We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative César Moura ("CM").

Portuguese graphic/communication designer. Graduated for the communication design department of Superior School of Arts & Design in Porto, Portugal. Meanwhile, Up Studio Design was founded. This studio was stablished in 2014, in the heart of Oporto. The studio gave some workshops from branding to letterpress, dealed with nacional and international interns, with big clients as Sony Music Ent., Livraria Lello & Irmãos, a city hall, and so much more! Right before the studio closed, a big passion had born. A wine branding passion that have been worked until nowadays.

César Moura Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by César Moura.

Designer Interview of César Moura:

DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?

CM : Since high school, the interest for graphic design appears. the idea of communicate trough images started to take part of my days. In 2010, i enrole is ESAD (University of arts and design) to study a bit more about design.

DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

CM : I'm a freelancer working mainly on packaging but my focus is on wine branding design.

DI: What is "design" for you?

CM : For my design is a weapon. It can be a communication weapon or a selling weapon, it does not matter. The important is that design can manipulate everyone to do some kind of stuffs.

DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?

CM : Wine, branding, label.

DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

CM : My first wine label. it was very difficult to get that client and a very difficult to achieve the final result.

DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?

CM : As a freelancer, my first work was a branding for a furniture design company.

DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

CM : Paper. I prefer the analog through the digital.

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

CM : At night, right after turning of my computer.

DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

CM : Concept and the way the product is going to be sell

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

CM : Love and hope

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

CM : Just love.

DI: What makes a design successful?

CM : When I can think without having clients changing the project every time.

DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

CM : When judging, a design should be evaluated in an overall view. Shoud never be separated

DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

CM : The designer can change the society. But only when we (designers) change the society mind, we can't think about helping the environment.

DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

CM : Let's think day by day, try to be each time me creative and the future is going to be amazing.

DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

CM : This will be my first big exhibition. Next year, I was to be part of it again.

DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

CM : It is a mix from the client target and their origins. like this the result is alway conceptualy very strong.

DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?

CM : I Think I don't have a style. Each project should be analyzed individually and the result will come. Starting a project with certain stile can be a disaster. The idea is not to fulfill the designers ego but the client goal.

DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?

CM : I live in Oporto. It is very touristic so we can see and talk to people from everywhere. that is amazing for absorbing other cultural ideas and ways of living.

DI: How do you work with companies?

CM : Usually client contact me by phone. Then, the first thing I do is to schedule a meeting with the client. I think it is not professional only to communicate by e-mail. The proximity with the client is one of the most important things to me. I like to say that all my clients, more than clients, are my friends.

DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

CM : Having a good and updated portfolio is very important for client to evaluate and choose

DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?

CM : In my opinion, design is much more then to be seated in front of the computer and do stuff. Design is about to think. So I spend most of my time thinking about the project, sketching and walking around looking for ideas. Only when I have cool ideas, I turn on the computer and get down to business.

DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?

CM : iMac, Smeg fridge, Mini Cooper, Diadora sneakers, my business cards

DI: Can you describe a day in your life?

CM : Which one? My days are usually very different. But a good 30min bath to in the morning is always a good start. It helps me to organize my day.

DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

CM : Be true to yourself, work correctly, do not low your price. If you are good, you always be succed.

DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

CM : The positive side of being a designer is that you can change the world. you are completely free to say what you want using images. That is amazing! The negative side is that people usually do not understand our job.

DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?

CM : Keep it simple and do it with passion.

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

CM : Be a passionate. Without passion you are not designer. You are a robot.

DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?

CM : My brain is my favorite tool. After that, I use adobe programs to illustrate what is in my mind.

DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

CM : I do not agree, the day has 24h and you can use them. Just shut down all social network and get out, breath, go to where you feel comfortable and absorve all the information you can get.

DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

CM : It depends a lot. I have projects that took about 1 week and others 1 year.

DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?

CM : I'm young, so every time people ask me "is this your first job?" and I have to say "no, go check my website!".It is funny because after that people usually say "wow, great work" (they are just being nice to me)

DI: What was your most important job experience?

CM : My first wine label. I learned a lot about wine and about wine branding.

DI: Who are some of your clients?

CM : Quintas do Homem, Casa Senhorial do Reguengo, Guapos Wine Project, Avicella, Aromas4U, Adega cooperativa de Guimarães.

DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

CM : Wine branding because you can do anything you want in a very small piece of paper.

DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?

CM : Keep working in the wine world in Portugal and start working for the rest of the world. One day, I want to become a reference designer in the wine market.

DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

CM : I work by myself. But I want to get a team to expand my business.

DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

CM : I do not like to talk about work in progress. That is only between me and my clients. But there are very cool project ready to come out.

DI: How can people contact you?

CM : By e-mail, on facebook and of course by giving me a call.

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

CM : No, i think this interview was very complete.