From classroom to reality: Pedagogical practices in design oriented towards community contexts

This paper addresses pedagogical practices developed in the context of the Communication Design Degree at Lusofona University of Porto, Portugal, aimed at integrating students into the workforce as well as raising awareness for the importance of the designer's role as a social agent through projects carried out for social institutions, including the Portuguese Red Cross and Eu Sou Eu - Association for the Social Inclusion of Children and Young People. The projects include the development of campaigns to raise volunteers and funds for the institutions, development of visual identities and printed publications. These practices require direct contact with the client and knowledge of the institution's mission, forms of social action and specificities, for the construction of solutions adjusted and oriented towards their needs and the needs of the community they serve. These pedagogical approaches have proven to be an added value for the students' training resulting in an effective opportunity for them to work with clients in real projects; the possibility to see their work recognized, published, and used by the community; and a growing awareness for the importance of the designer's role as a social agent.