Barbara Cutlak


Work, About



Counter-Dotsbook design
Counter-Dots is an interactive book of letters made out of spiral binding holes. A grid of laser cutted holes matches the same modularity of the standard spiral binding. The holes create a layering effect, in which the letters relate to one another. The book can be completely unbound, allowing for playfulness and interaction.

CREDITSDeveloped at RISD
How do you see?paper devices for seeing; activity
With varied shapes and colors, this set of devices for vision transforms the viewer’s perception. Created for the galleries of the RISD Museum and accompanied by prompts and small guides, they are touchable objects that symbolize different ways of seeing and interacting with artworks inside a museum.


CREDITSDeveloped at RISD
With guidance from Bethany Johns and Anther Kiley
Activity developed wth help from Deborah Clemons (RISD Museum)
Photography by Andrea Mato
Miguilim Text (in progress)type design (in progress)
Miguilim Text takes inspiration from the novel Campo Geral, by Brazilian author Guimarães Rosa, as well as woodcut arts from J. Borges. Both works depict life in sertão, a region in mid-North of Brazil that suffers with drought and resources, but is rich in an imaginative culture. 

Miguilim is eight years old and full of sensibility. The book narrates his life discoveries around Mutúm forest, where he lives with his brother Dito, four more siblings and relatives. Everything is new for Miguilim — the violence, grief, anger, happiness, companionship. In the end, we find out that Miguilim has a short-sighted issue, a metaphor of seeing the world through the lens of a child. 

CREDITSDeveloped at RISD
With guidance from Cyrus Highsmith





Clube Fbrand identity
Clube F is a feminist book club organized by Bazar do Tempo, a brazilian publishing house. The logo focuses on the letter F that stands out in the shape of a projected light or as colorful super-heroine badge. 

CREDITSDeveloped at studio Tereza Bettinardi
Art direction by Tereza Bettinardi


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Between Us, Between Knotsbook design; illustration
Between Us, Between Knots (Entre nós) is a children's book on grandparents–grandchildren relationships based on PhD research run during Covid. A single cotton thread throughout the book represents shared memories, scenarios, and experiences that ultimately create our own relationships. The title has a double meaning in Portuguese, once us is the same word used for knots. Illustrations made with cotton thread, collages and tape on paper.



Balcão Street Food
Bronze at the Latin American Design Awards, 2024—Branding Categorybrand identity; visual systems; packaging
 Balcão is a food establishment that merges Brazilian and Arab street food. The identity delves into the streetculture and informality of Rio and Telaviv, mixing vernacular and designed typography with neon colors and humours callouts. The menu was designed for three languages. 

MY ROLECreate the visual identity collaboratively; design collaterals and packaging; typeset the menu; manage interns workflow. 

CREDITSDeveloped at Biabum
Art direction by Beatriz Tati Nóbrega
With Isadora Pinheiro, Julia Ferreira, Stella Nardelli

Bronze at the Latin American Design Awards, 2024—Branding Category
Biotônico Fontoura
editorial design Biotônico Fontoura is a natural medicine syrup from the beggining of the nineteenth hundreds, that is still present in Brazilian household. The book celebrates it’s Centennial anniversary, showcasing the history of the Pharmacy alongside archival images like main stream advertising. It includes facsimiles of the pharmacy booklets that were largely distributed between 1920s and 1980s thoughout the country and became part of Brazilian popular culture. 

CREDITSDeveloped at studio Tereza Bettinardi
Art direction by Tereza Bettinardi
Photography by me and provided by the studio 



Free Freevisual identity for social media
Free Free is a global platform for protecting and empowering girls and women. For their social media branding, we prioritized vibrant colors and graphic treatments with visual impact, using feminist magazines from the 60s as references, such as Ms. and Spare Rib. 

CREDITSDeveloped at studio Tereza Bettinardi
Art direction by Tereza Bettinardi


Integrated Report
digital; editorial

This project is an annual ESG report for Omega Energia (currently Serena Energia) a renowned sustainable energy company. We proposed a more captivating approach to the content, using editorial graphic elements, illustrated infographics and textures.

CREDITSDeveloped at Biabum
Art direction by Beatriz Tati Nóbrega
With Gabriela Prestes, Isadora Pinheiro, Julia Ferreira, Pedro Leobons, Stella Nardelli, Vinicius Monteiro

Barbara Cutlak © 2026