Perspectives on Design and Digital Communication: Research, Innovations and Best Practices

In the dynamic landscape of design and digital communication, the interplay between research, innovations, and best practices is crucial for shaping evolving perspectives. This interdisciplinary realm traverses diverse domains, from graphic and multimedia design to digital technologies, encompassing a spectrum of creative expressions and communication modalities. As we delve into the intricate tapestry of perspectives, scholars and practitioners alike seek to unravel the complexities and advancements that define contemporary design and digital communication. Research serves as the compass guiding these explorations, unlocking new horizons and pushing boundaries (Afzaal et al. 2024; Siu et al. 2024). Innovations emerge as the driving force propelling these fields forward, ushering in transformative ideas and methodologies (Afzaal et al. 2024; Martins et al. 2020). Best practices, forged through empirical insights and experiences, become the guiding principles shaping effective and ethical communication in the digital era (Staats 2019). In this pursuit, scholars and professionals navigate an ever-evolving landscape. This sentiment underscores the necessity of continual exploration, evolution, and adaptation in the realms of design and digital communication.

This book unveils cutting-edge research findings and practical insights, offering a roadmap for progress in digital and communication design. Drawing from the top contributions made at the 3rd International Conference on Digital Design and Communication, DIGICOM 2019, the volume encompasses pivotal theoretical and practical dimensions across various design domains. In an era of transformative shifts in communication paradigms within an interconnected digital world, the challenges for designers are profound. Emphasizing the expanding realm of Communication Design, the narrative underscores the role of interdisciplinarity and blurred boundaries in knowledge. The Digicom conference, organized by the Design School of the Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave and ID+, serves as a nexus for global designers, fostering interdisciplinary connections crucial for scientific development. The book, featuring 15 chapters by esteemed researchers, delves into critical topics such as communication technologies, graphic interfaces, spatial storytelling, branding challenges, and the impact of digital design on daily life. Inviting readers on a journey through diverse processes and experiences, the book encapsulates the essence of contemporary design and communication while opening new vistas and research trajectories.

In the First paper of this enlightening book, the focus is on a meticulous analysis of the professional journey and creative oeuvre of Armando Alves, a distinguished artist who, having graduated in Painting from the School of Fine Arts of Porto, left an indelible mark on the graphic arts landscape. The paper delves into Alves’ multifaceted career, highlighting not only his noteworthy academic contributions but also his prolific engagement in the expansive realm of design. While Armando Alves boasts a rich legacy of graphic works spanning six decades, this study hones in on his pivotal role in designing the curriculum for graphic art in higher education. Additionally, the analysis extends to a curated selection of unique books, personally chosen by Alves as symbolic of the milestones in his design career.

The second paper in this collection unfolds the captivating narrative of Cinema Trindade, which, after an 83-year legacy, closed its doors in 2000 due to the economic dominance of multiplex cinemas. However, its 2017 revival, supported by a renewed project, marked a remarkable resurgence that the city’s inhabitants and the Portuguese film industry embraced. The article explores the pivotal position of design in crafting, both in digital and printing formats, essential for communicating Cinema Trindade’s programs and events. Delving into the influence of film curation, audience dynamics, and various variables, the paper highlights the unique status of Cinema Trindade as the sole cinema in the Porto vicinity. The collaboration underscores the benefits related to an in-house designer adept at daily responses to evolving issues concerning visual communication, exemplifying the symbiosis between design and the cultural renaissance of this iconic cinema.

In the third paper of this thought-provoking compilation, the focus turns to the transformative impact of emerging ICT technologies on the know-how flow. The proliferation of digital forums in the current time has democratized our approach to information, facilitating widespread knowledge sharing and presenting numerous advantages. However, this shift also poses challenges concerning info-communicational practices, user attitudes, and interactions within the digital realm, including the virtual communities’ relevance on social media platforms. The paper offers a systematic review of the literature to delve into the intersection of knowledge and digital platforms. This analytical exploration aims to identify critical factors influencing knowledge sharing and delineate the diverse stakeholders involved in the process of knowledge construction.

Paper four of this anthology delves into a compelling research project focused on crafting the graphic interface for ALU13, an online store specializing in aluminum products for residential exteriors. The initiative aimed to streamline product commercialization by establishing a direct connection between the brand and consumers, eliminating intermediaries. The paper meticulously outlines the planning process for the interface, informed by a comprehensive study of Portugal’s e-commerce landscape, the purchasing habits of Portuguese consumers, and factors influencing user trust in online stores. Aligning the e-commerce features with online store design, this paper navigates through the fundamentals of interaction design, emphasizing UX Design and UI Design.

Paper five delves into the transformation of cities into Smart Cities, driven by the Internet of Things and heightened citizen hyperconnectivity. Focused on enhancing user experiences in this evolving landscape, the paper explores the dynamic potential of variable fonts – recent innovations in typography. Proposing a model that integrates typography with sensor-collected data, the paper establishes a connection that elevates the significant process of graphic interfaces. The architecture and improved cases of the model are presented in detail, and the prototype evaluation and development are later. The initial results affirm the flexibility and abstract nature of the model, indicating its broad application in interactional projects, from IoT to gamification, motion graphics, branding, and data visualization.

The sixth paper of the book explores the visual dynamic identities, different from traditional ones, on the grounds of variation in at least one aspect of their visual framework. The paper examines the intricate concept of dynamic visual flexible identities, highlighting their adaptability to varied content and structures. By selecting the practical application of these systems, the paper emphasizes the vibrant nature of visual identities and offers invaluable insights into the emerging field of design. The experiments performed present a physical exploration of the flexibility potential in structuring visual identities, offering theoretical understanding and practical implications to researchers and designers in this field.

The seventh paper contends that leveraging technology to motivate students transforms them into active creators of their learning journey, fostering confidence. Transmedia Storytelling emerges as a vital tool within this paradigm, amplifying student motivation in the classroom context. By incorporating technology, learning extends beyond traditional class hours, providing students with the freedom to access teacher-proposed activities across various platforms. A case study is presented, exploring the genuine influence of Transmedia on classroom settings where students engage in reading and pedagogical activities. This research underscores the potential of integrating technology into the classroom, offering a new paradigm that enhances pedagogical practices.

Paper eight in this collection explores the essence of virtual reality of interactive narrative, spotlighting spatial storytelling techniques as a natural aspect of this medium. Through an analysis of the Offland project, which crafts a virtual reality and fictional world experience, the study unveils insights from user testing, unraveling the intricate relationship between interactivity, linearity, exploration, and goals in fictional immersion. The focus then shifts to virtual objects, emphasizing their role in structuring space and narratives within interactive storytelling. Highlighting the modularity of interactive storytelling, the paper underscores the significance of objects – whether central to the narrative, contributing secondary value, or serving decorative purposes – in sustaining narrative modules.

Paper nine in this compilation delves into the concept of transmediality, encompassing products, practices, and processes that extend narratives across diverse media channels, whether strategically driven by market actions or emerging spontaneously from prosumers. From Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) to intricate entertainment franchise systems, transmediality involves complex interfacial instances featuring various markets, forums, and actors. This paper, an offshoot of an exploratory study culminating in the TRADE System’s theoretical framework, aims to illuminate the diverse dimensions of transmedia design and its components. The results of this study prompt a comprehensive description of the implications of design in analyzing and crafting multimedia story worlds, offering valuable insights into the intricate landscape of transmedia storytelling.

In Paper ten, the spotlight is on M-health research addressing the prevalent issue of poor sleep quality in Portugal. The Moon App, a high-fidelity visual prototype, takes center stage. It is designed to improve user sleep through self-assessment. Motivated by societal concerns about sleep deprivation, the app provides informative content and facilitates self-analysis of sleep performance. Employing a User-Centered Design approach, the methodology includes an analysis of existing sleep-related apps and exploratory interviews. The calendar features and dream log receive positive feedback, with users expressing a willingness to use them for documenting dreams and assessing sleep quality history.

Paper elevan delves into the theoretical significance of questioning related to the socio-political dimensions of the digital framework. Introducing the concept of “sources of fiction” from literary and artistic philosophy, the paper posits a critical difference between the visual world and digital framework, similar to the separation of the natural and social realm from world fiction. Beyond the technical and theoretical aspects of digital design, the paper emphasizes the socio-political dimensions embedded in our everyday visual world. Illustrating this perspective, the paper analyzes the urbanscape aestheticization in Montevideo City, Uruguay. This core argument asserts that a genuinely democratic digital design embraces socially heterogeneous visual materials, acknowledging that democracy involves not only consensus but also the public recognition of disagreements.

In Paper twelve, CollaboratED, a research initiative within the Digital Media Design Masters program at the University of Edinburgh, delves into the opportunities and challenges of online and on-campus collaborative work. With group projects as a pivotal learning component, the study explores the benefits and hurdles of integrating both student groups into a shared studio environment. Findings from longitudinal research, encompassing students’ and teachers’ interviews, observations, and questionnaires, reveal that challenges for online students revolve around balancing work and studies, managing various time zones, and navigating conventional differences between teams. In spite of these obstacles, students recognize the value of group discussions, resource sharing, and a strong sense of community.

Paper thirteen introduces a compelling exploration of the dissolution of traditional industrial practices in Portugal due to technological obsolescence, coined as ‘digital takeover.’ Focusing on four instances where people-centric systems face challenges, the chapter illuminates how this shift compromises livelihoods, erodes identities, and nullifies centuries-old specialized knowledge. Central to the narrative is the design project ‘Anti-Amnesia,’ aiming to bridge the observed division by recognizing that conventional industrial structure may not seamlessly transition to the digital era. The project employs technology in industrial heritage management, emphasizing the recovery and re-contextualization of socio-cultural narratives. Active pedagogy fosters complementarities between media practices, design and crafts.

Paper fourteen, the focus is on design thinking – a creative problem-solving approach applicable in various contexts. Originally exclusive to designers, it has become universally accessible, democratizing its adoption across diverse practices. To make design thinking tangible for non-designers, a suite of tools, particularly card-based tools, has been developed. This paper spotlights the card-based game “Cards GO,” crafted to foster creativity and generate innovative design concepts. Through a workshop experiment assessing the game’s applicability for conceiving other game concepts, the results were evaluated from three perspectives: researchers’ observations, participants’ intrinsic motivation via questionnaires, and expert opinions on game design.

In Paper fifteen, the focus is on the interplay between education, the internet, and cinema, examining the cinema’s contribution to current learning and its integration into evolving educational paradigms. The chapter scrutinizes this interlink against the backdrop of present digital life concerning media convergence and transmedia facilitated by Internet development. The technology revolution has transformed users into active content producers, shaping societal and cultural landscapes. Within this dynamic, the cinema industry seizes new opportunities to engage with a participatory audience that not only consumes but also produces audiovisual content. As cinematic content gains prominence across digital media and platforms, the paper provides valuable insights into the evolving role of cinema in education within the context of the Internet age.

In conclusion, this book offers a rich tapestry of insights into the diverse realms of design, communication, and technology through its meticulous exploration of fifteen research papers. From unraveling the socio-political dimensions of digital design to innovative tools fostering creativity in design thinking, each paper contributes a unique perspective. The broad scope of the book covers all aspects of combined dynamics in the programs of digital media to the transformative effect of education and cinema in the digital era. The book significantly bridges academic perspectives with practical implications, presenting its text as an essential read for researchers, educators, practitioners, and designers alike. It contributes substantially to the field of communication, digital design, and technology, offering invaluable assistance to everyone related to industry, academia, and beyond. Blending theoretical insights with practical implications, the book appears as an indispensable reference, transforming the discourses and practices of the emerging design and technology landscape.