Pedro Bandeira Maia (1975) opened in partnership with Raul Pinto the design studio EstúdioAma in 2003, focused on interior and product design. In 2002 he completed a degree in Equipment Design (EUAC-Coimbra), having followed a 6-month internship at Dâmaso Vidros de Portugal S.A. In 2006 completed postgraduate studies in Engineering Design (IST-Lisboa), in 2009 finished a master’s degree in Aesthetic Communication (EUAC-Coimbra), and in 2011 obtained the title of Specialist in Product Design (IPC; IPL; UALG). In 2019 finished a PhD in Design at the University of Aveiro with the title “For a biological-inspired interaction design” focused on interaction design based on biological behaviors (with an emphasis on the product). He has been a professor since 2007 (I.P. Coimbra; I.P. Cávado e do Ave; U. Aveiro), currently teaching in the Degree of Art and Design (IPC) and in the Master in Design and Product Development (IPCA). He is member of ID+ (Institute of Research in Design, Media and Culture at the University of Aveiro and University of Porto).
Raul Pinto (1978) opened in partnership with Pedro Bandeira Maia the design studio EstúdioAma in 2003, focused on interior and product design. In 2003 graduated in Product Design (ARCAEUAC). In 2009 received his M.Sc. in Engineering Design (IST) and in 2011 the title of Specialist in Product Design (IPG; IPL; IPVC). Was Project Manager (Design Led Developer) at Design Factory Aveiro in Creative Science Park. Working as a lecturer since 2010 at IPG, IPV, UA in Portugal and currently at IEU in Turkey. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Aveiro where he is studying and working with biological generative systems, looking for alternative production tools aimed at customization.
The following article describes the ongoing interior design project that accommodates a guesthouse in a historical building located in the city of Coimbra in Portugal. It focuses on the importance of generating new narratives to maintain the original nineteenth century building’s essence, when changing the architectural program, from a pharmacy on the ground floor and residences in the upper floors into a single guesthouse.
We present the design-led methodology focused on the importance of generating narratives as a foundation to achieve a common goal while working in a cross-disciplinary team. In this context, the designer not only has the role of the form-giver, but also becomes the mediator between matter and form, the team leader, and the forecaster of the user’s emotional experiences.
When adapting client’s brief into a tangible outcome within a team that crosses various areas of expertise (in this case: architecture, design, engineering, archaeology, conservation, and restoration), the importance of generating an open concept that can adapt to the evolving context, becomes key to meet client’s expectations. This article intends to contribute to the discussion of the designer’s elastic mindset as a binding tool between actors and contexts, towards an outcome that acknowledges the importance of the contribution of each one when looking for enriched results. Therefore, it questions what is gained and what is lost by setting aside the classic design fundamental principles and by focusing on design as a managing tool between data and the involved actors for an enriched outcome.
As a main conclusion, it underlines the importance of generating a strong narrative with an open outcome to bind all stakeholders to a common goal through the designer as a project leader.
