Hello! I’m Joana Croft, an illustrator, designer, maker, and full-time people-pleaser based in Portugal.
Many people ask me what my theme and style are, and I always stutter trying to answer because there is no theme, only stories. There is no style, only what feels right.
I have a fascination with puns, and I love a good challenge with a visual metaphor. I love crafts, creating with analog tools and making playful designs IRL, but I am very curious about digital tools and love to explore them too.
My favorite illustration work is editorial and visual development for animation, but I’m not limited to that. My goal is to live off this craft and to tell stories of humanity, to register what I see, what I hear, and what I think.
I am just starting out my illustration-only career (so please, give me work!), but I have 15 years of experience in the creative world as a do-it-all, from creative direction, art direction, design, and production (perks of being a co-founder of a micro-studio), and I’ve worked with brands small and big from many places around the world.
Fun facts about me: I’m an anti-capitalist, but I have Instagram. I am concerned about global warming, but I eat chocolate every day. I love commuting on my bike, but I work from home. I am very shy, but I want more friends. My name sounds legit, but it’s not-real.
Editorial illustration, Book cover, Picture books, Visual Development, Character design, Background Design, Concept design, Pop-up Books, Zines, Crafts, Graphic Design, Advertising, Animation.
I co-founded a successful papercraft studio in Portugal called Oupas! Design, and worked there for 15 years until I decided to search for another challenge that would make me feel goosebumps of excitement again. (Spoiler alert: It's happening!)
As a partner of a small studio, I was involved in every stage of a project, from sales, to art direction, design, creative direction, 3D modeling, and production. I am usually very comfortable dealing with all kinds of clients, understanding their vision and finding the best path to deliver an original idea.
Some of the client list include: The Atlantic, Hermès, Claus Porto, Salesforce, Sonae, Porto., Thought for food, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, W.I.R.E., Josefinas, Roche, Livraria Lello, Navigator, Zalando, Primavera, FES Agency, Symington, Natixis, Teatro Municipal do Porto, Dashlane, Amorim, and many more.