For this edition of our international artist feature, we turn to Brazil and feature a handful of illustrators and designers who create fantastic work from various graphic design work and illustrative media. I asked each artist how their country and culture inspired their work and they delivered fantastic answers. Enjoy!
Danilo Gusmão Silveira
Danilo is an art director and designer from São Paulo, Brazil, whose work with various companies throughout Brazil is inspiring and masterful. You can check out his portfolio and explore a select few of his projects below.
GEOM Display Typeface
“My work has influences of many cultures around the world. The Brazilian culture influences directly in my work because the culture has a lot influences in my personal life.
Coca Cola Eureka: Feed Your Ideas
“My contact with the Brazilian culture has been very strong since I was a child. One of these cultures was Capoeira. This sport makes me more focused and disciplined to learn something that I didn’t know and in the design field this is very important.
“Maybe, in the final result of my projects, we can’t see how the culture influenced my work, but as I said before the culture of my country makes me the man I am today and the designer I am today.”
FORD: Final Feliz
Samir Taiar
Samir is a designer from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, who often works his graphic design magic in apps, icon design, poster design, and more. You can check out his portfolio and see some samples of his work below.
Flat Animals Study
“Brazil is a huge country that has been influenced by people from all the world. Starting by Portugal that colonized Brazil, the African people that had been enslaved for many years, and then we had received Italians, German, Japanese and many other people that came to Brazil trying to run away from war. All those people together started to create such a rich culture.
Beatles Poster
“I think that it brings to the Brazilian artist a huge diversity in references and techniques, and that helps us to create our own style and made us a very creative people.
Card Game Icon
“Another point is that we are a poor people. There are a few people that are rich and then a huge amount of poor people that have to be very creative to find ways to raise money to live well. So, Brazil is all about diversity and creativity.
Estúdio Alice
Estúdio Alice is an advertising and graphic design agency in Chapecó, Brazil. They specialize in logo design, branding, and more. You can check out their full portfolio and see some highlights below.
“We are located in the south of Brazil and unlike the center of the country, that have more tropical references, we’re more influenced by the European settlement (Italian and German), but also from neighboring countries such as Uruguay and Argentina.
Georgia Gamborgi—Arquitetura
“The branding for ‘Georgia Gamborgi – Arquitetura’ has an explosive characteristic with some touches of “Brazilian-ness”. In the creative process we took a plunge into the universe of the architect, resulting in a graphic essence with striking features in personality and work.
Bangalô Boutique de Flores
“Boutique de Flores’ brand presents a more classic look with a European flair, reminding viewers of those small establishments with charming features. Brazilian influences happen in a very subtle way because everything is exquisite and a counterpoint to the hot and tropical side of the country.
Rotesma—Indústria de Pré-Fabricados
“The case of ‘Rotesma – Industria de Pré-fabricados’ presents more straight and sober features. The design is accurate, precise and cold. It represents the opposite of “Brazilian-ness”, but it communicates with the client’s origins, not only visually, but also in the understanding of cultural behavior.
“These last two examples reflect more of the studio’s footprint. As quoted above, we are further south and the cultural references are different, but in essence this translates the possibility of a country that breathes plurality.”
Tom Bernardes
Tom is a painter and illustrator from Eldorado do Sul, Brazil. He’s a freelancer who primarily works in a digital medium, painting characters, portraits, and more. You can check out his portfolio and see a selection of his work below.
Character Design Laslo & Lia
“My country has had a hard time lately; maybe due to its history. There is a lot of corruption and not many opportunities, so the Brazilian people tend to stay in the same place not going anywhere. As I like to say, it’s like we’re all standing on a mat.
Pink Girl
“All of this gave me fuel to keep the idea that I have to improve my art each moment I can for the rest of my life. I also have the objective to work for other countries which give me more opportunities to grow and create a great career.
Tough Girl
“The Brazilian culture makes me more sarcastic and humorous; a lot of people here are funny and laid-back. We also have a good sense of criticism. When we see something wrong, we will talk about it, or we’ll start a discussion. I see a lot of those characteristics in my work. I don’t want to blame someone; I don’t want to point my finger and make a bad judgement; I just want to open a discussion and make people think about facts that often pass us by without anyone noticing.”
Brain&Bros DZ.
Marco Dantas Petit owns and runs Brain&Bros DZ. in São Paulo, Brazil, and specializes in branding, graphic design, and packaging design. You can check out more of his fantastic work in his portfolio and see a few examples below.
Berry Good Açaí
“I think design is a universal language which has different audiences, and we need to find the different languages for all kind of people. As Brazil is a multicultural country, we have a huge mix of tastes and styles and that brought to my work an amazing challenge. That made me travel in multiple terrains and work with all types of interfaces. I would say that being a Brazilian brought to me a stronger and more cohesive work result.
Whey Ever Protein Ice Cream
“The colors here are very important, as we are a naturally colorful tropical country that helped to build a specific clinical eye and a passion for colors. Most of the people that have contact with my work love how colorful it is. Over my 17 years of work I’ve changed a lot of my taste and style; I became a multicultural designer and have the ability to reach new and trending design styles.
Me Gusta Madre Paletas Mexicanas—Ice Cream
“We Brazilians are a very warm and enthusiastic people, who are open to all the other countries and cultures. We are always learning with the world and look for design references abroad. I’m very proud of being a Brazilian, but I have to say that the American and European style inspire me daily.”
Estúdio Quadrilátero
Estúdio Quadrilátero is a design studio in Campinas, Brazil, managed by Marjorye Cavazotto. They specialize in branding, packaging design, and editorial design. You can check out more of their fantastic portfolio and see a few samples of their work below.
1st Birthday!
“Brazil is undoubtedly a multicultural, eclectic country, full of good energy. These are some of the features that directly influence my projects in the studio.”
Armazém Pet & Rural
“The fact that the country is multicultural and eclectic gives me more flexibility for solving problems. Each brand has its own design needs, and these needs are determined according to the company’s DNA and brand positioning.
“According to this definition, I feel like I need to adjust myself to each of these different needs to accomplish the project with perfection and to ensure it will convey its message effectively. I always joke that I am never allowed to do something based on my taste or on the customer’s taste: I must think of a solution that meets the customer’s needs in the most efficient way.”
Mesa da Duquesa
“Something that directly influences my projects is the good energy that this country has. This energy can be expressed through the colors! Oh, the colors! Maybe this is the step of the creative process which I am most passionate about. I enjoy playing with the tones instead of just using pure colors.
“Why not think about a slightly warmer tone of pink with a touch of purple? I love to mix colors that, at first sight, don’t seem to match, but that, when put together, create an unusual combination full of personality!”
Many thanks to the wonderful artists featured above. You can follow them further around the web at the links below:
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