Holis :)
I’m Nico Avila, Designer and Illustrator based in Lisbon.
For the last 10 years I’ve been turning ideas into brands with a clear voice and a distinct visual character. I specialize in startups: small teams, fast decisions and plenty still to shape. I’ve also seen what it takes to scale
a brand, moving from strategy to execution within studios, agencies and
in-house teams, from marketing-led to engineering-led teams. Through
all of it I keep asking the same question: what are we actually saying?
It guides both the big decisions and the cheeky finishing touches.
Years of illustration, building creative communities and running cultural events taught me how to speak to a crowd. Later, working embedded
with product and engineering teams gave me an architectural way
of approaching projects. Together, they let me go deep into complex
systems without losing sight of the people they’re for.
Branding is the core of my practice; loud art direction, illustration, motion, product design and code are the tools I bring to a team.
An identity that holds together across a product, a campaign
or an unexpected little interaction isn’t just a detail to me.
It’s the only way I know how to work.
Originally from Argentina, now at home in Lisbon, Portugal (UK time).
Still asking questions. Still making questionable jokes. If you’re building something that needs a clear voice, let’s talk.