As part of the co-creation phase of the CREA-UP project in Portugal, CRU Creative Hub hosted a special flash workshop led by Rossana Mendes Fonseca, visual artist, curator and researcher. Titled “Photographing with Purpose,” the session invited participants to dive deeper into how images can be used not just to document creative work, but to extend its identity and spark more meaningful conversations — especially around themes of sustainability, upcycling and conscious design.
Held at CRU’s inspiring space in Porto, the workshop brought together artists, designers and makers who have been developing upcycling-focused projects through CREA-UP. With many of them preparing for the final exhibition, this was a timely opportunity to think critically about how their projects would be represented, communicated and perceived.
Beyond Technical Skills: Photographing Ideas, Processes and Values
Rossana’s approach was anything but conventional. Drawing on her extensive practice at the intersection of visual art, critical theory and curation, she framed photography not only as a tool for aesthetics, but as a medium for storytelling and positioning.
Participants explored:
The narrative power of images: How can a photograph capture not just a finished object, but also the journey behind it? How can it reveal choices around material sourcing, manual processes, and the values embedded in sustainable or circular practices?
Practical considerations for product and project photography: From lighting and composition to texture and scale, Rossana shared insights into how to make each image intentional and impactful — balancing clarity with emotion.
Visual identity and alignment: Especially in the context of upcycling and ecological design, how can creators ensure their photos resonate with their ethical and aesthetic commitments? What kind of visual language best serves their message?
Creating New Ways of Seeing
The session also included hands-on experiments where participants tested out new ways of framing, staging and interpreting their own pieces. For many, it was a moment to pause and look again at their work, not only through the camera lens, but through the lens of narrative, relationship and responsibility.
Discussions ranged from the politics of representation in sustainable design to how photography can be used to challenge consumer habits and invite audiences into deeper reflections about production and waste.
This workshop turned out to be far more than a technical boost; it was an invitation for each participant to approach their work with greater intention and poetic vision, challenging them to think deeply about how they present and share their creations with the world. It beautifully echoed the core values of the CREA-UP project — reimagining, reusing and reinventing artistic practice within a framework of ecological and social responsibility.
As their projects edged closer to being unveiled to the public in the BOWERBIRD exhibition at Bombarda Showcase, many participants left the session with renewed confidence and a clearer sense of how to visually communicate the processes, principles and personal stories that make their work distinctive.
We are profoundly grateful to Rossana Mendes Fonseca for her generosity, sharp insight and thought-provoking questions that pushed us all to reconsider how we see, frame and narrate what we create. And a heartfelt thank you to every participant for bringing such openness and curiosity to this journey. Together, we’ve shown that creativity, when guided by care and intention, can become one of the most powerful tools we have for shaping more conscious, connected and inspiring futures.
Read more about CREA-UP!
