Presentation Schedule
Contemporary Authorial Glass Design in Portugal: Between Craft and Technology (98019)
Session Chair: Paulo Batista
This presentation will be live-streamed via Zoom (Online Access)
Saturday, 4 October 2025 13:50
Session: Session 2
Room: Live-Stream Room 3
Presentation Type:Live-Stream Presentation
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This study presents an exploratory and descriptive mapping of contemporary authorial glass design in Portugal, focusing on domestic utilitarian products. While the Portuguese glass industry expanded during the 1950s–60s, until the mid-70s, and the authorial design emerged in the 1980s, inspired by the international Glass Studio movement and driven by the lack of industrial commissions, prompting designers to self-edit and produce their own small series. In the 1990s, a short-lived attempt to re-industrialize the sector led to the creation of the Glass Region Cluster in Marinha Grande, but by the early 21st century, many semi-industrial factories had closed. Today, a dual reality persists on one hand, large-scale automatic glass production oriented toward packaging and hospitality; on the other, limited series of authorial design produced in small studios, where designers are also makers. This research adopts a human-centered approach, combining direct observation, semi-structured interviews, and analysis of complementary documentation (catalogues, books, exhibitions, studios, glass factories or museums). It highlights design practices that integrate hand craft-based knowledge with digital modelling, CNC prototyping, and industrial technologies (automatic blowing, pressing, thermoforming), revealing intelligent material thinking. Institutions like CENCAL, Glass Museum of Marinha Grande, MUDE-Design Museum or design events like Lisbon Design Week play key roles in preserving and promoting this endangered heritage. Case studies include glass design works of Vítor Agostinho, Samuel Reis, João Xará, Martinho Pita, and Emmanuel Babled. The article develops the context, objectives, and methodology, focusing case studies to reflect on how humanist creation emerges between craft and technology.
Authors:
Cláudia Pedro Santos, University of Beira Interior, Portugal
About the Presenter(s)
Professor Cláudia Pedro Santos is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at University of Beira Interior in Portugal
See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule
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