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Daciano da Costa, designer and emeritus full professor at the Faculty of Architecture of the Technical University of Lisbon, was a central figure in the development of design in Portugal, promoting a creative, functional, and humanistic approach. Known for beginning his classes with “survival exercises” to foster resilience and imagination, he played a key role in transforming Metalúrgica da Longra into a model industrial design company. His portfolio includes landmark projects such as the National Library, Casino Estoril, and several spaces within the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, where he skillfully combined functionalism with refined aesthetics. Even decades later, he was called upon to revisit and refurbish his earlier works, engaging in a process of critical continuity. Still active in urban renewal projects, he also nurtures the dream of creating a “museum of things.” For Daciano, work is meant to be a source of pleasure—he sees the separation of work and leisure as one of the greatest tragedies of modern life.