters by their authors and will be presented at DRIVE. This is an ideal opportunity to present proposals, discuss results, and foster exchange within a high-quality academic environment.
Date: October 15, 2026
Location: ESMAD Campus 2 P.PORTO, Vila do Conde/Póvoa de Varzim
Audience: Researchers, professionals, Master’s students, students, and design
enthusiasts.
We warmly invite the local, national, and international community to join us in celebrating and advancing research at Design MA’s level.
Committees
- Abel Tavares
- Ângelo Gonçalves
- Cristina Lousada Soares
- Dirk Loyens
- Hugo Vaz
- Lurdes Gomes
- Marta Fernandes
- Pedro Serapicos
- Rita Coelho
- Vitor Quelhas
- Ângelo Gonçalves
- Pedro Serapicos
- Bianca Mota
- Abel Tavares (ESMAD)
- Ana Filomena Curralo (IPVC)
- Ana Mónica Romãozinho (UBI)
- Ana Thudichum Vasconcelos (FBAUL/ CIEba)
- Ângelo Gonçalves (ESMAD)
- Andrew Howard (ESAD)
- Caroline Loss (UBI)
- Cristina Lousada Soares (ESMAD)
- Daniel Brandão (U.Minho)
- Demétrio Matos (IPCA)
- Dirk Loyens (ESMAD)
- Elga Ferreira (ESAD.CR)
- Ermanno Aparo (IPVC)
- Filipe Figueiredo (IADE)
- Flávio Almeida (UBI)
- Gianni Montagna (FAUL)
- Hande Ayanoglu (IADE)
- Horácio Tomé Marques (ESMAD)
- Hugo Vaz (ESMAD)
- Isabel Silva Gouveia (UBI)
- Jeremy Aston (ESAD)
- Joaquim Cruz (U.Aveiro)
- João Brandão (FAUL)
- João Carlos Pinto (ESAD.CR)
- João Cruz (FBAUL)
- João Neves (IPCB)
- Jorge dos Reis (FBAUL)
- José Carneiro (FBAUP)
- José Vicente (ESAD.CR)
- Júlio Dolbeth (FBAUP)
- Lígia Lopes (FBAUP)
- Luciana Barbosa (ESAD)
- Luís Marques Ferreira (U.Aveiro)
- Luís Leite (ESMAD)
- Lurdes Gomes (ESMAD)
- Maria João Cortesão (ESMAD)
- Marco Neves (FAUL)
- Marta Fernandes (ESMAD)
- Marta Madureira (IPCA)
- Marta Nestor (IADE)
- Nuno Martins (IPCA)
- Paulo Dinis (FAUL)
- Paulo Maldonado (U.Évora)
- Pedro Amado (FBAUP)
- Pedro Oliveira (ESMAD)
- Pedro Serapicos (ESMAD)
- Rita Coelho (ESMAD)
- Rodrigo Morais (IADE)
- Rui Dias (IPCB)
- Shujoy Chakraborty (U.Madeira)
- Sílvia Soares (U.Minho)
- Suzana Parreira (FBAUL)
- Telmo Carvalho (ESMAD)
- Teresa Olazabal Cabral (FAUL)
- Vitor Quelhas (ESMAD)
Keynote Speakers
André Tiago Gouveia (b. 1983) is an industrial designer, strategic designer, and educator who believes product experiences should make sense for people, industry, and the market. A professional designer since 2006, he founded INNGAGE in 2013, a consultancy focused on strategic product design through a human-centered approach. He is an Invited Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon, teaching Product and Service Design and leading Innovation and Design Thinking in the Master's in Equipment Design. He holds a PhD in Fine Arts from the same institution, with doctoral research on design thinking in product development and innovation.
Laura Meseguer Studio, is led by Laura Meseguer, a type and brand designer based in Barcelona, with more than 20 years of experience creating custom lettering and typefaces for brands, cultural institutions, and publishers. She has worked with clients such as TOUS, Typeform, Het Parool, Ajuntament de Barcelona, and Google. Her approach combines craftsmanship and collaboration, blending traditional techniques with an experimental touch, always guided by rigor and joy. After studying graphic design, she specialized in type design through the renowned Type and Media program at the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague. She is co-founder of Type-Ø-Tones, one of the first digital type foundries in Spain, and served on the board of ATypI from 2017 to 2023. She is also part of Alphabettes, a community that promotes the work of women and non-binary people in type design. With more than 15 years of teaching experience, Laura has trained students who are now leading professionals in the field. Since 2019, she has directed Tipo-g, an educational project focused on type design. Her typefaces have received awards from the Type Directors Club, the ISTD, and the ADG-FAD Laus Awards. In 2018, she received the Premio Gràffica for her career achievements and her contribution to the field of typography in Spain.
Programme
Coming soon
Registration
Registration requires payment of a fee to cover the printing of posters, which will be handled by the DRIVE organization.
At the time of registration, authors must also submit the final version of their poster. Authors of accepted posters will present their work at DRIVE. Their poster will be printed and exhibited, and registration includes:
- Inclusion in the conference program
- Poster printing and exhibition
- Certificate of participation
- Publication in the DRIVE conference proceedings
Authors
- 25 euros (until June 30)
- 30 euros (until July 31)
- 35 euros (until September 14)
ESMAD students and ID+ researchers:
Exempt from the registration fee (poster printing at their own expense).
Audience
Access to DRIVE is free and open to the public.
Registration
Registration payment is not automatic. After registering, participants will receive an email with payment
details. For any inquiries, please contact: drive@esmad.ipp.pt
Registration form