We build coherence.
Our work begins prior to design in the gap where ideas take shape and meaning seeks form. Across visuals, words, and ideas, we connect what is usually fragmented: strategy, design, and story.
We create visual systems that hold intention, speak, and evolve. From brand identities to visual narratives, each layer acts as a bedrock to the next in our admittedly reiterative process which is multidisciplinary by nature and precise by design.
We work with brands that need help thinking long-term, that understand the potential of design as continuity, not just decoration. Every collaboration begins with strategy and continuously evolves when coherence is effortless. The scope of the project changes; the standard doesn’t.
No middle layer, no telephone game.
Just 1-on-1 creative guidance with a full team to back it up.
We believe creative direction isn’t a luxury, but rather the backbone of every memorable identity or story that lasts. It is what allows a brand to age and mature and what keeps a tone of voice from flattening, a message from being lost in translation.
We don’t chase trends, we set frameworks.
We don’t compete for attention, we build presence.
We don’t scale output, we scale intention.
Who is this?
This is us.
Narrative-driven brand experiences.
about our founder
What started as an exploration became a lifelong pursuit of visual intention and meaning.
João Prado, our founder and Creative Director, began designing brands from the start of his career in Design & Architecture, creating narratives, packaging, and digital experiences for small clients while still studying. Within three years, he had worked with over forty brands globally, developing a rare fluency between design, narrative, and execution.
Architecture came next. Between positions in Brazil, Denmark, and later New York, João refined his sense of space, proportion, and light; lessons that would later merge seamlessly into his design practice. His experience in 3D and architecture shaped his eye for structure, while leading a fast-paced design team of a New York startup taught him to manage creative processes end to end: building narratives, directing visuals, and translating complex ideas into clarity.
This mix of creative direction and spatial thinking defines THIS IS US.
Born from his decision to create an alternative to traditional agencies: streamlined, personal, and adaptive. A model where direction and execution coexist, led by one creative who builds a flexible team around each project.
Today, THIS IS US delivers on-demand Creative Direction, Brand Systems and Experiences, Packaging, and Visual storytelling for brands in Design, Lifestyle, and Hospitality.
Our founder, now with 10+ years of experience, manages projects that unfold as long-term collaborations guided by trust and precision. The approach is strategic yet intuitive, grounded in narrative, material, and coherence.
