Abstract

In a dynamic collaboration between the product and industrial design master’s at the University of Porto and the Portuguese furniture company Adico, this study explores the required bridge to provide students with the skills to meet industry demands through pragmatic and applicable projects. The study examines how project-based learning can significantly boost students’ understanding of the industry’s complexities by focusing on the case study of a university project that was prototyped and refined in the industrial context to be commercialized. Following the inaugural competition “Design for the Next 100 Years,” this article details the creative process and prototyping of the award-winning G-Flor line—a collection of metallic outdoor products, including a partition, a parasol, and a flower box. The challenge stemmed from a university project tasking master’s students with designing a product line aligned with the brand’s customer profile, particularly for the restaurant and hotel sectors. Grounded in project-based learning, students conducted a comprehensive analysis of the partner enterprise, leading to innovative proposals that exceeded conventional limits while respecting production capabilities. Prototyping the line G-Flor led to a streamlining process that aims to refine its design to improve manufacturability and cost-effectiveness for standardized mass production, considering ergonomics, materials, and user experience. This project exemplifies the success of an academy–industry partnership, showcasing the transformative impact of hands-on experience in fostering an academic project to integrate a company’s catalog while enriching students’ skill development and establishing a valuable bridge between academic insights and the dynamic demands of the industrial sector.