this past july, I had the privilege of being invited to lead a graphic design workshop as part of TUMO alt july learning labs in coimbra with CINCO. with a group of intelligent and motivated children ages 12 to 17, the lab learning was a week-long adventure into the world of design and creativity! with an emphasis on sustainability and turning everyday products into unique experiences, the goal of this lab, "desencaixa: design de embalagens”, was to educate students the fundamentals of packaging design.
every morning, from 9am to 12pm, we met at tumo, a hub of innovation and creativity in the heart of coimbra. this vibrant space, filled with amazing technology and resources, provided an inspiring environment for the students to explore their creativity. my role was to guide them through the design process and helping to understand the main aspects of packaging design and how small details can turn functional packaging into something extraordinary.
we explored how design can make a real difference in reducing waste and promoting environmentally friendly practices, which added a layer of purpose to the students' projects. it was incredible to see how fast they adopted the concept that packaging design is about more than simply aesthetics — it's also about creativity and problem-solving.
in the middle of the week, we spent a day at the CINCO’s office. this really was a special moment as the entire CINCO team joined us to give feedback on the students' work. this collaboration brought real-world experience into the "classroom" as our team provided guidance and assisted in improving their packaging projects. the energy in the room was fantastic — the students were excited to receive feedback directly from professionals, and our team was equally inspired by the creativity and enthusiasm the students brought to their projects.
for CINCO, being involved in this project was more than just supporting education at TUMO. it was about giving back to the city of coimbra and encouraging the next generation. we are passionate about building meaningful connections within our community, and partnering with TUMO was definitely a highlight.
personally, leading this workshop was an immensely rewarding experience! seeing these incredible kids go from rough ideas to completed prototypes while considering sustainability and design critically served as a reminder of how important it is to develop young talent.
the incredible team at TUMO Coimbra made this possible by creating an environment that encouraged learning, exploration and creativity. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside them and proud of CINCO's role in supporting such an impactful project. I really believe that the future of creativity is bright with this younger generation.
I'd like to extend a special thank you to filipa, the executive director of TUMO coimbra. reuniting with filipa after 10 years was a full circle moment (a story for another day!) and her leadership was fundamental in making this project a reality in coimbra. I'd also like to thank mafalda, the learning project manager, whose tireless support and dedication ensured that everything ran smoothly. mafalda was always there to help me and made the whole experience both seamless and rewarding.
last but certainly not least, I want to extend a very special thanks to the amazing students who worked with me throughout the week! their creativity, enthusiasm, and passion made this experience truly unforgettable! what a week to remember!
sofia torres is the digital media designer at CINCO. born in '97, she believes her strong passion for what she does enables her to create meaningful work. her educational background includes a master in multimedia design at the university of coimbra. since day one, she's loving working at CINCO.
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