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Currently booking projects for 2027

hello@maraellison.com

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Let's talk

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Currently booking projects for 2027

hello@maraellison.com

Instagram

Behance

LinkedIn

Brand & Digital Designer

About Me

About Me

I'm an independent brand and digital designer based in Lisbon, working with startups, studios and brands around the world.

I'm an independent brand and digital designer based in Lisbon, working with startups, studios and brands around the world.

Based in

Based in

Lisbon

Lisbon

Experience

Experience

12+ years

12+ years

Status

Status

Available

Available

My story

My story

I design quiet, bold things for brands and digital products.

I design quiet, bold things for brands and digital products.

I grew up between my father's print shop and my mother's gallery, so paper, ink and white walls have always felt like home. After studying graphic design in London, I spent a decade in studios across Europe before opening my own practice.

I grew up between my father's print shop and my mother's gallery, so paper, ink and white walls have always felt like home. After studying graphic design in London, I spent a decade in studios across Europe before opening my own practice.

Today I work with a small network of photographers, writers and developers. Together we build identities, websites and products that are calm, exact and made to last.

Today I work with a small network of photographers, writers and developers. Together we build identities, websites and products that are calm, exact and made to last.

— Mara Ellison

— Mara Ellison

Northwind — Brand identity

Casa Vale — Packaging

Night Light — Campaign

12+

12+

Years of practice

Years of practice

140

140

Projects shipped

Projects shipped

18

18

Awards & features

Awards & features

09

09

Countries

Countries

What I believe

What I believe

Three principles that shape every brief, every concept and every final file.

Three principles that shape every brief, every concept and every final file.

01

01

Clarity first

Clarity first

Every project starts with one clear idea. If it cannot be said in a sentence, it is not ready to be designed.

Every project starts with one clear idea. If it cannot be said in a sentence, it is not ready to be designed.

02

02

Craft over noise

Craft over noise

Fewer elements, made with more care. Type, systems and spacing do the heavy lifting.

Fewer elements, made with more care. Type, systems and spacing do the heavy lifting.

03

03

Made together

Made together

You are part of the process from day one — open files, honest feedback and no surprises.

You are part of the process from day one — open files, honest feedback and no surprises.

Experience

Experience

Twelve years across studios, product teams and my own practice.

Twelve years across studios, product teams and my own practice.

Download CV

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2021 — Now

2021 — Now

Independent Brand & Digital Designer

Independent Brand & Digital Designer

Lisbon

Lisbon

2017 — 2021

2017 — 2021

Design Director, Atelier Nord

Design Director, Atelier Nord

Copenhagen

Copenhagen

2014 — 2017

2014 — 2017

Senior Product Designer, Northwind

Senior Product Designer, Northwind

Berlin

Berlin

2012 — 2014

2012 — 2014

Designer, Studio Halden

Designer, Studio Halden

London

London

“Mara turns a loose brief into something you can feel. Calm, exact and always a little surprising.”

JL

Julia Laurent

Julia Laurent

Founder, Northwind

Founder, Northwind

Trusted by startups & studios

  • Northwind

  • ✦

  • Atelier Nord

  • ✦

  • Field Journal

  • ✦

  • Studio Halden

  • ✦

  • Casa Vale

  • ✦

  • Orbit Press

  • ✦

  • Maison Ève

  • ✦

  • Northwind

  • ✦

  • Atelier Nord

  • ✦

  • Field Journal

  • ✦

  • Studio Halden

  • ✦

  • Casa Vale

  • ✦

  • Orbit Press

  • ✦

  • Maison Ève

  • ✦

  • Northwind

  • ✦

  • Atelier Nord

  • ✦

  • Field Journal

  • ✦

  • Studio Halden

  • ✦

  • Casa Vale

  • ✦

  • Orbit Press

  • ✦

  • Maison Ève

  • ✦

Available for new projects

Have a project in mind?

Start a project

→

Elsewhere

Instagram

Behance

LinkedIn

Are.na

Contact

hello@maraellison.com

+351 912 000 000

Based in

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon--:--:--

Mara Ellison

®Design

© 2026 Mara Ellison. All rights reserved.

Designed by PixaroStudio

Back to top ↑

Available for new projects

Have a project in mind?

Start a project

→

Elsewhere

Instagram

Behance

LinkedIn

Are.na

Contact

hello@maraellison.com

+351 912 000 000

Based in

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon--:--:--

Mara Ellison

®Design

© 2026 Mara Ellison. All rights reserved.

Designed by PixaroStudio

Back to top ↑

Available for new projects

Have a project in mind?

Start a project

→

Elsewhere

Instagram

Behance

LinkedIn

Are.na

Contact

hello@maraellison.com

+351 912 000 000

Based in

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon--:--:--

Mara Ellison

®Design

© 2026 Mara Ellison. All rights reserved.

Designed by PixaroStudio

Back to top ↑

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