Hi! I’m excited to share some of my favorite
A creative journey from community college to UMD 🦀
I’m Silvana, and I’m excited to welcome you to my portfolio. Below, you’ll find a selection of my favorite work.
As you scroll, you will see projects that reflect my growth as a designer through a variety of media and techniques.
Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor that is used, among other things, for illustration as a branch of digital art, technique or graphic design.
Logo
I designed this logo in Illustrator for a fictional place called “Tile & Cod Tavern.” The idea was to capture the feel of Portuguese culture. I combined a codfish (a symbol of their cuisine) with patterns inspired by the classic blue tiles you see all over Portugal. I also included a reference to Super Bock, one of the country’s most popular beers. The goal was to create something that feels rooted in tradition but still fresh and eye-catching.
Recipe
For this project, I spent 18 hours carefully illustrating the steps to prepare Pasteis de Nata, a delicious Portuguese treat. Once I knew all the necessary ingredients, I used Adobe Illustrator’s Pen, Shape, Brush, and Pencil Tools to carefully design every feature. Many effects are added to each step of the recipe, and the layout is appealing so that viewers want to follow along and recreate this renowned dish in their homes.
Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a photo editor used mainly for retouching photographs and graphics.
Text Masking
I used Adobe Photoshop’s TYPE tool to experiment with fonts and styles. I created engaging visual effects by masking text letter by letter. I applied filters, blur effects, and layer styles. These tools helped me achieve this beautiful composition.
Image Correction
For this assignment, we were tasked with restoring images sourced from the Library of Congress with Photoshop. The images I chose were captured by the renowned photographer Toni Frisell.
To see the before and after of the same image, click and drag the circle in the center left or right. Sliding it lets you see how the image changed.
Colorization
In Photoshop, I revitalized an opaque poster from the Library of Congress by carefully applying vibrant colors inspired by the Portuguese flag. This gave the piece visual intensity and reimagined the original message with modern energy.
PremierePro
Adobe Premiere Pro is a video editing software aimed at professional editing.
Video
This timeline-based video offers a short but immersive glimpse into Portugal’s coastal towns and cityscapes. I created it using Adobe Premiere Pro, starting with a spoken introduction and weaving together music, clips, and transitions to build a steady visual rhythm.
Two Words and a Photo
This composition was created for an assignment that asked us to combine an original photograph with two words to create a new meaning—something that neither the image nor the text could express on its own. The goal was to explore a relevant social issue and communicate it visually, using thoughtful symbolism.
I photographed a set of knives arranged in a circle to symbolize a group that chooses silence and conformity.
The red knife, with its blade exposed, represents something harmful that is clearly visible, yet tolerated—whether that is an abuser, an unjust system, or any wrongdoing people choose to ignore.
I used Photoshop to increase the composition’s contrast and emphasis. The phrase “Nobody knows” is displayed in the center, but only the word “nobody” is deformed, as it represents a lie. People do know. The term “knows” stays unaltered, revealing the truth: the issue is not ignorance but denial, which inhibits change.
The Rising of Disco Culture
This collage was created for an assignment exploring the cultural and historical significance of a past movement through black-and-white photo editing. I chose to focus on the rise of disco in the 1970s, a moment that reshaped music, fashion, and self-expression in disruptive and lasting ways.
Using Photoshop, I layered and adjusted archival imagery to reflect the energy and identity of the era, drawing inspiration from iconic spaces like Studio 54.
Cut Paper Lines
This project focused on creating nonobjective compositions using only black paper and the expressive power of lines.
The goal was to explore emphasis, movement, and contrast without relying on recognizable forms. Every cut and placement was intentional, turning simple forms into eye-catching visual effects.
Self Identity Portrait
This piece felt like the culmination of everything I had learned so far, and it was the first time I truly saw myself as a multimedia artist. I combined painting, acrylic, tracing, scanning, and then brought it all together using Photoshop and Illustrator.
The goal was to represent parts of my personality and identity, so I focused on my culture, the place where I grew up, and the colors I naturally gravitate toward. I imagined everything growing out of me, extending beyond the portrait to help others see a fuller picture of who I am.
Thank you!
Silvana's Portfolio 