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Hiya!

My name is Gabriela Padilha and I am a designer and communicator focused on social impact, education

and sustainability.

 

I work at the intersection of design, strategic communication and the creative economy, developing narratives, identities and strategies that strengthen organizations, mobilize people and expand impact. I have experience in the nonprofit sector leading institutional communication, fundraising campaigns and educational projects, alongside a solid background in visual design. I believe design is a political, cultural, and a sensitive tool, capable of translating complexity, fostering belonging and creating real transformation.

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Outside of work, I find balance through sports and movement: I am an amateur duathlete and a yoga practitioner. I am also a bookworm and a foodhunter. 

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Experience

Aldeia da Fraternidade NGO
 

​Communication Coordinator

& Fraterno Atelier Coordinator

June 2021 – January 2026

Worked in a third-sector organization focused on education, social assistance, and income generation, with a progressive expansion of responsibilities, from design and project coordination to strategic leadership of institutional communication.
 

Institutional Communication & Strategy

  • Defined and implemented the organization’s communication strategy aligned with fundraising goals, institutional positioning, and brand strengthening.

  • Planned and coordinated visibility campaigns, internal communication, and media relations.

  • Developed visual and narrative guidelines to ensure consistency between social impact, discourse, and public image.

  • Produced and curated strategic presentations, impact reports, and materials for partners, funders, and supporters.

Management & Leadership

  • Coordinated and supervised the communication team.

  • Organized workflows, priorities, and deliverables across institutional projects and fundraising initiatives.

Income Generation & Creative Economy

  • Coordinated the Fraterno Escola Atelier, an educational project for women from the local community, focused on sustainability and income generation through creative skills.

  • Conceived and managed the communication strategy for the Bazar da Aldeia, the NGO’s social shop: development of visual concept, photo shoots, social media management, event organization, and support for pricing and positioning strategies for higher-value items.

Bendito Design
 

Junior Designer

April 2018 – May 2021

Worked at a global design agency, focusing on the development of visual identities and packaging for national and international brands, combining technical rigor, collaborative processes, and creativity.

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  • Developed visual identity and packaging projects from briefing to production in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

  • Experience with structured creative processes, validations, short deadlines, and quality standards required by large global brands.

  • Participated in projects for clients such as Unilever, Danone, O Boticário, Ambev, Kellogg’s, Grupo Vibra, Neugebauer, and Biscoitos Zezé.

  • Actively contributed to social and pro bono projects, developing visual identities and communication materials for the NGO WimBelemDon and local small entrepreneurs.

Volunteer Work

Pré-Vestibular Popular Minervino
 

Brand Manager​

January 2026 – Present

Community-based popular education project focused on expanding access to higher education for young people from peripheral neighborhoods.
 

  • Defined and managed the project’s visual identity and institutional narrative.

  • Created brand guidelines for communication with students, volunteers, and partners.

  • Provided strategic support for engagement and fundraising campaigns.

Morador de Rua Existe

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Organizer & Designer

March 2018 – January 2023

Community-based social initiative focused on supporting and promoting dignity for people experiencing homelessness.

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  • Co-organized monthly community actions, integrating logistics, volunteer mobilization, public sector coordination, and direct care.

  • Engaged and coordinated a network of 70+ volunteers and 6 organizers, ensuring continuity and sustainability of the initiative.

  • Developed and supported strategic communication and visual materials, strengthening social mobilization and outreach.

  • Co-organized large-scale initiatives, including the 2018 and 2019 Christmas Dinners, supporting 400+ people per edition.

Personal Projects

Li. - Literatura para Mentes Livres
 

Co-creator, reviewer, and designer

April 2020 – Present

Independent authorial project focused on literary curation and content creation, developed as an experimental space for design, illustration, and critical thinking.

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  • Curated and produced critical reflections on literature, connecting literary works to social, political, and cultural contexts.

  • Created original visual content with a focus on design, illustration, and experimental, manual approaches.

  • Developed visual narratives that translate literary ideas into accessible and sensitive formats.

  • Built editorial partnerships with major publishing groups, such as Grupo Editorial Record and HarperCollins Brazil.

Uva. Clube do Livro

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Organizer

2020 - Present

Independent book club founded in 2020 as a women-centered space for collective reading, care, and exchange. Uses literature as a tool for community building and cultural mediation, fostering critical and sensitive dialogue among women.

Education

MBA in Sustainable Development

& Circular Economy

PUCRS — Porto Alegre, Brazil | 2023–2024

 

Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Design

(Marketing emphasis)

ESPM — Porto Alegre, Brazil | 2014–2017

 

Exchange Program & IELTS Preparation

EC — Vancouver, Canada | 2016–2017

 

General English Course

International House — Newcastle upon Tyne, England | 2013

Skills

Social Impact & Strategy:

Social Impact Assessment • Systems Thinking • Design for Social Innovation • NGO

Communication Strategy

Design & Communication:

Visual Identity • Editorial & Visual Content • Campaign & Social Media Design
 

Tools:

Adobe Creative Suite • WordPress • Trello • Email Marketing Platforms • Video Editing


Languages:

Portuguese (Native) • English (Fluent) • Spanish (Basic)

Courses & Certifications

  • Social Impact Assessment 
    Umanitar Academy | 2026


  • Agile Methodologies for Social Projects Umanitar Academy | 2025
     

  • Systems Thinking: Tackling Complex Challenges with a Portfolio Approach Apolitical & UNDP | 2025
     

  • Design for Public Policies
    ENAP | 2024
     

  • Creative Economy, Entrepreneurship
    & Innovation
    ENAP | 2024
     

  • The Role of the Community Library
    Itaú Social | 2022
     

  • Design & Circular Economy
    IED São Paulo | 2021
     

  • Design, Diversity & Social Innovation
    IED São Paulo | 2021
     

  • Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector
    Coursera (UVA Darden School of Business)
    | 2020
     

  • The Life of the Book
    Antofágica Publishing House | 2020
     

  • Smile Academy: Creating Social Impact Actions
    Smile Flame | 2019

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