DNDA26 deadlines: Project Qualifying 9/15 → Full Apps 9/30 | Organization & Education 9/30
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DNDA25 Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Design – University of Fortaleza

Activity with children from the Dendê Community Moment of interaction between children from the Dendê Community and students from the Design Research course, during listening and co-creation activities conducted in the field

Activity with children from the Dendê Community Moment of interaction between children from the Dendê Community and students from the Design Research course, during listening and co-creation activities conducted in the field Usability testing with community children Record of a usability test for a solution developed within the Design Research course. The solution, addressing the challenges of early literacy, consists of a card game using symbolic and cultural references from the community itself Presentation of prototypes co-created with the community Students presenting the results of a solution built in collaboration with the community. The image shows four prototypes—ranging from low to high fidelity—developed throughout the participatory process. The final version was produced with the support of a local carpenter Workshop with street vendors from the Dendê Community Moment of listening and documentation of the life stories of local street vendors. The workshop was part of a service design research process that has since resulted in an ongoing extension project focused on developing solutions to improve the working conditions of these professionals

Program: Design Research: Community-Based Design Education and Social Transform

The Design Research course in the Bachelor of Design program at the University of Fortaleza positions design as a practice of social transformation in the Global South, preparing designers to work in territories marked by social vulnerability while fostering community autonomy and systemic impact. Grounded in Paulo Freire’s pedagogy and the principles of Humanity-Centered Design, it is based on the understanding that designing is a social act of freedom – collective, solidarity-based, and oriented toward alterity. To this end, it weaves together design research and community work in a replicable, scalable model that places community practice at the core of design education. Structured in three cycles – attentive listening, co-creation, and community ownership – since 2023 it has engaged more than 150 students in co-creating 21 solutions with partner communities. This trajectory has generated epistemic, ethical, and community transformations within the program, repositioning its social role across local territories and graduating professionals equipped to face real, complex, and systemic challenges.

Students

Since 2023, the Design Research course has embedded Humanity-Centered Design (HCD+) as its foundation, training about 150 students across four semesters. Open to Design majors and students from diverse fields, the course emphasizes interdisciplinary and socially diverse cohorts, which strengthens students’ ability to listen, co-create, and prototype with communities. Current projects include training community health agents, developing self-care learning tools, designing community health education materials, and improving children’s experiences in medical procedures through creative storytelling. By 2027, the program expects to train around 300 students equipped to drive socially transformative design in vulnerable territories.

Country

Brazil Flag Brazil
Fortaleza, Ceará

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