Dr. William Afonso Cantú (Cantú, W. A.) is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Letters, Arts and Communication at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD). He was a Visiting Professor at the University of Economics and Humanities (AHE) in Warsaw, Poland, and at the Centre for Arts, Design and Fashion (CEART) at Santa Catarina State University (UDESC), in Brazil. He holds a Post-Doctorate from the Centre of Arts, Design and Fashion (CEART), a Post-Doctorate and a PhD in Culture Studies, in the research line of Trends and Cultural Management, from the University of Lisbon (UL), a Master’s in Design and Visual Culture, and a Bachelor’s in Design from IADE-U. He was the coordinator of the Club for UNESCO of Innovation and Cultural Development, and was the PI of the Trends and Culture Management Lab Project. He is an integrated researcher at the University of Lisbon Centre for English Studies (CEAUL/ULICES), where he also serves as deputy head, and collaborates with the Centre for Studies in Education and Innovation (CI&DEI) at the University of Leiria and Oeste (ULO), as well as with the Design and Communication Research Unit (UNIDCOM) at IADE. He was the vice-coordinator of the IPAM/LAB Research Unit. His research is situated within the fields of Culture Studies, Trend Studies, and Visual Culture, with a particular interest in critically examining how culture functions as a landscape for meaning-making, negotiation, and identity construction. His work explores the intersections between socio-cultural formations, creative practices, semiotics, arts/culture-based research, and aesthetic discourse, focusing on the cultural analysis of how meanings are produced, shared, and contested within emerging cultural representations. He has been publishing articles and book chapters on these topics, has participated in research projects, and developed activities as an independent designer and trend researcher, working on national and international initiatives. He was on the front line of Trend Studies development in Portugal and is the author of the book Os Estudos de Tendências e o Branding (Trend Studies and Branding). He has also curated diverse exhibitions, served as a jury member in creativity and innovation contests, and participated in various artistic projects and exhibitions nationally and internationally. Actively engaged in interdisciplinary research and cultural projects, he also works as a designer, cultural producer, and trainer. As an independent professional, he has developed projects across several countries, deepening his engagement with entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and has participated in numerous artistic and creative initiatives.
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