I’m Marcos Couto, Creative Director and partner at Umi Design in Rio de Janeiro, where I help companies create value through design—using strategy to drive innovation and evolution for both organizations and people. With 20+ years of experience, I work mainly on logo projects, visual identities, and graphic design for television and cinema, building systems that carry history, meaning, personality, and business impact. I approach every project through a collaborative, immersive, and dedicated process that invites participation from all stakeholders. My goal is to translate a client’s needs into design solutions that make more sense—reinforcing brand clarity and strengthening recognition—while delivering work with care, craft, and consistency across touchpoints.…

Marcos Couto

I’m Marcos Couto, Creative Director and partner at Umi Design in Rio de Janeiro, where I help companies create value through design—using strategy to drive innovation and evolution for both organizations and people. With 20+ years of experience, I work mainly on logo projects, visual identities, and graphic design for television and cinema, building systems that carry history, meaning, personality, and business impact. I approach every project through a collaborative, immersive, and dedicated process that invites participation from all stakeholders. My goal is to translate a client’s needs into design solutions that make more sense—reinforcing brand clarity and strengthening recognition—while delivering work with care, craft, and consistency across touchpoints.…

Available to hire

I’m Marcos Couto, Creative Director and partner at Umi Design in Rio de Janeiro, where I help companies create value through design—using strategy to drive innovation and evolution for both organizations and people. With 20+ years of experience, I work mainly on logo projects, visual identities, and graphic design for television and cinema, building systems that carry history, meaning, personality, and business impact.

I approach every project through a collaborative, immersive, and dedicated process that invites participation from all stakeholders. My goal is to translate a client’s needs into design solutions that make more sense—reinforcing brand clarity and strengthening recognition—while delivering work with care, craft, and consistency across touchpoints.

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Language

Portuguese
Fluent
English
Advanced
French
Intermediate

Work Experience

Creative Director | Senior Designer at Umi Design
September 1, 2015 - Present
Leads brand and visual identity design along with graphic design work. Operates as a creative director and partner, shaping strategy and creative direction for identity systems and design assets, with an emphasis on history, value, personality, and collaborative delivery.
Senior Graphic Designer at Rede Globo
February 1, 2005 - September 1, 2010
Provided graphic design for broadcast programs, including graphic design of scene objects used in TV production. Worked within a scenographic and production environment, supporting visual communication for on-air content.
Graphic Designer | Industrial Designer at Afflalo + Associados
January 1, 2000 - December 1, 2004
Participated in graphic design projects for commercial and cultural companies. Contributed to brand design and branding development, created printed and multimedia presentations, and supported exhibition design projects in Brazil and abroad.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic and Industrial Design at ESDI | UERJ
January 1, 1994 - January 1, 1999
Course: ID Class (Visual Identity) at ID Class
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2020
Course: Branding Basics at Brandster
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
Course: Infinity Branding at Brandster
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2026
Course: Principles of Conceptualization and Branding at Domestika
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2026
Course: Essential Branding at LAJE - Ana Couto
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023

Qualifications

ID Class Theory, practice, technique and methodology of Visual Identity projects
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2020
Brandster Branding Basics
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
Brandster Infinity Branding
January 1, 2022 - October 13, 2026
Domestika Principles of conceptualization and branding
January 1, 2022 - October 13, 2026
LAJE - Ana Couto Branding Essential Branding Course
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Consumer Goods, Manufacturing
    Pinterest Latiné Heritage Month
    Latin flavors are not just ingredients. But also memories, relationships, and traditions. From generation to generation, we all have our “family secret recipe” that makes our connection with the food extra special. From the first steps of preparation to the last bite, every step is essential to producing our unique flavor. A flavor that we don’t just taste. But feel with all five of our senses. https://www.behance.net/gallery/158490159/Latin-Heritage-Month-Pinterest-Identidade-Visual…
    ALMA
    Visual identity project for the method developed by the actress, alchemist, and Reiki master. https://www.behance.net/gallery/147273125/ALMA-Identidade-Visual…
    Greener
    We developed a new visual identity that visually connects with the previous brand, conveys the company's striking personality, and differentiates it from the competition. The logo was modernized, and we added a new color to the visual identity that serves to identify and highlight the brand in the sustainable products market. https://www.behance.net/gallery/152091199/Greener-Identidade-Visual-Social-Media-Plan…
    GypSoul
    GypSoul is a jewelry, semi-jewelry, and lifestyle brand that is inspired by all the beauty that nature has to offer. Its name was inspired by the gypsy soul, known for being beautiful, free, and mystical. Its purpose is to encourage the reintegration of women with their own essence, their energy, and their authentic and unique beauty. The idea of creating GypSoul came about after a magical experience its founder had in Australia. https://www.behance.net/gallery/129346733/GypSoul-Branding-Embalagem-Social-Media…
    Produtos DOC
    The project was developed with the aim of transmitting a simple and rustic visual language to the brand, which refers to regional trade, small producers, and handcrafted products. The result was the creation of a logo with aspects of a stamp, which conveys the idea of proof of the origin and quality of the products sold by the company. Just like a stamp, the brand and the entire visual identity are only presented in a solid color. The illustration complements the project's concept, the design of a rudimentary wooden box makes reference to those used to transport regional products. The chosen typography was also selected to further reinforce the visual identity guidelines. https://www.behance.net/gallery/88878863/Produtos-DOC-Branding…
    Gavinho
    Gavinho is an importer and distributor of beverages, specializing in artisanal, local, natural, organic, and biodynamic wines. It supports passionate producers who seek to cause minimal impact on the environment and not interfere with the original characteristics of wines, with respect for the earth, the grape, and the consumer. The project considered the company's values and its objective of transmitting an image of tradition, originality, respect for nature, and connection with the countryside. https://www.behance.net/gallery/88880781/Gavinho-Identidade-Visual…
    Reinova
    The company operates in international business intermediation, document preparation, specialized contract management services, and legal support. The objective of the project was to transmit all the professional credibility of the company. Founded by a Brazilian with international experience, the company operates in the area of international engineering projects with an eye on the future, with projects focused on renewable energies. https://www.behance.net/gallery/162365053/Reinova-Logo…
    Nat Calmon
    The icosahedral was chosen to be the symbol of the brand, due to its design and its meaning. He is one of the Platonic solids. Plato sought to explain the creation of the universe through geometry and associated some geometric solids with elements of nature. In this case, the icosahedral is associated with water. According to Hinduism, the water element corresponds to the sacral chakra, which is linked to movement, emotions, self-esteem, and pleasure. Water symbolizes movement, flow, and change, and acts on healing and regeneration. This geometric shape perfectly represents the brand's purpose of helping people with their transformations. https://www.behance.net/gallery/108406131/Nat-Calmon-Identidade-Visual-Social-Media…
    Sommet
    Sommet is a consulting firm in the area of business analytics that applies mathematical techniques to maximize success in decision-making. Sommet means summit, the top of the mountain, the highest point, and the goal of a climb. We use negative space to give visibility and meaning to logo shapes. We start by drawing a growing graph, which refers to mathematical methodology. It corresponds to the positive result generated by the work of the company. The ascending line that cuts through the name delimits the space between the sky and the mountain, a representation of the Sommet. https://www.behance.net/gallery/88880939/Sommet-Analytics-Identidade-Visual…
    Mena Barreto & Arman Associated Lawyers
    I worked from the initials of the partners' surnames, and we chose not to use any type of illustration or icon, which is very common in logos in this line of business. We developed a typographical project that stands out among the competition and, at the same time, belongs to the visual universe of law. https://www.behance.net/gallery/130840631/Mena-Barreto-Arman-Identidade-Visual…
    Gat Midia
    The company was created in 2021, to transform information from companies and institutions into relevant news for public opinion – in Brazil and abroad. Gat Mídia is a symbiosis of press relations with crisis management and image enhancement, in addition to the production of intelligent content. We were asked to redesign the logo and develop the company's website. We created a minimalist and typographic brand that conveys credibility and elegance. Its simple and lightweight design is easily recognized and remembered by customers. https://www.behance.net/gallery/147291205/Gat-Midia-Logo-Website…