MORE THAN JUST A DESIGNER.
This is how I think about design, business, and the founders worth working with.
MORE THAN JUST A DESIGNER.
This is how I think about design, business, and the founders worth working with.
MORE THAN JUST A DESIGNER.
This is how I think about design, business, and the founders worth working with.
I'm Ismael Branco. Brand designer. Not an agency, not a team, not a process designed to keep you at a distance. Just one person who has spent 12 years figuring out what makes brands work and what makes them fail.
After working across startups, agencies, scale-ups, and Fortune 500 companies, now I work alone, directly with founders, and I treat every project like my name is on it. Because it is.
I'm Ismael Branco. Brand designer. Not an agency, not a team, not a process designed to keep you at a distance. Just one person who has spent 12 years figuring out what makes brands work and what makes them fail.
After working across startups, agencies, scale-ups, and Fortune 500 companies, now I work alone, directly with founders, and I treat every project like my name is on it. Because it is.
I'm Ismael Branco. Brand designer. Not an agency, not a team, not a process designed to keep you at a distance. Just one person who has spent 12 years figuring out what makes brands work and what makes them fail.
After working across startups, agencies, scale-ups, and Fortune 500 companies, now I work alone, directly with founders, and I treat every project like my name is on it. Because it is.
WHY I DO THIS
I work with early-stage founders because this is where decisions actually matter.
At this stage, every move has weight. There are no committees, no layers to hide behind, no budget to waste on the wrong direction, and no time to get it wrong twice.
I want to work with founders who are still figuring it out. The ones who need someone to think alongside them, not just execute for them. Most founders at this stage are making critical decisions without the right person in the room. I work at this stage because I want to be that person.
WHY I DO THIS
I work with early-stage founders because this is where decisions actually matter.
At this stage, every move has weight. There are no committees, no layers to hide behind, no budget to waste on the wrong direction, and no time to get it wrong twice.
I want to work with founders who are still figuring it out. The ones who need someone to think alongside them, not just execute for them. Most founders at this stage are making critical decisions without the right person in the room. I work at this stage because I want to be that person.
WHY I DO THIS
I work with early-stage founders because this is where decisions actually matter.
At this stage, every move has weight. There are no committees, no layers to hide behind, no budget to waste on the wrong direction, and no time to get it wrong twice.
I want to work with founders who are still figuring it out. The ones who need someone to think alongside them, not just execute for them. Most founders at this stage are making critical decisions without the right person in the room. I work at this stage because I want to be that person.
WHERE I CAME FROM
Before going solo, I spent 12 years in brand design.
I started with a degree in Graphic Design and later completed a postgraduate degree in Digital Design while working remotely for US tech startups before remote was a standard. I’ve worked in-house at Insticator, Bevy, and CMX. On the agency side at Sketchdeck, supporting companies like Colgate, ADP, and Okta.
I’ve seen how decisions are made when things are messy and early, and how they’re made when everything is structured and scaled. That's the experience I bring to every founder I work with.
WHERE I CAME FROM
Before going solo, I spent 12 years in brand design.
I started with a degree in Graphic Design and later completed a postgraduate degree in Digital Design while working remotely for US tech startups before remote was a standard. I’ve worked in-house at Insticator, Bevy, and CMX. On the agency side at Sketchdeck, supporting companies like Colgate, ADP, and Okta.
I’ve seen how decisions are made when things are messy and early, and how they’re made when everything is structured and scaled. That's the experience I bring to every founder I work with.
WHERE I CAME FROM
Before going solo, I spent 12 years in brand design.
I started with a degree in Graphic Design and later completed a postgraduate degree in Digital Design while working remotely for US tech startups before remote was a standard. I’ve worked in-house at Insticator, Bevy, and CMX. On the agency side at Sketchdeck, supporting companies like Colgate, ADP, and Okta.
I’ve seen how decisions are made when things are messy and early, and how they’re made when everything is structured and scaled. That's the experience I bring to every founder I work with.
WHAT I BELIEVE
This is how I think about design
Design is decision-making.
Every choice either builds trust or breaks it.
The brand has to fit the stage.
What works at Series B is not what you need right now.
Clarity beats cleverness.
If people have to think about what you do, you've already lost them.
Bad design comes from bad thinking.
Strategy is where the real work happens.
Trends are shortcuts, not solutions.
The best brands don't chase them. They outlast them.
Trust is the real output of design.
Everything else is just how you get there.
Brands should outlive the designer.
Scalable, transferable, and built to grow with companies.
WHAT I BELIEVE
This is how I think about design
Design is decision-making.
Every choice either builds trust or breaks it.
The brand has to fit the stage.
What works at Series B is not what you need right now.
Clarity beats cleverness.
If people have to think about what you do, you've already lost them.
Bad design comes from bad thinking.
Strategy is where the real work happens.
Trends are shortcuts, not solutions.
The best brands don't chase them. They outlast them.
Trust is the real output of design.
Everything else is just how you get there.
Brands should outlive the designer.
Scalable, transferable, and built to grow with companies.
WHAT I BELIEVE
This is how I think about design
Design is decision-making.
Every choice either builds trust or breaks it.
The brand has to fit the stage.
What works at Series B is not what you need right now.
Clarity beats cleverness.
If people have to think about what you do, you've already lost them.
Bad design comes from bad thinking.
Strategy is where the real work happens.
Trends are shortcuts, not solutions.
The best brands don't chase them. They outlast them.
Trust is the real output of design.
Everything else is just how you get there.
Brands should outlive the designer.
Scalable, transferable, and built to grow with companies.
HOW I WORK
I don't just take your brief and disappear.
I ask hard questions, challenge assumptions, and push back when something isn't right. The process starts with understanding your business, your market, and the people you need to believe in you. Strategy comes before any visual decision.
We agree on direction before we touch a single colour or font. Then we build, refine, and deliver something that actually does the job it needs to do. Fast, direct, and with no surprises.
HOW I WORK
I don't just take your brief and disappear.
I ask hard questions, challenge assumptions, and push back when something isn't right. The process starts with understanding your business, your market, and the people you need to believe in you. Strategy comes before any visual decision.
We agree on direction before we touch a single colour or font. Then we build, refine, and deliver something that actually does the job it needs to do. Fast, direct, and with no surprises.
HOW I WORK
I don't just take your brief and disappear.
I ask hard questions, challenge assumptions, and push back when something isn't right. The process starts with understanding your business, your market, and the people you need to believe in you. Strategy comes before any visual decision.
We agree on direction before we touch a single colour or font. Then we build, refine, and deliver something that actually does the job it needs to do. Fast, direct, and with no surprises.
THE HUMAN PART
The best work happens when there's no one in between the designer and the decision-maker.
I'm based in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, working with founders all over the world. I started this because I believe the best work happens when there's no one in between the designer and the decision-maker.
No layers, no politics, no filtered feedback. Just two people who care about the same outcome trying to build something worth believing in. That's the only way I know how to work.
THE HUMAN PART
The best work happens when there's no one in between the designer and the decision-maker.
I'm based in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, working with founders all over the world. I started this because I believe the best work happens when there's no one in between the designer and the decision-maker.
No layers, no politics, no filtered feedback. Just two people who care about the same outcome trying to build something worth believing in. That's the only way I know how to work.
THE HUMAN PART
The best work happens when there's no one in between the designer and the decision-maker.
I'm based in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, working with founders all over the world. I started this because I believe the best work happens when there's no one in between the designer and the decision-maker.
No layers, no politics, no filtered feedback. Just two people who care about the same outcome trying to build something worth believing in. That's the only way I know how to work.
Let’s get the decisions right first.
Book a free 30-min brand audit. I’ll look at what you have and tell you what’s working, what’s not, and what to do next.
Let’s get the decisions right first.
Book a free 30-min brand audit. I’ll look at what you have and tell you what’s working, what’s not, and what to do next.
Let’s get the decisions right first.
Book a free 30-min brand audit. I’ll look at what you have and tell you what’s working, what’s not, and what to do next.
FAQ'S
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
Every project is scoped based on what you actually need — not a one-size-fits-all package. Projects start at $5,000 and go up depending on scope, deliverables, and timeline. The best way to get a clear number is to book a free audit call and we'll figure it out together.
How long does a project take?
Most projects are delivered in 3 to 5 weeks. Some are faster, some take longer depending on scope and how quickly we move through feedback rounds. Either way you'll always know where we are and what's coming next.
I already have a logo. Can you still help me?
Yes — and often that's exactly the right moment to bring me in. A logo is not a brand. If what you have isn't working across your deck, your website, and your investor materials, we can build the full system around it or start fresh. The audit call will tell us which.
Do I really need a brand before I have product-market fit?
Your brand isn't separate from finding product-market fit — it's part of how you get there. Investors, early customers, and first hires all make decisions based on how you show up before they've seen your product work. Getting your brand right early means every conversation you have is working for you, not against you.
Can you do just the brand, or do I need to buy everything together?
You can start with just the brand identity and add web, deck, or GTM work later. Most founders start with the foundation and build from there. The audit call will help us figure out what you actually need right now.
Do you work on equity or deferred payment arrangements?
For the right founders and the right projects, yes. If budget is tight but the fit is strong, we can talk about creative structures — whether that's equity, a revenue share, or a deferred payment tied to your raise. It's always a conversation. Book a call and let's see if it makes sense.
FAQ'S
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
Every project is scoped based on what you actually need — not a one-size-fits-all package. Projects start at $5,000 and go up depending on scope, deliverables, and timeline. The best way to get a clear number is to book a free audit call and we'll figure it out together.
How long does a project take?
Most projects are delivered in 3 to 5 weeks. Some are faster, some take longer depending on scope and how quickly we move through feedback rounds. Either way you'll always know where we are and what's coming next.
I already have a logo. Can you still help me?
Yes — and often that's exactly the right moment to bring me in. A logo is not a brand. If what you have isn't working across your deck, your website, and your investor materials, we can build the full system around it or start fresh. The audit call will tell us which.
Do I really need a brand before I have product-market fit?
Your brand isn't separate from finding product-market fit — it's part of how you get there. Investors, early customers, and first hires all make decisions based on how you show up before they've seen your product work. Getting your brand right early means every conversation you have is working for you, not against you.
Can you do just the brand, or do I need to buy everything together?
You can start with just the brand identity and add web, deck, or GTM work later. Most founders start with the foundation and build from there. The audit call will help us figure out what you actually need right now.
Do you work on equity or deferred payment arrangements?
For the right founders and the right projects, yes. If budget is tight but the fit is strong, we can talk about creative structures — whether that's equity, a revenue share, or a deferred payment tied to your raise. It's always a conversation. Book a call and let's see if it makes sense.
FAQ'S
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
Every project is scoped based on what you actually need — not a one-size-fits-all package. Projects start at $5,000 and go up depending on scope, deliverables, and timeline. The best way to get a clear number is to book a free audit call and we'll figure it out together.
How long does a project take?
Most projects are delivered in 3 to 5 weeks. Some are faster, some take longer depending on scope and how quickly we move through feedback rounds. Either way you'll always know where we are and what's coming next.
I already have a logo. Can you still help me?
Yes — and often that's exactly the right moment to bring me in. A logo is not a brand. If what you have isn't working across your deck, your website, and your investor materials, we can build the full system around it or start fresh. The audit call will tell us which.
Do I really need a brand before I have product-market fit?
Your brand isn't separate from finding product-market fit — it's part of how you get there. Investors, early customers, and first hires all make decisions based on how you show up before they've seen your product work. Getting your brand right early means every conversation you have is working for you, not against you.
Can you do just the brand, or do I need to buy everything together?
You can start with just the brand identity and add web, deck, or GTM work later. Most founders start with the foundation and build from there. The audit call will help us figure out what you actually need right now.
Do you work on equity or deferred payment arrangements?
For the right founders and the right projects, yes. If budget is tight but the fit is strong, we can talk about creative structures — whether that's equity, a revenue share, or a deferred payment tied to your raise. It's always a conversation. Book a call and let's see if it makes sense.