The craft trade in Portugal faces challenges that compromise its productive and economic sustainability and may result in the disappearance of millenary techniques, traditions, and industrial practices of high symbolic and historical value. The growing incompatibility of these traditional activities with digital technologies, the lack of resources, and a growing age gap are among the main problems identified. This situation made worse by various restrictions pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic points towards the possibility of extinction of this type of manual arts. The goal of this research is to demonstrate how the design process of an e-marketplace platform, throughout its different phases, may contribute to the revitalization of traditional industries. The methodologies adopted in the framework consisted in the study of UX and UI best design practices, including wireframe design, user flows, definition of personas, development of prototypes, and style guides. The results of the conducted usability tests to the prototype allowed a gradual improvement of the solution, culminating in the confirmation of its effectiveness. The study concluded that digital technology, namely a designed e-marketplace solution, could potentially bring buyers and sellers closer together, thus being a tool with high potential for the dissemination and sustainability of the craft industry.

The seasonality of employment in tourism consists of challenges of hiring. The primary goal of this study was to develop a digital recruitment platform for the tourism industry. A two-step multidimensional approach was applied to the challenge. The first step was based on benchmarking and interviews with key stakeholders. The second step was based on visual identity factors, prototyping, and usability tests. Authors found that it was possible to develop a simple and intuitive digital platform that positively adjusted the dynamic hiring process for seasonal jobs. Improvements to the platform should include new metrics, such as evaluation of candidates who used this platform previously, based on different elements, such as emotional intelligence. In this way, profile matching could be optimized, and the platform tool would become more robust and useful. This study’s medium- and high-fidelity models of a digital platform to be utilized in human resources tasks are the new additions to toolkits that may streamline HR functions.

Contemporary architecture has an increasing importance in tourism. The marketing implications of digital or mobile content in this niche tourism space has not been previously studied. With this project we aim to build a mobile app to cater to this market and show that it can positively impact tourism in Portugal. A two-step multidimensional approach was applied to achieve this goal. The first step was based on benchmarking, as well as interviews with two architects. The second step was based on visual identity factors, prototyping, and usability tests. We found that it was possible to develop an intuitive app that positively adjusted to the needs and preferences of future users. Improvements to the platform should include new metrics, blog links, and augmented reality.

The present scene, defined as it is by the undisputed prominence of imagery and the power of social media acting as tools for political activism and public interaction, is strongly influenced by Instagram. This is a platform with a predominantly graphic format where imagery, as a means of visual communication, acquires a special significance. In the 21st century, the term cyberfeminism has become synonymous with that part of feminist philosophy focusing on new technologies, the internet and the digital world generally. The present study analyses images created by Spanish professional female illustrators for International Women’s Day (March 8th), which were published on Instagram in 2019 and 2020. It will focus primarily on three kinds of imagery: plastic, linguistic and iconic. By mainly analyzing content and a sample of 124 artworks developed during this period, this study goes on to highlight the significance of the color violet. This is the plastic resource that stands out most from a very stylistically heterogeneous set of graphics. Complementing imagery is the important role of linguistics with frequent repetition of iconic references and a preference for representation of women. This last aspect is mainly with reference to their strength and security, in addition to an inclination for concepts linked to the need for vindication, sorority and empowerment.