Design Commit: 1st International Conference on Design & Industry 2024: book of proceedings

Maria João Félix is an academic and industrial designer whose work is grounded in industrial design, design education, industry, circular economy and sustainability. She holds a PhD in Design from the Lisbon School of Architecture (2013), a Master’s degree in Industrial Design from ESAD in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (2006), and a degree in Design from ESAD (1998). She completed a postdoctoral research project entitled Bioneurodesign: from noetics to supermodernity, consolidating a systemic and human-centred approach to design research and practice. She is the General Chair of the international conference Design Commit, dedicated to fostering dialogue between design, industry and society. She is also the author of Strategic Reflection for Design in Portugal, which systematises international design research perspectives and contributes to the positioning of Portuguese design in a global context. Maria João Félix has held several academic leadership roles and is currently Director of the Master’s Programme in Design and Product Development at IPCA, as well as an integrated researcher at CIAUD. She is an active author and reviewer in international scientific journals and has been recognised for pedagogical excellence and professional contribution to the design field, including the Mobis 2001 Prize.

Fátima Pombo is Full Professor of Design, Director of the Research Institute for Design, Media and Culture [ID+] at the University of Aveiro, having performed other scientific management responsibilities. She was a visiting professor at the University of Leuven (KUL), Belgium, for almost a decade and lectured within the Erasmus programme at other European Universities. She is Co-Chair of the Design Commit 2026 edition as she was of the Design Commit 2024 edition. Engaging in international research projects and conferences, she participates in several academic activities and serving, among others, as a design jury member for the iF Design Award in Germany, for the Evaluation Panel of FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology and for the Evaluation Commission of A3ES -Accreditation of Study Programmes. Her main research interests are interior design, spatial design, the phenomenology of design, and the aesthetics of sustainability.
Fátima Pombo, an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation postdoctoral fellow, conducted research at the University of Munich and at the University of Heidelberg. Beyond academia, she studied Music at the Conservatório de Música do Porto. She published Traços de Música (2001), Das Coisas Belas e Desenhadas (1st ed. 2018; 2nd ed. 2020), Synchresis Audiovision Tales (as editor, 2019) and Design para Ideias Ecossistémicas. A Transição para um Futuro Sustentável (as editor, 2023) with the Aveiro University Press.

Paulo J. S. Cruz is Dean and Professor of Construction and Technology at the School of Architecture, Art and Design of the University of Minho. He is President of the Design Institute of Guimarães (since 2015) and coordinator of the Architecture, Construction and Technology Hub. He was a member of the Organizing Committee of Design Commit 2024 and is Co-chair of Design Commit 2026. He coordinated the 'Design, Architecture and Urbanism' evaluation panel of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) Competition for Studentships for Doctoral Research – 2022, 2021 and 2025. He is an Integrated Researcher at IN2PAST – Associate Laboratory for Research and Innovation in Heritage, Arts, Sustainability and Territory (since 2021) and at Lab2PT – Landscapes, Heritage and Territory Laboratory (Since 2015). PI of several research projects and author of hundreds of publications, the R&D and teaching activities aim to drive the convergence of Architecture, Construction, and Technology through pioneering research and education related to recent breakthroughs in arts, practice, and theory within these multidisciplinary domains. Co-author of several patents that illustrate the ability to explore innovative technological, constructional, and structural solutions in a wide range of materials and technologies and to establish effective collaborations with industry.

Rita Assoreira Almendra has been a Full Professor of Design at the University of Lisbon (FAULisboa) since 2023. She holds a Habilitation and a PhD in Design from FAULisboa (2010). She has an MBA in Management, specializing in Marketing (2002), and a Master's degree in Design Management (2004) from the Catholic University of Portugal, and a Bachelor's degree in Design (1998) from the Technical University of Lisbon. She heads the Project Design Department and coordinates the PhD Program in Design; she coordinated the 3rd cycle (Architecture, Urbanism and Design) until May 2024. She was a member of the Scientific Council for 8 years, serving as vice-president for 2 years. At CIAUD, she is an integrated researcher and coordinated the Design Center for 12 years, until October 2024.
She has published more than 20 articles and 50 chapters, 2 books (co-authored), edited 4 books, and presented 70 communications. She has supervised 23 doctoral theses, is currently monitoring 13 in progress, and has supervised more than 70 master's dissertations. She has participated in more than 100 master's thesis committees and 45 doctoral thesis committees, organized conferences, and acts as a reviewer for various journals and conferences. She was a jury member for FCT doctoral scholarships in Design (3 years), co-coordinator (1 year), and coordinator in 2024; She is an invited evaluator for PRIN. She has served on 33 committees, from 8 schools, for the selection of professors.