Monthly Archives: November 2025

Hello! My name is Estevão, I’m 20 years old and I study Visual Design at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), in southern Brazil. I was born and raised in Santo André, a city in the state of São Paulo that’s part of the region known as the “Grande ABC.” I love its multicultural atmosphere — the result of the region’s history of immigration, migration, and industrial development. It’s a place where many cultures meet every day, which has always inspired me and shaped much of my creative vision. Since I was little, I’ve always been passionate about art, stories, and cinema. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a cartoonist for Maurício de Sousa, the creator of Monica’s Gang. However, it was during the pandemic that I discovered the world of design: I started helping my church with livestreams and creating graphics for social media, and I completely fell in love with this universe of digital creativity. I’ve been a Christian since childhood — a fifth-generation member of the Methodist Church — and the church has always been a fundamental part of my life. I’ve always taken part in camps, gatherings, and events, and I love serving and helping people in any way I can (that’s the part I love the most — it’s where I find myself, where I truly feel alive). Currently, I’m part of the Methodist Church in Porto Alegre, where I serve as communications leader and drummer in the worship ministry. I also work in communications for the National Department of Work with Children of the Methodist Church. When I’m not studying, I’m usually hanging out with friends, reading, or watching movies. I’m passionate about cinema, nerd culture, and superheroes — I grew up reading Monica’s Gang and Percy Jackson, or watching Marvel, DC, and Disney movies. These references still shape my creative identity to this day. I’m also completely in love with the beach. When I was younger, I used to go almost every weekend. I love the sound of the ocean, the atmosphere, the street fairs — and of course, the food! (I’m a big fan of shrimp and candied apples.) Actually, I’m a true food lover — a “chubby guy in a skinny body” (as I like to joke). My friends already know: if we’re going out, food has to be involved! My favorite dish is chicken stroganoff with shoestring potatoes, and for dessert, carrot cake — preferably a big slice! I’m very close to my family. I’m the oldest child and have a 14-year-old sister named Yohana Camily, who is the love of my life. My parents, Glauco and Elaine, are amazing people, and our year-end celebrations with my uncles, cousins, and grandparents are my favorite moments of the year.Music also runs in my family: the women are great singers (they’ve always sung in the church choir), and even though I didn’t inherit that gift, I learned to play percussion. My uncle is a samba musician, so our…

hii everyone, i'm manoela - or just mano! it's so nice to meet you! i'm 20 years old and i study graphic design at the universidade federal do rio grande do sul (ufrgs). i was born and have lived all my life in porto alegre (capital of our state), which is a relatively big city - almost 1,5 million people. i'm not someone who is drawn to bustling atmospheres and big crowds, but i would say i grew accustomed to them! i have always been fascinated with art present in all aspects of my life, but even more so with watching how people interact with it. i just love noticing little habits and different feelings one can express in front of something beautiful. i find it extremely therapeutical and even more enjoyable than looking at the art itself. my classmates during a field trip here in Porto Alegre colorful market in Barcelona exposition in Fondation Beyeler, Sweden i guess it's not a surprise to say i love being around people! i was actually a very shy girl during my early and high school years, and it was here in the university where i found my place! i'm grateful for every moment i can spend with my friends. we even have a name for our smaller group: the sapadivas! we always do class projects together (when possible) and we work really well, each one with different strengths as we collaborate and complement each other. my group of friends playing pool brought us all together! the sapadivas studying design has helped me find myself not only in my friends, but in my passions too. i never had the habit of drawing or doing digital art (and that intimidates me til today!), but i've always considered myself a very crafty and creative person. i love giving handcrafted gifts for the ones i love and making them happy with things i made myself. making jewelry ! and last but not least: fun fact! for a long time of my life i thought about being a biologist since i am fascinated by the world of insects. i also have a deep connection with cats - i identify myself in their curiosity and funny way of moving around, as if they're super lazy and have too much energy at the same time. today i have a tuxedo cat called pucca and a dog called chewie and i love them very much. chewie and pucca and their respective personalities... a longhorn beetle i drew my late cat arya making me company while i studied piano thanks for taking the time getting to know me a little! and if you'd like, you can find me on:linkedin: manoela arnoldinstagram: @manoela_arnoldmy email: manoela.arnold@ufrgs.br

Hi, my name is Samara... Hey there! I’m Samara Pinheiro, but you can call me Sa (that’s what my mom says when she’s in a good mood) or Sami— my friends swear it sounds cuter. I’m 20 years old, a proud Pisces, and currently living my “adulting” era in Porto Alegre, where I’ve been surviving on iced coffee and design deadlines for a year now. I’m studying Visual Design at UFRGS, mostly because I love creating things that actually have meaning (and also because designing pretty stuff makes my heart happy). I work as a freelance social media designer, which isn’t exactly my “forever path,” but it’s been a fun ride — I get to be creative, flexible, and a tiny bit addicted to Canva. Oh, and speaking of addictions: I’m obsessed with ham. Like, if you ever see me eating a sandwich, there’s a 99% chance it has ham in it. Outside of design life, I’m all about parties, people, and vibes. I’m a promo girl for some of the coolest events around here in Brazil, and honestly, I love that side of my life — it keeps me social, spontaneous, and full of stories to tell (some of which I probably shouldn’t). I’m also a huge Instagram girlie — I love posting about my days on my daily account, where I treat it like a digital diary. It’s where I share random thoughts, cute moments, and everything in between with the friends I’ve made online. When it’s summer, you’ll most likely find me at the beach or by the pool, soaking up the sun until I’m golden. My family’s been in the food business for over 30 years — my grandma runs a restaurant that’s literally older than me, and my mom owns a bakery (which I help with whenever I’m back home at the coast). I also have a dog named Cher Francisca — yes, she has a full name, and yes, she looks exactly like me. My dad lives in the United States (Orlando) with my little sister and stepmom, and my brother-from-another-mother lives in California, so I guess I’m kind of an international soul at this point 🌎. Anyway, that’s me — a mix of creativity, chaos, and caffeine, trying to figure life out one design project (and one ham sandwich) at a time. If you made it this far — hi bestie 👋You can find me on Instagram at @samarapinheiro.s  for the pretty stuff, or @sapinheiro.daily for the real-life chaos.And if you ever want to chat, drop me an email at samarasantospinheiro@gmail.com 💌

Pleased to meet you, I'm João Vitor, a Visual Design student at UFRGS and the Art Director at CUFA (Central Única das Favelas). I chose to follow the path of Design after the inspiring reading of the book Rainha da Cocada by Raiza Costa, which introduced me to the power and impact of the creative world. My base is in Porto Alegre, where I live with my grandparents and enjoy a very close-knit family. Although my parents live in Torres, on the coast, I am deeply passionate about the beach and our Brazilian summer. I have great admiration for everything that involves Brazilian aesthetics and culture, and I love celebrating these moments with a caipirinha or a cold beer. In my free time, I prioritize traveling, exploring new dishes, and, above all, being surrounded by the people I love. My base is in Porto Alegre, where I live with my grandparents and enjoy a very close-knit family. Although my parents live in Torres, on the coast, I am deeply passionate about the beach and our Brazilian summer. I have great admiration for everything that involves Brazilian aesthetics and culture, and I love celebrating these moments with a caipirinha or a cold beer. In my free time, I prioritize traveling, exploring new dishes, and, above all, being surrounded by the people I love.

hey everyone! i’m cecília — but everyone calls me ceci :)) i’m 20 and study visual design at universidade federal do rio grande do sul (ufrgs), in southern brasil. nice to meet you! this is me last month, when i won my first design award :)) i was born and raised in the countryside of my state (brasil is divided into 27 states, and mine is called rio grande do sul!). i grew up in a veeery small town named não-me-toque — which literally means don’t touch me, such a curious name for a place! i love how green and peaceful it is there. most people in my town work in agriculture, including my family, so i was raised surrounded by that environment. little me me and my sis working with my dad in the agriculture field growing up in a quiet rural town made me appreciate small details — colors, textures, the rhythm of everyday life. but i also felt that i needed to do something creative, something that didn’t quite fit in the world around me. rainbow in não-me-toque me and my friends from a volunteer group sunset in não-me-toque me and my friends from a volunteer group - during christmas activity when i turned 19, i left não-me-toque to study. i’m so proud to be at ufrgs, a public university where we don’t pay tuition — but getting in takes a lot of effort! the design courses here (visual and product) are ranked among the top in brasil, so it’s a very competitive place to be. art! parque da redenção exploring new coffee shops bekah and porto alegre first semester! analogic photo me in a museum in porto alegre — fundação iberê my girls! friends from ufrgs living in porto alegre, the capital of my state, makes me feel fulfilled and inspired. it’s a big, lively city, full of places to explore — so different from where i came from. studying design has shown me how powerful creativity can be. it’s my favorite way to express myself, to feel free, and to make sense of the world. lisbon madrid andorra i love wandering around the city, discovering new spots, museums, and art galleries. photography is one of my biggest passions — especially with analog cameras. i love capturing moments and turning them into memories. i also love traveling and learning about different cultures (i haven’t been to turkey yet, but i’d love to!). when i’m not studying, i spend time watching movies, tv shows, and reading. i’m really drawn to films with pretty art direction and nice stories. i also love going to the cinema and doing cultural activities with my girlfriend, julia. she lives here too, and we both love spending quality time together — from watching a movie to just walking around and talking for hours. me and ju at the anavitória concert :)) me by ju drinking wine and watching the sunset me and ju visiting a museum - casa de cultura mario quintana…