Projects
Over the years, we have supported many clients and managed education, research, strategy and design projects in varied creative fields.
A common denominator across all of our projects, is our passion to create value through deep dedication to art, creativity, sustainability and responsible production.
Strategy for Karpós and Ana Valquaresma
Strategic programme for the visual artist Ana Valquaresma and her brand Karpós. Ana Valquaresma is an artist working across media such as sculpture, ceramics, drawing and textiles. In this project, Barbot Bernardo is supporting the positioning of her practice and her go-to-market strategy. In parallel, we’ve been working on creating and launching Karpós, a new brand of utilitarian and decorative ceramics.
This is an ongoing project and we don’t have a writen strategy case yet, but if you are feeling curious, take a look at Ana’s Substack.
ERC Scarlet
Barbot Bernardo and Ofício were contracted to lead the visual and communication strategy for ERC SCARLET, a European Research Council project led by Heritage Scientist Prof. Paula Nabais at the Departamento de Conservação e Restauro, NOVA FCT (Lisbon). SCARLET will reconstruct historical dyeing recipes, characterise them and make that knowledge accessible — integrating chemistry, history, and heritage science. Between 2026 and 2029, we'll be responsible for the project's visual identity, communication strategy, graphic and editorial design. Read more about this case in our Journal
From Soil to Story with The Lissome Magazine
"Reclaiming clothing culture, artistic craft and print publishing as sensual and sense-making practices, The Lissome offers a gentle space for reflection and dialogue." Following up on Dörte de Jesus last visit to Saber Fazer in 2024, the 2026 ECHN P2P was an initiative to explore joint opportunities. During one week, we explored Porto’s creative and editorial ecosystem and hosted the round table "From Soil to Story". Read more about this subject in our journal
The Heritex Toolbox
Visual identity, website and learning tools for a platform showcasing a living archive of 10.000 years of textile heritage. The Heritex Toolbox is a platform for entrepreneurs, researchers, and fibre enthusiasts, built as part of Heritex-Hub , a networked knowledge hub to empower the green transition in textiles and fashion by harnessing the wealth of data and insights provided by the study of Textile Heritage. This project is a part of the COST action IG19131. Read more about this case in our Journal
TransparencyChain - Tech and digital skills for the crafts sector.
The TransparencyChain Erasmus+ project, coordinated by Barbot Bernardo, aims to make blockchain-based provenance tracking accessible to craftspeople from different backgrounds. By developing a scalable platform and providing training, the project will enhance transparency in the craft sector, ensuring ethical sourcing and sustainable production. The project will also foster digital skills, helping craftspeople improve their market competitiveness through digital marketing strategies. Read more about this subject in our journal
ECHN P2P Programme with the Textile Prototyping Lab (GER).
This P2P was an initiative of our friends at the Textile Prototyping Lab from Germany, to explore joint opportunities, share experiences, and get to know each other's hubs and communities. During one week, we explored Porto’s textile ecosystem, with plenty of visits to factories and meetings with fellow creative hubs. On the last day, we hosted an event at Saber Fazer, where other hubs and community members had the opportunity to get to know each other and present their projects and organizations. Read more about the event in our Journal
Natural Dyeing at Soares dos Reis Art School
Assessment and technical consulting for the creation of a dyeing plants garden at the Soares dos Reis school in Central Porto.
CommunityCloth: building capacity for community educators towards sustainable urban transition
CommunityCloth is an Erasmus Plus project (2024) coordinated by Barbot Bernardo, having Alternative Brain Rules from Cyprus and Smuss Studio from Norway as partners. CommunityCloth created tools to promote new training models and provide knowledge for community creation around farm-to-cloth productions. It created a network of educators as a cost-effective way of scaling knowledge transfer. More about this project
GatewayCrafts
GatewayCrafts is an Erasmus Plus which started in 2023 and his coordinated by Barbot Bernardo and has Cru Creative Hub (Por) and Matera Hub (ITA) as partners. The project consists of preparing pilots to facilitate access to technical knowledge in small-scale manufacturing and artisanal work. In addition, it will seek to develop and distribute high-quality educational content, oriented and adapted for contemporary audiences and digital media. The learning strategy combines more conventional elements of distance learning, such as those already found in Saber Fazer's online courses, with others developed and adapted for a social learning logic and more informal learning on social networks.Find out how we created GatewayCrafts’s identity.
Shearing Training
We organised several shearing training events for public and private organisatios in Northern Portugal in the spring of 2023. Our target audience was shearers, producers, and other professionals interested in sheep production. The training was led by Martin O’Connel, a professional shearer from New Zealand and a member of the Saber Fazer team. He shares his technique and professional experience in this area. Susana O'Connel monitors and explains the shearing technique and principles that respect the animal and the fibre until the wool is removed.
Capacity Building for the Serralves Foundation
In 2023, we launched a training project for technicians from the Serralves Park education service to create new activities for different audiences, taking advantage of the Park's existing resources. We organised training sessions on wool processing, weaving and shearing to use wool from the Park's flock and integrate wool processing into the annual educational activities. Once again, we planted flax and organised a long-form linen course from seed to yarn.
Capacity Building for Parque Biológico de Gaia
In 2023, we launched a training project for technicians from the Gaia Biological Park education service to create new activities for different audiences, taking advantage of the Park's existing resources. We organised training sessions on wool processing to use wool from the Park's flock and integrate wool processing into the annual educational activities.
Horta do Ser
Strategy for an education and small textile production project focused on wool. In this project, we helped the founders of this project in Alentejo, Southern Portugal, to develop a plan for a tourist, educational and cultural business.
Shearing Demonstration
Over the past few years, we have been organising, for different entities, shearing demonstrations aimed at the end public. With wool's economic devaluation as a raw material, shearing practices have also been degraded. Therefore, it is urgent to raise awareness for shearing that guarantees animal welfare and safeguards the quality of the wool removed.
ROYALPACAS
Strategic planning for an alpaca producing company. This project aims to support Royalpacas in strategic planning to the creation of a business that begins in animal production and goes through the different stages of transformation of its wool.
Ingrid Costa
Strategy for a new fashion brand. In this project, we supported the designer in defining the brand's business model and its go-to-market strategy.
Reality Studio
Marketing strategy and digital marketing. Reality Studio is a brand founded in Berlin by the designer Svenja Specht, who has a great interest in craftsmanship, small-scale production, quality and her community. In this project, we supported Svenja in re-strategising the business and planning and monitoring the brand's digital marketing strategy
Out To Lunch
Founded by Yoske Nishiumi, Out To Lunch is a reference in the independent retail scene in Porto. With a strong Japanese inspiration, the store is dedicated to fashion, craft and food. In this project, we supported OTL in transitioning from a purely retail model to a hybrid one, combining retail and catering.
Quinta das Carpas
Planning and technical advice for a tourism unit located in Guimarães, Portugal. In this project, we supported Quinta das Carpas in developing a concept to install an agroecological educational unit dedicated to producing natural textile fibres.