TALK COM VALERIA BARBOSA - A Diluição das Fronteiras do Design: Do Projeto como Solução ao Objeto como Expressão
- Date
- 2026-03-13
- Location
- São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Host
- DW! SP 2026
About this event
Design rarely stays inside the borders we first draw for it. TALK COM VALERIA BARBOSA — A Diluição das Fronteiras do Design: Do Projeto como Solução ao Objeto como Expressão opens up that tension directly, inviting you to think about design not only as a tool for solving problems, but also as a cultural, material, and expressive act. If you work with ideas, form, systems, products, or experiences, this conversation gives you a sharper way to understand where design is headed and what that shift means in practice. About the Event This is an in-person talk in São Paulo centered on a question that feels increasingly urgent: what happens when the traditional boundaries of design begin to dissolve? Rather than treating design as a fixed discipline with a single purpose, the event explores its expanded role across function, meaning, authorship, and expression. The title itself points to a productive shift — from the project as a solution to the object as expression. That makes this event especially relevant for people interested in how design moves between utility and discourse, between practical constraints and more symbolic or experimental dimensions. Because this is framed as a talk, expect a format that prioritizes ideas, interpretation, and reflection. At the same time, the event tags suggest a broader social context: this is also a community gathering, a meetup, and a networking opportunity, which means the value is not only in listening, but also in being in the room with others asking similar questions. What to Expect You can expect a focused live presentation led by Valeria Barbosa, with the central theme unfolding through the lens of contemporary design practice. The conversation is likely to resonate with people who are interested in where design overlaps with art, culture, communication, and critical thinking. The experience of the event will likely include: A conceptual exploration of how design’s borders have become less rigid A discussion of function versus expression, and how those ideas coexist rather than cancel each other out A perspective on objects and projects as carriers of meaning, not only solutions A chance to connect with others in São Paulo’s creative and design-adjacent community As an in-person meetup, the atmosphere should feel more immediate and conversational than a purely digital session. Being physically present matters for this kind of topic: you can read the room, continue the discussion after the talk, and meet people whose work or interests intersect with yours. If you attend with curiosity and a willingness to question familiar definitions, you’ll likely get more out of the event than if you come expecting a narrow how-to session. This is a space for ideas that stretch the frame of what design can be. Why Attend If you’ve been feeling that the old language around design no longer fully explains the work being done today, this event speaks directly to that gap. It offers a way to rethink design beyond deliverables and outcomes, and toward broader questions of intention, identity, narrative, and material presence. That makes the talk valuable for both practitioners and observers. You do not need to approach the theme from a purely academic angle to benefit from it; the core tension is familiar to anyone who has worked on products, interfaces, objects, branding, spaces, or visual systems and felt that the final result communicates more than a functional answer. Attending can help you: Expand your vocabulary for talking about contemporary design See your own work differently, especially if you operate between disciplines Engage with a more nuanced view of utility, authorship, and expression Meet peers and collaborators who are interested in similar questions Leave with ideas worth discussing further, not just notes to file away There is also real value in hearing this theme addressed live, in a community setting. Complex ideas often become clearer when they are shared in a room with others who bring different perspectives, practices, and interpretations. Practical Details This event takes place in person in São Paulo, Brazil, which makes it a strong fit for local attendees or anyone who wants to be part of the city’s creative community in a live setting. The in-person format is particularly suited to a talk that invites conversation, reflection, and networking. Date and time: Friday, March 13 at 3:00 PM GMT-3. Since this is an afternoon event, it can work well as a dedicated break in the middle of the day for students, independent creatives, studio teams, and professionals with flexible schedules. Before you go, it helps to arrive ready for a talk that is more idea-driven than transactional. You do not need specialized preparation, but you’ll get more from the session if you come prepared to listen closely, reflect on your own relationship to design, and continue the discussion with other attendees afterward. If you’re looking for a design event in São Paulo that combines critical thinking, community, and a broader view of creative practice, this is the kind of gathering worth showing up for in person.
Who should attend
This event is for you if you’re drawn to design as both practice and point of view — and if you’re interested in how its role is changing. - You work in **design, architecture, branding, product, visual communication, or creative direction** and want a more nuanced lens on what your work does beyond solving problems. - You’re a **student or emerging creative** looking to build your thinking, not just your technical skills, and you want exposure to bigger questions shaping contemporary practice. - You move across disciplines and often feel that your work sits **between strategy, form, culture, and expression** rather than inside one clean category. - You’re interested in **objects, materiality, meaning, and authorship**, and you want to think more deeply about what design communicates. - You value **community and conversation**, and you want to meet people in São Paulo who care about design in a broader, more critical way. - You enjoy talks that leave you with **better questions, sharper language, and new connections**, rather than a checklist of generic advice.