Hi, I’m Rodrigo Rodrigues Fernandes, a multidisciplinary designer with 14+ years of experience in branding, marketing design, motion graphics, illustration, and web design. I thrive on guiding projects from concept to production, collaborating with remote cross-functional teams, and applying visual storytelling and art direction to build cohesive brand systems. Currently I lead as Senior Art Director at Cumbuca Serious Business and as CEO/Co-Founder of Tropical Thunder Design Studio, where I focus on branding, marketing design, motion graphics, illustration, and web design while leveraging generative AI workflows to accelerate ideation and delivery without compromising craft.

Rodrigo Rodrigues Fernandes

Hi, I’m Rodrigo Rodrigues Fernandes, a multidisciplinary designer with 14+ years of experience in branding, marketing design, motion graphics, illustration, and web design. I thrive on guiding projects from concept to production, collaborating with remote cross-functional teams, and applying visual storytelling and art direction to build cohesive brand systems. Currently I lead as Senior Art Director at Cumbuca Serious Business and as CEO/Co-Founder of Tropical Thunder Design Studio, where I focus on branding, marketing design, motion graphics, illustration, and web design while leveraging generative AI workflows to accelerate ideation and delivery without compromising craft.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Rodrigo Rodrigues Fernandes, a multidisciplinary designer with 14+ years of experience in branding, marketing design, motion graphics, illustration, and web design. I thrive on guiding projects from concept to production, collaborating with remote cross-functional teams, and applying visual storytelling and art direction to build cohesive brand systems.

Currently I lead as Senior Art Director at Cumbuca Serious Business and as CEO/Co-Founder of Tropical Thunder Design Studio, where I focus on branding, marketing design, motion graphics, illustration, and web design while leveraging generative AI workflows to accelerate ideation and delivery without compromising craft.

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Language

English
Advanced
Spanish; Castilian
Intermediate
Portuguese
Fluent

Work Experience

CEO & Co-founder at Tropical Thunder Design Studio Brazil
January 1, 2024 - Present
Run a design studio focused on branding, marketing design, motion, illustration, and web experiences for global clients. Build scalable creative workflows and leverage Gen AI tools to accelerate ideation and production while maintaining high craft standards.
Senior Art Director at Mosh Digital
July 1, 2023 - May 1, 2024
Created social-first campaign assets and brand identities for multiple clients, including political marketing work.
Art Director, Motion Designer, Content Creator at SAGA School of Design Brazil
February 1, 2020 - August 1, 2023
Produced educational and promotional content including motion design videos, animated title cards, social media content, internal communications, and promotional materials. Supported corporate branding and video editing initiatives to strengthen the school’s visual presence.
Art Director (Political Campaigns) at Vitório & Mendonça (Marketing & Communications)
July 1, 2022 - October 1, 2022
Led the design team for the re-election campaign of Governor Marcos Rocha (RO), defined the campaign’s visual identity and created the convention brand; oversaw online and offline materials to ensure clarity and speed of execution.
Art Director
July 1, 2024 - Present
Led design team focused on branding, marketing design, motion, illustration, and web experiences for political and government clients. Develop visual identities and websites for high-impact clients; ensure consistency across channels and deliver clear, persuasive narratives through design systems and campaign assets.
Senior Art Director at Cumbuca Serious Business
July 1, 2024 - Present
Lead brand identity and communication design for political marketing, mandate communication, and government initiatives. Develop visual identity systems and websites for projects such as Sudene and Floresta+ Amazonia. Create strategic visual narratives for campaigns, institutions, and public communication projects.
CEO and Co-Founder at Tropical Thunder Design Studio
January 1, 2024 - Present
Founded and lead a design studio focused on branding, marketing design, motion graphics, illustration, and web design. Manage creative direction and project execution from concept development to final delivery. Implement generative AI workflows to accelerate design production and ideation while maintaining craft quality.
Senior Creative Designer at Mosh Digital
July 1, 2023 - May 31, 2024
Designed social media campaigns and brand identity systems for multiple clients, including political marketing projects. Produced marketing assets for Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Collaborated with stakeholders to improve brand consistency, execution speed, and engagement.
Creative Art Director / Motion Designer / Content Creator at SAGA School of Design
February 1, 2020 - August 31, 2023
Created educational and promotional content related to design, digital arts, and geek culture. Produced motion graphics, video content, animated title cards, and social media campaigns. Supported branding and digital marketing initiatives to strengthen the school's visual presence.
Art Director (Political Campaigns) at Vitorino & Mendonca Marketing Consulting
July 1, 2022 - October 31, 2022
Led the visual identity development for Governor Marcos Rocha's reelection campaign. Created digital and print campaign materials with fast turnaround and message consistency. Developed the convention brand 'ReUni', which was adopted by the campaign.
Creative Art Director at IDGT Comunicacao
August 1, 2020 - February 28, 2021
Created social media content for political and real estate clients. Adapted visual strategies to different audiences and communication goals. Delivered clear, engaging digital assets aligned with brand and campaign objectives.
Art Director at Agencia Caju
May 1, 2018 - July 31, 2018
Created campaign graphics and social media content for a major regional food manufacturer. Worked across design, photography, video capture, and editing. Helped deliver integrated campaigns with strong visual consistency.
Creative Art Director at Munganga Criativa
September 1, 2017 - May 31, 2018
Developed social media visuals for major accounts including Arena Pernambuco and the Pernambuco state government. Created digital assets aligned with campaign and institutional communication strategies. Maintained visual consistency across multiple brands and public-facing initiatives.
Art Director / Illustrator at Cumbuca Serious Business
November 1, 2014 - January 31, 2017
Created illustrations for advertising campaigns and communication projects. Developed custom visual assets to support brand storytelling and campaign differentiation.
Art Director / Illustrator at Fishy
April 1, 2013 - November 30, 2014
Created visual assets and illustrations for advertising and digital marketing campaigns. Worked on strategic design solutions tailored to engagement and performance.
Art Director / Illustrator at Shifty
October 1, 2012 - April 30, 2013
Created illustrations and graphic assets for print and digital media. Developed visual materials aligned with brand strategy and communication goals.
Colorist / Illustrator at Estudio Davi Sales
August 1, 2012 - January 31, 2013
Created and colored illustrations for commercial projects.
Graphic Designer / Illustrator at Via Design Criacao Estrategica
July 1, 2011 - October 31, 2012
Worked on branding, editorial design, infographics, and illustration development. Produced visual assets and supporting materials tailored to each project.

Education

B.A. in Design (Graphic Design focus) at Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE)
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2016
Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design at Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE)
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2016

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Education, Government, Other