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Identity as a Lens for Understanding Global Economies
Drawing on my Portuguese background, these works examine globalization through the lens of maritime history, trade networks, and cultural exchange. By combining academic research with visual storytelling and interactive design, I explore how Portugal’s Age of Exploration shaped early global economic integration—while also confronting the inequality, colonial violence, and structural consequences embedded in that process. Together, these projects reflect my interest in economic history, globalization, and the communication of complex systems across disciplines.
Director & Animator – Stop-Motion Film on Portugal’s Maritime Trade
Inspired by Portugal’s Age of Exploration, I directed and animated a stop-motion film following a fictional maritime voyage to trace the origins of global trade. Using handcrafted animation and historical maps, the film illustrates how Portugal catalyzed early globalization and economic exchange, while critically reflecting on the violence, colonialism, and inequality embedded in imperial expansion. The project translates complex economic history into an accessible visual narrative that encourages ethical reflection alongside historical understanding.
Beneath the Nautical Chart
UI/UX Designer – Globalization on the Table: Fish’s Journey
I designed an interactive system that traces a fish’s journey from ocean to dining table, revealing its geographic origin and global trade path. Through UI/UX design, restaurant space redesign in Beijing, and a VR experience built with Unreal Engine 5, the project examines food globalization through a familiar, everyday object. By linking trade networks to cultural exchange and environmental awareness, the project demonstrates how design can communicate economic complexity and global interdependence in intuitive ways.
Globalization on the Table_ Fish’s Journey
Economic History Research on Portugal’s Maritime Economy
I authored a 12-page academic paper using Portugal’s rise and decline as a case study to examine the structural drivers of national economic development. Integrating personal perspective with historical evidence and economic theory, the research analyzes how geography, maritime technology, institutional design, cultural values, and globalization jointly shape a country’s long-term development. The paper moves beyond narrative history to identify broader patterns in economic growth, stagnation, and systemic vulnerability across historical contexts.
Rise and Fall of Mighty Portugal
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