Cláudia Lima

Cláudia Lima is a Researcher at the ID+ / Unexpected Media Lab within the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Porto, and serves as a design educator at Lusófona University, the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto, and ESAP - Escola Superior Artística do Porto. Her work bridges academic research with practical design applications in community engagement, cultural heritage, and healthcare contexts.

Her educational background includes:

• Doctoral Program in Digital Media (PhD)
• Master in Communication Sciences / Diseño i Producción Multimedia
• Licenciatura in Design - Visual Communication
• Post-doctorate in pedagogical practices at the Porto School of Fine Arts
• Specialized training in Dementia Therapies and Art

Lima's research centers on recovering community stories and local art/design histories through biographical testimonies and visual analysis. She pioneers design applications in dementia care, infodemic communication, and sustainable urban solutions, emphasizing participatory approaches that integrate cultural heritage with contemporary challenges. Her work often involves translating academic insights into practical interventions for vulnerable communities.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a dominant focus on dementia care design, with 60% of her 2023-2025 work addressing cognitive/sensory stimulation through cultural artifacts. She simultaneously explores infodemic management (20% of recent output) and sustainable urban design (20%), demonstrating remarkable interdisciplinary range while maintaining core themes of community engagement and heritage preservation.

Lima has secured significant research funding including:

• Wisdom Transfer (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029038): Scientific inscription of legacies in art/design education retirement
• Echoing the Communal Self (EXPL/ART-DAQ/0037/2): Dissemination of self-initiated practices in post-pandemic urban communities
• An Infodemic of Disorientation (2022.08322.PTDC): Communication design as mediator between scientific knowledge and cognitive bias
• REMIND: Current project on Design for People with Dementia with Alzheimer Portugal

Her research is conducted through the ID+ Research Institute and Unexpected Media Lab, where she develops community-centered design solutions in partnership with institutions like Tate Modern, Soares dos Reis National Museum, and WOW Museum. These collaborations focus on translating artistic heritage into contemporary educational and therapeutic applications.