Covilhã
科维良

The intersection of traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation
传统工艺与现代创新的交汇

Abstract

Covilhã, a city in Portugal’s Beira Interior region, is experiencing a renaissance driven by its unique design creativity and innovation in design-related industries. Thanks to its rich cultural heritage and traditional textile craftsmanship, Covilhã not only preserves the essence of its artisanal and industrial legacy but also revitalizes traditional sectors through design innovation. In recent years, the city has focused on integrating traditional textiles and handicrafts with modern fashion and digital media design, forging a creative industry path oriented toward sustainability.

The synergy between design education and industry innovation in Covilhã is a key driver of its progress. Local higher education institutions, such as the design school at Beira Interior University, have nurtured a pool of talent with both international vision and practical local experience. These graduates actively contribute to textile, fashion, and multimedia design, forming a vital force behind the local creative industry. Meanwhile, the municipal government and local creative agencies support design competitions, exhibitions, and workshops by providing funding and resources, thus establishing a robust innovation platform that fosters deep collaboration between designers and enterprises.

In practice, Covilhã has successfully merged traditional textiles with modern fashion by partnering with young designers and adopting new business models and sustainable design principles. Events like the local Fashion Week and the Fashion Library showcase cutting-edge design outcomes and serve as key hubs for exchanging innovative ideas among companies, research institutions, and designers. Moreover, the city has repurposed old factories into creative labs and art spaces—such as the New Hand Lab—to provide venues for local artists and resident projects, energizing community life. Regular events like the WOOL Festival and the FIADA International Crafts, Design, and Art Fair further blend public spaces with street art, enriching the city’s cultural atmosphere.

Overall, Covilhã’s design-driven approach, achieved through interdisciplinary and cross-industry collaboration, has built a creative industry ecosystem focused on sustainable development. Here, design not only preserves traditional craftsmanship but also seamlessly integrates with modern technology and fashion, serving as a vital force in driving economic development, cultural heritage, and social progress.

摘要

科维良，这座位于葡萄牙中部贝拉内省的城市，正以其独特的设计创意和设计相关产业创新而焕发新生。得益于浓厚的文化底蕴和传统纺织工艺，这里不仅保留了手工艺和工业遗产的精髓，更通过设计创新赋予传统产业全新活力。近年来，科维良聚焦于将传统纺织、手工艺与现代时尚、平面和数字媒体设计相结合，探索出一条以可持续发展为导向的创意产业之路，并于2021年正式成为“UCCN设计之都”。

科维良的产业创新离不开设计教育和政策支持。当地高等院校，如贝拉内大学设计学院，培养了大量具有国际视野和本地实践能力的设计人才，这些毕业生活跃于纺织、时尚和多媒体设计领域，成为推动其创意产业发展的新力量。此外，2022年发布《建设设计之都行动计划》后，市政府与地方创意机构则通过设计竞赛、展览和工作坊等形式，提供资金与资源支持，并搭建了一个完善的设计创新平台，促进了该市创意经济的发展。

其产业创新的具体案例如，科维良通过与年轻设计师合作，借助新商业模式和可持续设计理念，成功实现了传统纺织与现代时尚的跨界融合；还有当地时尚周和时尚图书馆也展示了前沿设计成果，是设计企业、研究机构与设计师交流创新思路的重要枢纽。不仅如此，在其他设计和文化创意产业方面，工业遗产的复兴也在不断推进，旧厂房和纺织工厂被改造成创意实验室和艺术空间，如新手实验室（New Hand Lab），为本地艺术家和驻地项目提供了创作场所和空间，激发了社区活力。还有政府定期举办诸如羊毛街头艺术节、创意周和FIADA国际工艺博览会等设计创意活动节庆，将公共空间与街头艺术结合，传播城市文化故事并展示该市在多媒体设计、时装设计、工业设计、技术融合等方面的创新成果，为城市增添了浓厚的创意文化氛围。

科维良通过举办创意周活动、打造创意空间及工艺艺术博览会等，激活了城市文化交流的脉搏，为产业创新发展注入了新活力，以设计为核心并通过跨学科、跨产业的协作，这里的设计是艺术、文化、科学和技术之间的“润滑剂”，推动这城市经济发展、文化传承和社会创新。