ESAD’s legacy whispers from its walls. This isn’t just a building. It’s a vibrant testament to 35 years of artistic innovation. ESAD the College of Art and Design stands proudly in Matosinhos. It’s a hub of creativity a place where design and digital arts flourish.
ESAD isn’t just a school. It’s a community. It’s linked to the esad-idea research unit. It houses Exploratorio a dynamic cultural space. ESAD extends its reach even further to the Design Cluster Market. There’s also the Casa do Design a national exhibition space showcasing the best of Portuguese design. Since 2019 ESAD has been organizing the Porto Design Biennale. This is Portugal’s largest design event. They also lead the Blue Design Alliance. This is a consortium of higher education institutions. The Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Programme funds this alliance.
ESAD boasts impressive facilities. The newly built and extended building is conveniently located. It’s only 180 meters from the metro station. It’s also a short distance from the cruise terminal and airport. The quality of its teaching is renowned. Its intense cultural activity has cemented ESAD’s position as a leader in design culture. ESAD is known for its conferences workshops and master classes. Its first year saw the 1st National Design Meeting. This event was groundbreaking for Portugal. International conferences followed. These conferences focused on interfaces in design. ESAD played a major role in the programming of Porto 2001 European Capital of Culture. The Personal Views conference series since 2003 has become an international benchmark. This series has featured design luminaries such as Ken Garland Wim Crouwel Neville Brody and many others.
ESAD’s influence is global. Its alumni work for leading companies like IDEO and Logitech. Their designs are found in museums and prestigious locations worldwide. ESAD’s creative energy shapes innovation and design imagination. It’s evident in fashion collections shown in Milan Paris and Dubai. It’s even showcased at the FIFA World Cup. ESAD has partnerships with over 180 higher education institutions across five continents. This fosters collaboration and student exchange. ESAD is a member of Cumulus a prestigious global association of art and design education. Its commitment to excellence earned it the Good Practices Award from Erasmus+. ESAD’s story continues to unfold. It’s a school with personality a dynamic force shaping the future of design. And as you stand here you become a part of that story.