This week’s interviewee, Rafael Fagulha Santos, is currently studying design at university for his third year. Rafael has an array of impressive portfolio pieces, ranging from Branding and Graphic Design, to Typography and Advertising – even sporting an incredible redbrand of the world famous space agency, NASA!

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where in the world are you and what do you do?

Hi, my name is Rafael Fagulha Santos and I’m 20 years old, I chose to use the nickname Fagulha because it’s not a very common name so I ended up using it, I’m Portuguese and I live in a town near Lisbon called Almada, just across the river Tagus, and I am currently studying design at university IADE (Lisbon), I am in 3rd year of the course and intend to take a masters degree in advertising and image.

Q: Describe your design style and what attracts you to producing this type of artwork?

I don’t know if I consider my style a typical style, but a style that goes depending on what you need in this country and in the world, because being creative is not enough to create something new but also useful and with a possible use, but it is obvious that each logo has always a touch of my personality and it is clear that each logo has my tastes, for example the use of typography, that’s an element that I think that’s very important to create a useful and functional  logo.

Q: Can you show us and explain your workspace?

Well my workspace is my room and its very simple, two laptops a scan and loads of books on the table where I constantly research for more inspiration. And of course a window that I consider a very important element, so we can get the contact with the street and to get distracted a little bit!

Q: What methods and websites do you use to promote your artwork and attract new clients?

Well I usually use Behance.net because I think it’s one of the biggest well-established networks to share our work on it, and Behance have loads of watchers so our work is always being watched and appreciated and it’s a good feeling, and we cannot forget that it’s a website that has loads of different kinds of design so it’s a great for inspiration as well. Then I use LinkedIn and facebook , they are not so important, but very useful.

Q: What preparations do you take before starting a new project and how do you overcome creative block?

Well to start a work or anything at all, I always like to get a pencil and a paper and start to sketch whatever I have in my mind, it’s good to sketch, do draws, lines, everything that you can do in a paper!, it helps a lot for me, but of course that the good taste must be present, and the inspiration in the moment if not, just sketch small ideas to use them later on. Never give up trying, don’t be afraid of failing because it’s good and do something cool every day.

Q: Many designers use other people’s artwork to inspire themselves, where do you get your inspiration? Do you have any favorite artists?

Once I had discovered the Behance network, since it is a cluster of creative minds in which I constantly inspire myself. What I can say that influences me is the look on the street where we walk every day. The need to “want” to improve what already exists and always create something new watching simply what is around us.

Q: Can you offer any tips to help upcoming designers, especially those who’re designing for print?

Well, always work hard and don’t give up even if the things don’t go well at the first try because things are like that, and do loads of personal works because it will help you improve your skills. And be yourself, don’t go out and copy what have already been done, don’t do the same thing twice, improvement is the key!

Q: What are you personal favorite pieces of art from you Portfolio?

I don’t have a personal favorite piece of art in my portfolio, since it’s everything made by me, my favorite piece is the entire portfolio together that makes my image.

Q: What do you do in your spare time, apart from Designing? (Any hobbies?)

Its hard to get distracted, because design is everywhere, it’s always inside your head so your always designing anything even if you don’t want it, but in my spare time I love to play videogames and go out with my girlfriend, friends, normal stuff haha.

Q: Where can we connect with you online?

You can connect with me online mainly through:

Behance

Facebook

Or just send me an email!

rafaelfagulha [at] gmail.com

Thanks Rafael for your very interesting responses there, I think that all of your work is very impressive and I epically like the ‘typo’ and ‘Krok’ Branding you’ve created – which also had a massive positive response on Behance, and if you haven’t seen it already, you should.