reading time: 2 minutes

Hi to the other side of the screen! My name is Cândida and I am a designer that specialises in illustrated patterns and textures for textiles, paper and beyond - even though my automatic response when I happen to chat face-to-face with someone is simply ‘graphic designer’. As I see my work as an extension of myself, I’ll let you know some tidbits about me.

Who are you?

I was born and grew up in Portugal, in a coastal city not far away from Coimbra. I am curious and creative yet extremely rational and drawing is my oldest passion, the one that never really faded. Perhaps that’s the reason why I pursued studies and a career in design.

I have ecclectic tastes, love traveling as much as the next person (but love gastronomic tourism more than said person), prize quality over quantity and find deep pleasure in being in sync with my surroundings.

I have lived in Milan (Italy), Coimbra (Portugal), Munich (Germany) and now Zagreb (Croatia) - all during my 20’s.

How did you end up working with pattern?

As design is an extremely broad field and even graphic design has many sub-disciplines, I felt the need to explore what was left out of my studies programme by myself. When I discovered surface design something just clicked.

I still enjoy working on projects other than surface related, however surface is what excites me the most because I always have more ideas for projects than time to explore them all. This is a bit frustrating at times but mostly is a good thing - let’s face it, creative blocks are the worst :S

What did you do before specialising in surface design?

I took a BA in Design at the University of Aveiro and a MA in Graphic Design at ESAD-CR. Then I interned and worked as an in-house designer & marketing assistant in Italy, before returning to Portugal. There I worked as a freelance graphic designer and even assumed the creative direction of Oficina, a studio focusing on contemporary event stationery.

But patterns kept calling me and the chance to go to Munich with my better-half presented itself so I took it. Then COVID-19 happened and the event industry tanked worldwide - while it was sad I felt really relieved that I had decided to change paths beforehand.

What do you love more about your work?

I truly love the process: coming with a fresh concept, researching it and then creating a full collection around it. Seeing how far I can go within each single concept.

...and less?

Planning social media content and “getting my name out there”.

Where do find inspiration?

Nature, children's books, typography, Polish posters, history, science, Portuguese iconography, Japanese woodblock printing, Finnish and Australian pattern design, my travels... Everywhere!

What type of brands do you enjoy working with?

While I’ve been fortunate to have good experiences with all my projects I feel extra tingles whenever I am approached by brands that care.

Brands that manufacture closer to home in order to lower their carbon footprint and be able to manage factory working conditions;

Brands that use noble and long lasting raw materials and focus on meeting their target niche tastes in order to fight programmed obsolescence and reckless consumption;

Brands that collaborate with independent creatives like me - because they empower us by letting us make a living out of something we love!