Interview with graphic designer and illustrator Bráulio Amado
If there’s a graphic designer who has turned dissonance into a form of harmony, it’s Bráulio Amado. A Portuguese creative based in New York, with one foot in art, another in music, and a third in punk-style poster design, Bráulio has developed a distinctive visual language marked by spontaneity, irreverence and surprise.
His posters seem to shout, dance, confuse and embrace you all at once. But behind that chaos lies thought, humour and a raw sense of freedom. At his studio Badbadbadbad, he designs for record labels, festivals, clubs and international media — always on his own terms.
In light of his participation in Us by Night 2025, the Belgian festival that celebrates unfiltered creativity, CC/magazine spoke to him about limits, mistakes, intuition and creative processes. Read on.
Your work feels raw, rebellious and completely free. Where do you start when creating something new?
It depends! For editorial or more “serious” projects, there’s always a research and sketching phase. I like doing very rough sketches so I can focus on the idea rather than the style.
Once I’ve found a direction, I explore the best style to communicate it. But if it’s something abstract or experimental, I just start playing with what I’ve got and see what happens.
“I like doing very rough sketches so I can focus on the idea rather than the style.”
You’ve built an unmistakable and ever-evolving visual universe. Is it a conscious decision to always keep surprising?
Not really. I get bored doing the same thing, so I try to constantly move towards new spaces. It makes everything more fun for me. I’m curious about lots of things — I’m always learning, and I want my work to reflect that.
You often blur the line between personal and commercial — what’s your current relationship with client work?
I love it. And I need the money! I’m most excited when a project isn’t about me — when it challenges my own bubble.
A brief is like a puzzle I have to solve, and I love that.
Humour, chaos, discomfort, play… your posters stir emotions and curiosity. What are you hoping to convey?
Above all, I want the posters to spark emotion and curiosity. A lot of my work is for clubs, DJs, bands, music — it’s very personal for the people attending.
By keeping things chaotic and open, I hope each person connects with it in their own way. Like an invitation. Yes… humour, chaos, discomfort and play are usually what’s going on in my head when I design a poster, haha.
“Humour, chaos, discomfort and play are usually what’s going on in my head when I design a poster.”
You live in New York, you’re Portuguese, and you work with clients from all over the world — how does place and culture influence your creative process?
A lot. As I said earlier, it often comes through in the form of humour, chaos, discomfort and play.
Trying to understand the world around me, especially as an immigrant, feels a lot like making art or design. You’re trying to match what’s in your head with what’s out there, how people perceive your work… you’ll fail, sometimes succeed, be misunderstood… but it’s all part of learning a new language and evolving.
What’s your relationship with imperfection? It seems central to your work.
I love imperfection. It reminds us we’re not machines — there’s a real person behind the work. Especially now with AI, I think human flaws bring personality to art and design.
What keeps you creatively sane in an industry ruled by speed and trends?
I try not to be too hard on myself. I remind myself this is just a job. I do things unrelated to creativity to gain perspective.
If you could create with no limits, context or audience — what would you do?
A theme park! Or a gay sauna.
“I love imperfection. It reminds us we’re not machines — there’s a real person behind the work.”
What’s next for you? Any dream collaborations or projects you want to explore?
I recently started painting. It’s frustrating but also fun. So I just want to keep learning and getting better.
What advice would you give to designers starting out in the field?
Don’t be a jerk. Ask questions. Make mistakes. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Be kind to others.
And finally — what can you tell us about your participation in Us by Night 2025?
I’m preparing a brand-new talk… and it’ll be the first time I present it in public, so… it could be a lot of fun or a total disaster (sorry in advance).
From 25 to 27 September, the Us by Night 2025 festival will take place in Antwerp (Belgium), where Bráulio Amado will appear alongside other leading figures in design, art and creativity. Don’t miss it — you can grab your tickets through this link.
(*) Images provided by Bráulio Amado.
