Hi!
I am a designer with over a decade of experience in UI/UX and editorial design, working across both print and digital media. I focus on creating strategic design solutions that balance user needs with business goals. With a background spanning e-commerce, cultural, and scientific sectors – and as a co-founder of the &beyond collective in Berlin – I bring a blend of creativity and functionality to every project.
Growing up in a small town in Leiria, Portugal, shaped my curious nature and interest in the stories and quiet wisdom of elder generations. Find some joy
services
user interface
user experience
product strategy
creative direction
graphic design
picture research
print production consultancy
testimonials
"I have worked with many graphic designers at a very high level in publishing over the years and after seven years of working with her both as her boss and, later, colleague, I can easily say that Diana Portela is without question one of the best. She is a really good designer with a super sense of balance, proportion, and style. She is intelligent, reliable, technically skilled, and highly capable of initiating and leading both digital and print projects – and she is a lovely person who has become a good friend.
Diana also has a broad skill and experience set – from digital to print, from zines to books, from gifs to paper. And all the while her intuition for the UX experience makes the interfaces she designs – digital or analogue – accessible, intelligent and a pleasure to use. Diana is also a great team player. She listens carefully, does not push her ego, and puts the quality of the product first – it is always exciting when she comes back with her first designs after a briefing and impressive how she continues to solve the inevitable problems that arise along the way with professionality, elegance and intelligence. I would not hesitate to recommend her to any company looking for a graphic designer – or indeed a lead designer. She would be a boon to any team and your projects would not only benefit from her technical and design skills and experience but be safe in her hands."
Sophie Lovell, Creative consultant and former editor-in-chief of uncube magazine
"I had the opportunity to work several years with Diana, in a project promoted by Future Architecture platform (2016-2020). Diana was responsible for the graphic design of the Archifutures book series published to accompany the activities of the network. She demonstrated a unique combination of design and communication skills that were fundamental to complete the series within the calendar. I would remark how fundamental was her way of interpreting our production premises developing a design program that adapted very well for both printed and digital publications. She was also in charge of communicating with contributors regarding image rights issues, fees and adapting the book as an object to the constraints of a tight budget without losing quality of finished work.
I would undoubtedly recommend Diana for working in a big or small organisation. Apart from autonomy she has also an innate capacity for team-working."
César Reyes Nájera, Co-founder of dpr-barcelona
Hi!
I am a designer with over a decade of experience in UI/UX and editorial design, working across both print and digital media. I focus on creating strategic design solutions that balance user needs with business goals. With a background spanning e-commerce, cultural, and scientific sectors – and as a co-founder of the &beyond collective in Berlin – I bring a blend of creativity and functionality to every project.
Growing up in a small town in Leiria, Portugal, shaped my curious nature and interest in the stories and quiet wisdom of elder generations. Find some joy
services
user interface
user experience
product strategy
creative direction
graphic design
picture research
print production consultancy
testimonials
"I have worked with many graphic designers at a very high level in publishing over the years and after seven years of working with her both as her boss and, later, colleague, I can easily say that Diana Portela is without question one of the best. She is a really good designer with a super sense of balance, proportion, and style. She is intelligent, reliable, technically skilled, and highly capable of initiating and leading both digital and print projects – and she is a lovely person who has become a good friend.
Diana also has a broad skill and experience set – from digital to print, from zines to books, from gifs to paper. And all the while her intuition for the UX experience makes the interfaces she designs – digital or analogue – accessible, intelligent and a pleasure to use. Diana is also a great team player. She listens carefully, does not push her ego, and puts the quality of the product first – it is always exciting when she comes back with her first designs after a briefing and impressive how she continues to solve the inevitable problems that arise along the way with professionality, elegance and intelligence. I would not hesitate to recommend her to any company looking for a graphic designer – or indeed a lead designer. She would be a boon to any team and your projects would not only benefit from her technical and design skills and experience but be safe in her hands."
Sophie Lovell, Creative consultant and former editor-in-chief of uncube magazine
"I had the opportunity to work several years with Diana, in a project promoted by Future Architecture platform (2016-2020). Diana was responsible for the graphic design of the Archifutures book series published to accompany the activities of the network. She demonstrated a unique combination of design and communication skills that were fundamental to complete the series within the calendar. I would remark how fundamental was her way of interpreting our production premises developing a design program that adapted very well for both printed and digital publications. She was also in charge of communicating with contributors regarding image rights issues, fees and adapting the book as an object to the constraints of a tight budget without losing quality of finished work.
I would undoubtedly recommend Diana for working in a big or small organisation. Apart from autonomy she has also an innate capacity for team-working."
César Reyes Nájera, Co-founder of dpr-barcelona