Cursos / 1º Ciclo / Faculty of Architecture and Arts :: Design

ÉTICA, DEONTOLOGIA E LEGISLAÇÃO - 2025/2026

3º curricular year
Semestralidade: 2nd semester
ECTS: 3

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Prof. Doutora Paula Costa Soares
Assistant Professor: Prof. Doutora Paula Costa Soares

Class type and School hours

Teórica : 2 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

To stimulate the ability for critical articulation between the different scientific domains inherent to EDL, related to the scientific domain of design.
To understand the conceptual framework about origin and meaning of Ethics;
To comprehend the deontological dimension in design activity;
To stimulate the thinking on the designers sense of the responsibility(ies);
To comprehend the regulatory norms, rights and duties for the design activity and related legislation.

Specific Aims/Objectives

To assimilate the importance that Ethics assumes in the organizational dynamics;
To promote awareness and attitudes in the ethical dimension of the designer practice;
To reflect on the relationship between design, market, customers, users and the State;
To analyse the ethics problematization through concrete case studies in the national and/or international market.

Skills to be acquired

To assimilate the importance that Ethics assumes in the organizational dynamics;
To promote awareness and attitudes in the ethical dimension of the designer practice;
To reflect on the relationship between design, market, customers, users and the State;
To analyse the ethics problematization through concrete case studies in the national and/or international market.
To develop critical sense;
To elaborate well-grounded speeches (written and oral).

Teaching Procedures

The teaching methodology will consist of: 1) expository and interrogative methods during the programmatic contents explanation (with concrete examples); 2) active method by the techniques of debate and case study.

Programme

1. Conceptual framework: origin, foundation and timeliness of ethics in general and, particularly in design.
2. Ethics, deontology and the responsibilities of the designer.
3. The environmental and sociocultural importance of design in different contexts.
4. The importance of sustainable design in the circular economy.
5. The function of governing organizations for the design practice.
6. The role of professional codes, advantages and limitations.
7. National and international legislation in design.
8. Design as an area of the industrial and artistic domains of intellectual activity.
9. Intellectual property, copyright and industrial property.
10. The design and the different legal regimes of industrial property.

Evaluation Type

The evaluation will be carried out according to the specifications present in the General Evaluation Regulation of the University Lusíada. In addition, continuous assessment criteria are: a) attendance and oral participation in classes; b) an individual research work; c) two written evaluation exercises; d) the Frequency Test.

Teaching Resources

Exposition classes (audio-visual resources);
Study visits (if they fit the topics covered);
Texts analysis;
Research and analysis of study cases;
Individual and/or group work for presentation and debate.

Sustainability Objectives

To stimulate critical, conscious and responsible thinking, through reflection on human actions and how they translate into society, and what impacts they have on the present and future (SDG 4);
To promote awareness and attitudes in the ethical dimension of designer practice (SDG 8);
To encourage reflection on the meaning of the designer´s responsibility(ies) in the development of sustainable products, the formation of new consumption habits and new ways of life (SDG 12).

Keywords

Design. Ethic. Deontology. Legislation.

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography