Echoes of creativity : bridging pedagogy and innovation through a Real-World Design Project

Abstract

During the second semester of 2022/23, a pedagogical practice was implemented at Porto Lusófona University for second-year Communication Design undergraduates. The rock band Squeezos, consisting of five young musicians from Porto City, challenged the 2nd-year Design class to create a graphic image for their upcoming album cover. This request came from one of the band members who was also a student from the first-year course. In response, the students generated design proposals, and the band selected one for the album cover. The project followed the Design Thinking methodology, from problem definition to project ideation, prototyping, and implementation. The article is structured into four sections: Introduction, literature review, work methodology, and conclusion. This initiative was mutually beneficial for the musicians, who are university students and cannot afford to pay professional designers. Design students are allowed to participate in a real-world project and apply the tools and methods acquired during their coursework; it exemplifies a successful initiative, where pedagogical activities converge with collaborative involvement as a motivational force for students; it was an excellent way to prepare graduates for the professional sphere by fostering engagement through innovative practices; engaging in the design process for an actual music album cover lets students to gain hands-on experience, equipping them with valuable skills and insights beyond traditional classroom activities; furthermore, provides a tangible learning opportunity and enhances the practical value of students' academic endeavors by allowing them to showcase their work in the market, thereby improving the quality of their portfolios.