Rafael Bessa — Brazilian Designer and Art Director based in NYC, specializing in brand identity and visual systems. Currently Art Director in the Design team at BUCK.
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Select clients
Apple
Amazon
Audi
Google
IBM
Mastercard
Meta (Facebook)
Microsoft
Nike
OpenAI
PayPal
Ray-Ban
Samsung
Venmo
WhatsApp
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In 2017, I created the design research project 148 Designers (ᴘᴛ), and since then, I have been invited to speak at universities and design events such as the World Interaction Design Day (IxDD 2019). I have written for various design publications, including Revista Recorte, where I also serve as a guest editor. I teach at Aprender Design School and frequently co-host the Brazilian design podcast Diagrama.
Speaker engagements
World Interaction Design Day (IxDD/IxDA) 2019
Design Ativista 2022
Recorte Launch Event 2022
UFF 2025
Anhembi Morumbi 2021
UnP 2021
EBAC 2020
UniFil 2025
Published Articles
Design Radical ᴘᴛ
Designers ou Militantes? ᴘᴛ
Livros sobre Emprecariado ᴘᴛ
Guest Critic Engagements
2025
Harvard University - Graduate School Of Design
Final Review for the Master's in Design Studies Open Project: Experimental Infrastructures
Students: Gustavo Borges, Nathalie Attalah, Ella St. Hilaire, Jules Bernstein, Sijia Ma
2021
Universidade de São Paulo - FAU-USP
Banca Examinadora de Avaliação Final de Graduação
Agitprop gráfica: Atelier Populaire e propostas para o agora
Student: Lais Matias
Press, Publications, Mentions, Interviews & Podcasts
Fast Company
Computer Arts Magazine UK
Computer Arts Magazine Brazil
Dynamic Logo Book
AIGA 50 Books 50 Covers
UOL Tab ᴘᴛ
The Inspiration Grid
Freela School ᴘᴛ
CCSP ᴘᴛ
Suplemento Pernambuco ᴘᴛ
ArchDaily ᴘᴛ
Diagrama ᴘᴛ
Coexist ᴘᴛ
Fala Colega ᴘᴛ
Awards
ADC Awards Silver
ADC Awards Shortlist
D&AD Shortlist
LAD Awards Silver
Creative Review Annual Awards
Communication Arts Award of Excellence
Brazilian Design Biennial
GDUSA
IDEA Finalist
BDA Jury
Lectures & Courses
Ongoing Design Visual para Produtos Digitais ᴘᴛ
2025 Design e Libertação: Lutas Anticoloniais ᴘᴛ
2024 Sonhos de autonomia no design ᴘᴛ
2023 Guest critic @ Brand-Driven Interfaces
2023 Curso D:GCNP ᴘᴛ
2022 Espaços do Design no Contemporâneo ᴘᴛ
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