Winner of Contest ENED 25'
Read time:
6 min
Client:
ENED Design Meeting
Industry:
Design Education
Starting point
The initial challenge was the absence of a clear visual direction for the event’s merchandise. While ENED had a strong identity, it lacked a unified concept that could be translated into a wearable piece with personality and purpose. To ground the design in the city hosting the event, the project drew inspiration from two of Coimbra’s most iconic landmarks: the University Tower — known as the “Cabra” — and the Pedro e Inês Pedestrian Bridge, both symbolizing tradition, creativity and connection. The goal was to create a design that went beyond a simple logo placement—something with narrative, depth and relevance for a community of designers who value intention and visual rigor. This required establishing a structure, defining a concept and shaping an aesthetic that could embody the spirit of ENED Coimbra 2025 while standing out as a desirable piece of merch.
Problem solving
The solution focused on turning the chosen Coimbra landmarks into a clear and cohesive visual concept. The forms of the “Cabra” and the Pedro e Inês Bridge were simplified into clean, contemporary shapes that designers could immediately recognize and appreciate. This graphic system created a balance between symbolism and clarity, allowing the sweatshirt to feel both distinctive and aligned with the event’s identity.
Results
The final sweatshirt design successfully captured the visual identity of ENED Coimbra 2025 while celebrating the city’s most iconic landmarks. Attendees responded positively to the concept, with the sweatshirt becoming one of the event’s most sought-after items.
Implimentation
The design was developed using a clean, modular graphic system that ensured consistency across all variations of the sweatshirt. The visual elements inspired by Coimbra were refined into bold yet minimal compositions, allowing the piece to remain striking without feeling overloaded. A balanced layout and a controlled use of line and form helped achieve a wearable design that felt both contemporary and true to the spirit of the event.
