Community Testimonials

Beanie Reis are a proactive and engaging fashion designer with a passion for the environment. We first had the pleasure of meeting Beanie in our Design Jam for Sustainable Fashion. Later, they returned to the Design Jam for Social Impact with their own SCRAPS project, a collective upcycling fashion initiative that has since been developed and supported through various competitions around the world. Known for being open to collaborations and exceptionally kind, Beanie had this to say about the experience of participating in the design jams:

“Participating in two editions (Design Jam) was transformative.
In the first one, we were fortunate to work specifically on the theme “Fashion for Community Empowerment,” which clearly influenced and shaped the collaborative values at the core of SCRAPS.
The Jams were much more than a digestible and practical transmission of Design Thinking discipline. The team is professional in creating safe spaces for learning, connection, and support, and it was through them that we were able to establish unique mentoring relationships.
The Resource Toolkits provided us with incredible data and statistics to support our presentations.
Therefore, yes, the DESIS Lab team work extends and motivates SCRAPS to do better every day. It is a pleasure to have your close accompaniment on our journey, as well as your availability to help from day one!”
Translated from the Portuguese

Laura Ferreira is a master’s student in International Development and Public Policy at Nova SBE. An open-minded and attentive individual, Laura first joined us at our Design Jam for Sustainable Cities. She went on to participate in our Ideation Workshop for the Community Garden at Nova SBE and eventually became one of our KPMG Design Fellows at the C3 project. Her proactive and engaging nature has made her an invaluable member of our community. Laura’s motivation and diverse interests shine through in every initiative she joins. Here are her thoughts on her experience at the Design Jam for Social Impact, which she also participated in:

“Much of the group work done at the university follows a linear/sequential order, with parts of a whole being done separately and later aggregated, and it runs better the more similar the reasoning and working methods of the group members are. Design Jams offer an alternative approach to collaboration: a horizontal structure where ideas grow/expand around a center, and where each person has their ‘superpower’, more connected to their personal philosophy than to acquired skills (and even after Design Jam 4 Social Impact, I still think of myself as part storyteller, part problem-solver). Different superpowers complement each other and enrich the interaction. This is a very interesting way to work with those who are different from us, as the focus is not on a cohesive final product, but rather on a process of exchanging impressions and some magic. I feel that Design Jam 4 Social Impact created genuine communication channels and truly original ideas, mainly because it gave participants the space to get to know each other and be different from one another.”
Translated from the Portuguese

Manuel Estriga is a master’s student in Impact Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Nova SBE. As one of our KPMG Design Fellows, Manuel has demonstrated a kind and creative spirit, always eager to learn, connect with others, and listen to their perspectives. His enthusiasm and support have made him a valued advocate of the DESIS Lab participating also in our Ideation Workshop for the Community Garden at Nova SBE. Here’s his perspective on his experience with us at the C3 project:

“When I applied to work as a KPMG Design Fellow along with DESIS Lab in the C3 project I had no idea of what to expect.

My motivation behind applying to this program was to experiment more with the Design Thinking method, to work collaboratively, and to put my capabilities to use in an interesting and impactful project.

It was an honour and a pleasure to work along with Anne-Laure, Beatriz, Maria, and my three lovely colleagues Riddhi, Laura, and Mariana.

What I loved the most about this process was the approach to the primary research. I had never been through the research process of actively listening to what lots of different people thought about the focus point/issue that we were working on. That made the research phase super interesting and completely different from the prior projects I participated in. This made me look and think about the study object with a completely different perspective.

It was also very interesting to work in a team with people from completely different and opposite backgrounds. Anne-Laure and Beatriz brought a very creative and open-minded guidance which was fundamental and allowed the project to flow naturally. My three colleagues Riddhi, Laura and Mariana, with their different backgrounds in Architecture, Political Science and Humanities, and Economics and Management, helped me looking at the space that we were studying and all its issues and perks with completely different perspectives. This was pivotal for us to properly understand this space and what we should/could do to improve it.

I also really liked to showcase some of our final ideas and to be able to show them to Nova SBE community to get their opinion and honest feedback.

I leave this experience with a broader understanding of the Design Thinking method and of what people want in a space such as the KPMG Gallery, with a better understanding of how Nova SBE operates, and also with the ever-growing notion that all projects take lots of time to be accomplished, which is not necessarily bad. Good things take time to be accomplished, but it is also the time factor that allows the good ideas to evolve into even better projects.

Thank you very much for having welcomed me into this amazing team to work on this super cool project. It was a pleasure :)”

Riddhi Varma has been an exceptional and inspiring presence within our community. Her journey with us began at our Design Jam for Sustainable Fashion, where she introduced her dream project, Homelore. Riddhi’s dedication and creativity led Homelore to be one of the awarded projects in our Prototyping Fund. She further showcased her project at the Design Jam for Social Impact. Additionally, she actively participated in our Ideation Workshop for the Community Garden at Nova SBE and was one of our four KPMG Design Fellows for the C3 project. Her determination, will to advance, and vibrant energy have made her a remarkable member of the DESIS Lab. Here’s her perspective on her overall experience with the design jam journey:

“The sustainable fashion design jam was the first design jam that I ever took part in, but was definitely not the last. The 6 hour structure of the jam is perfect to explore an idea in depth without feeling the burden of the nitty-gritty, allowing us to experiment and really jam. Also, as a new person in Lisbon, it gave me the opportunity to make new friends who I am still in touch with, along with some great career connections! 

I highly recommend the Design Jams to any and all students looking to explore their ideas, or even just get inspiration from the discussions.”