I was born in a small town in the countryside of São Paulo, the kind of place where things always arrived late. When I say things, I mean technology, innovation, accessibility—and we're still waiting for a McDonald's. But this environment made the son of Mrs. Célia (who always taught me that there will always be opportunities if we're kind to others) realize that the world is much bigger than the fast-food-less town I grew up in.

That son is me. Nice to meet you, Rafael a 22-year-old who started working at 16. Like many aspiring designers, I often heard my aunt say, "Just make a quick birthday invite for your cousin." Despite knowing it wasn’t quick or easy (especially for a perfectionist like me), the satisfaction of hearing compliments and knowing I solved a problem made it all worth it. That’s when I started diving deep into design, and I haven’t stopped since.