Portuguese Design Year

Guta Moura Guedes | Image via Publico

The year starts in June - The Portuguese Design Year, a government initiative that promotes and divulges portuguese designs around the world!

National production and culture stole the spotlight in the Government Budget of 2014 as soon as this initiative was introduced.
Quoting the document - "Design shall be our prime asset to be promoted internationally in 2014."

Coffee Cup Set | Image via Apaixonarte

Several institutions and companies support the initiative, such as the Investment and External Commerce Agency of Portugal, the Camões Institute, Portugal Tourism and other that helped promote and fund the various projects.

The original idea was established in 2011 but was postponed and redone several times before it's current shape presented in the Foz Palace at the end of May with the presence of the Minister for the Economy and the Secretary of State for the Culture, besides other government officials.

It began this month and will end in May of 2015.

A promo for the Liberty of Images exposition | Image via Comemora Abril

One of the facets of this global initiative is the exposition intitled "A Liberdade da Imagem: Design e Comunicação Visual em Portugal (1974-1986)".
In other words: "The Liberty of Images: Design and Visual Comunication in Portugal", lead by Guta Moura Guedes, curated by José Bártolo, with furter exposition design by Miguel Vieira and graphic design by João Faria.

It'll be a diverse exposition of dialogue between people and their heritage, as a strategy to transform the city into a place of seduction and enchantment, as described by the Culture Councilman, Paulo Cunha e Silva.

This exposition was inaugurated in the 29th of May in seven different places in Oporto: The Casa do Infante, The Quinta da Macieirinha Romantic Museum, the Palacete dos Viscondes de Balsemão, the Museum-House of Guerra Junqueiro, the Almeida Garrett Municipal Gallery, the Azulejos Room in the Casa da Música building and the Serralves Contemporary Art Museum.
It shall last until the 26th of September of 2014 by revealing the 500 works that stood out during the period after the dictatorship fell and before Portugal joined the European Community.

Portuguese Azulejo by Boca do Lobo | Image via Design em Lisboa

Beyond expositions, two awards of seven thousand euros each were announced.
With a 200 thousand euro budget given by the Ministery of Culture and the Ministery of Economics, Guta Moura Guedes presented the awards for Industrial Design and Graphical Design.

The objective of the Portuguese Design Year was not only more expositions and small events but instead the development of a national strategy of great visibility and lasting projects.

Ericeira, World Surf Reservation | Image via IOL

Other projects were introduced, such as a rehabilitation initiative for the Ericeira World Surf Reservation and the subsequent public space requalification in adjacent areas by urban and communication designers.

And the turism incentive won't be surf oriented only - small and medium sized companies throughout the country will unite for initiatives like the publishing of a book that shall feature urban, communication, interior and product designs, as a way of promoting portuguese heritage.

For those who would still like to start their own projects with these incentives, there is a paralel programme open for proposed events, to fully take advantage of the event's budget.

Barcelos Cocks | Image via Artes & etc

Awards, partnerships and turism mixed themselves in the words of Guta Moura Guedes, revealing the versatility of this project.

The full schedule of this big event and more informations about it shall be revealed in the next month on the 1st of July, when the website "designportugues.org" is launched.
It was developed by ESAD as an eventual gallery of all the portuguese works developed throughout the year.