ana mendes
ana mendes

[01] CUSCUZ.STUDIO FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ROLE PROJECT  

DESCRIPTION

A father and daughter project, handmade with reused natural materials. Since 2015.

CUSCUZ emerged in 2015 as a university project, (at the beginning the project was called #CUSCUZDESIGN, but in 2023 following a new phase of maturity, we re-set for: #CUSCUZSTUDIO), and something told me it could be more than that. I followed my instinct and invited my father to embark with me on a more serious adventure and create a brand. With my ideas and my father’s mastery of manual work, it could only go right.

This is how CUSCUZ was born, a father-daughter project that values each handmade product and the beauty of the unrepeatable. We want, from the beginning, to transmit values that make the relationship between life in society and the environment more harmonious and conscious.

 

The project is rooted in craftsmanship and sustainability, exploring handmade creations with reused natural materials. Over the years, it has developed international partnerships and has been showcased at both Paris Fashion Week and Madrid Fashion Week, while also collaborating nationally with Portugal Fashion and Lisboa Fashion Week. In 2018, CUSCUZ won the award for Best Direction at the International Fashion Film Festival with the film Nós, and in the following year was nominated for Best Film with Re-think. In 2019, the studio was invited to participate in the Porto Design Biennale, where it created the piece Monóculo. The project has also been featured in leading international publications, including Vogue Portugal; Vogue Spain; Vogue Netherlands; ELLE; PAP; GRAZIA;Purplehaze highlighting its unique approach to sustainable design and contemporary craftsmanship.

 

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Work Experience

[Clients]

Figaro's Lisboa / Zouri Vegan Shoes / SirTile Socks / PROF Online Store / Macedo Cannatà Studio / Untitled Studio / Cerâmica Antiga de Coimbra Factory / Refeîtro da Baixa Restaurant / Matilde Cunha Photographer / Fora de Jogo Project / Curva Lisboa / Gisela Mabel Music / DiVERGE Sneakers 

[Skills]  

Figma / WordPress / Shopify / Adobe InDesign / Adobe Illustrator / Adobe Photoshop / Adobe Photoshop Lightroom / Adobe Premiere

[2015 — ongoing]

Founder and Creative Director at CUSCUZ.STUDIO
/ Management and Strategy
Strategic planning and decision-making for the brand sustainable growth.
Business DevelopmentIdentifying market opportunities and establishing strategic partnerships.
Preparing proposals and negotiating with clients and suppliers.
/ Marketing and Branding
Defining branding strategies and market positioning.Managing online presence.
/ Design and Creative Direction
Developing creative concepts for graphic design, product design, and visual identity.
Leading photo shoots, promotional videos, and advertising materials.
Ensuring quality and consistency across all delivered products.
Overseeing production processes to ensure quality and sustainability.
/ Web Design and User Experience (UX/UI)
Designing and developing the e-commerce website.
Planning and executing intuitive and functional user experiences.
Implementing responsive and accessible solutions.
/ Product Development
Creating and managing exclusive product lines.
Researching trends and incorporating innovations in design and materials.
/ Creative Direction
Developing creative concepts for graphic design, product design, and visual identity.Leading photo shoots, promotional videos, and advertising materials.Ensuring quality and consistency across all delivered products.Overseeing production processes to ensure quality and sustainability.

[2021 — ongoing]

Senior Creative Designer & Art Direction at DiVERGE
/ Redesigned the brand's visual identity, ensuring a modern and cohesive graphic style across all platforms.
/ Designed and optimised UX/UI for the e-commerce website, improving navigation and user engagement.
/ Created content for Google Ads and Meta campaigns, driving online visibility and sales growth.
/ Directed creative concepts and execution for photographic campaigns, aligning visuals with brand messaging.
/ Contributed to the brand's social impact initiative, iMAGINE, supporting its mission and outreach. A social impact program for young adults created by DiVERGE that aims to improve their employability skills and promote social inclusion.

 

[2020 — 2021]

E-commerce UX/UI Designer at PROF online store
/ Designed and optimized the UX and UI of the e-commerce website to improve user experience and conversion rates
/ Created content for Google Ads and Meta campaigns, achieving enhanced online visibility and sales growth.
/ Redesigned the brand's visual identity, ensuring consistency across digital platforms and marketing materials.

[2018 — 2017]

Graphic and Brand Designer at That's.y.
/ Designed comprehensive brand identities, including logos, color schemes, and visual guidelines.
/ Developed print and digital materials such as business cards, flyers, and promotional assets.
/ Collaborated with clients to translate their vision into compelling visual concepts.

[2016 — 2018]

Graphic Designer at Figaro's
/ Developed the brand's visual identity, ensuring a cohesive and recognizable aesthetic across all platforms.
/ Designed branded materials, including signage, packaging, and promotional assets, such as the packaging design for a signature hair pomade.
/ Built and optimized the website, integrating a user-friendly booking system for customer reservations.