UNIDCOM/IADE is a design-led, open research centre at IADE – Universidade Europeia, one of Portugal’s leading design schools. We conduct interdisciplinary research at the intersection of Design, Technology, Arts, Marketing, and Communication. Our diverse team of researchers works collaboratively with stakeholders across multiple sectors to address current and future challenges on local, regional, national, and international scales, contributing to human dignity and flourishing.

We offer research opportunities to undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students, as well as postdoctoral candidates and researchers seeking internships.

Established in 2000, UNIDCOM was accredited by the FCT in 2003 in the field of Arts and Humanities. It is managed by the non-profit association EUROPEIA ID and is based at IADE – Universidade Europeia. In the 2019 FCT evaluation, UNIDCOM received a "Very Good" rating, scoring 12 out of 15 points in the Arts and Humanities panel, which includes 14 R&D units in the field of Arts and Design. UNIDCOM has a proposal for Base Funding of €492K for 2020-2023, 4 PhD Fellowships, and Programmatic Funding of €309K, including support for 1 Junior PhD Researcher, totalling €801K.

The UNIDCOM team currently includes 131 researchers—58 integrated members and 73 collaborators. Of these, 34 (33%) are PhD students. While rooted in design, our team spans a wide range of expertise, from diverse scientific fields, including Design, Architecture, Engineering, Marketing, Communication Sciences, Art History, Philosophy, Psychology, and more, reflecting our interdisciplinary approach. UNIDCOM is proud of its eclectic and interdisciplinary composition. 

UNIDCOM is committed to promoting Design Research through multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary approaches. Our work spans from theoretical exploration to practical applications, with a focus on scientific independence, equity, diversity, relevance, and recognition. These principles guide all of our activities.

The centre is managed by a Scientific Board, chaired by the Scientific Coordinator, alongside an Executive Board, an External Advisory Committee, and a Quality & Innovation Division. After 2013, UNIDCOM shifted to working within research clusters, focusing on strategic areas with national and international partners, including companies, non-profits, municipalities, and other research labs/centres. Researchers in these clusters produce projects in areas defined by four development vectors: Design, Technology, Arts, and Marketing & Communication.

Our vision is to establish UNIDCOM as a global leader in Design Research, advancing knowledge while contributing to the flourishing of humanity in harmony with the planet. Recognising the critical role of creative disciplines in solving complex socio-technical challenges, we embrace a ‘possibilist’ approach to designing a better world.

Our mission is to drive design-led initiatives through inter- and transdisciplinary collaborations. We focus on modular, incremental progress using diverse methodological approaches, including experimental, collaborative, theoretical, and speculative work. We achieve this through R&D projects, supporting post-doctoral researchers, visiting scholars, and postgraduate students. Our activities include offering research scholarships, facilitating training, hosting scientific events, providing lab support, and funding missions and publications.