Illustration • Lettering • Visual storytelling
Hi | Olá,
I’m Rosário Durão, an illustrator and lettering artist, and I help editors, publishers, and art directors tell stories centered on women through illustration and expressive lettering.
I work internationally and collaborate in English and Portuguese.
A selection of my work is available in my shop.
With over 30 years of experience in visual communication, I combine intuition and academic rigor to turn deep concepts into clear, market-ready visual assets.
I create visual mantras - illustration and lettering that push back against the historical erasure of women and affirm female agency. By translating complex psychological themes into striking visual stories, my work helps women feel seen, powerful, and unflinching.
PUBLISHING: ”Severed” (Illustration)
PUBLISHING: ”Surfacing” (Lettering)
EDITORIAL: ”Georgette” (Illustration)
EDITORIAL: ”Nia” (Illustration)
ADVERTISING: ”On the Road” (Illustration)
LICENSING: ”Dreams Create the Stories we Live’ (Lettering)
Elisabeth Kramer-Simpson, Professor of Technical Communication
“Rosário has been at the forefront of design practice in the thirteen years I’ve known her. She taught Design Thinking to graduate students, and used strategic changes in color and visual separation to clarify findings in my conference presentations. Her creativity designing our program logo and fliers married institutional identity to our unique mission. Rosário is a kind, enthusiastic collaborator with excellent design skills.”
Christopher ChoGlueck, Professor of Ethics
“Just one session with Rosário changed my whole approach to design! She is bold and inspiring, with careful attention to process and product.”
Teresa Sequeira, Producer
“Working with Rosário on our visual identity was a deeply collaborative process. She listened closely, drew from our ideas and emotions, and shaped them into visuals and words that felt true. She brought a fresh clarity and energy to our work.”
My Process
From insight to visual impact. Learn more about my design thinking process:
1.
Empathize
Understand the story beneath the surface.
2.
Define
Clarify what truly needs to be seen.
3.
Ideate
Explore visual directions with intention.
4.
Prototype
Refine structure, style, and execution.
5.
Implement
Prepare the work for visibility and impact.
Want the full framework?
Beyond the Portrait breaks down how I turn complex female narratives into high-impact visual assets.
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