About
I’m a Brazilian-Russian designer and solopreneur based in NYC with a lifelong expertise for typography and the printing arts.
My work spans graphic, book, and type design, letterpress printing, teaching, and coaching students in Brazil and the US. Drawing on my multi-disciplinary experience and love for planners and journals, I’m currently focused on creating tools that support and empower others in their creative journeys under my brand @anasofiadesigns.
This is my story
Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, I was raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Now I live in Seattle, WA, where I specialize in typography, typeface design, and letterpress printing.
My design experience has brought me around the world and down several rabbit holes of specialization, all so that I could discover my true calling: working with the visual form of the language.
After graduating from ESDI (1997), the first design school in Brazil (founded in 1963), I was hired to work at Record
I AM A MULTICULTURAL GLOBETROTTER...
Publishing Group. During a period of six years, I was raised from my initial position as a Trainee Designer to the Design Department Lead. I designed over a hundred book covers and numerous collateral materials, and as my passion and interest to dive deeper into the typographic world grew, I prepared for my next big move.
I started teaching typography in the undergraduate design course of Faculdade Unicarioca in Rio de Janeiro. The experience of teaching university students in design became a challenging and rewarding practice over the next ten years.
After leaving Record, I was accepted into the Master's Program in Arts and Design at PUC University, while also working as an independent designer. During the following years, my business practice expanded into a partnership that created my first design studio, Versalete. I specialized in designing whole book projects, cover and interior, deepening my knowledge and experience on the intricacy of the typography work.
View Boboli project
NEW COUNTRY, NEW JOURNEYS AND DISCOVERIES...
When I moved to my new Seattle home, while looking for my next professional move, I opened an amazing creative door by attending Letterpress courses at the School of Visual Concepts. Printmaking took my relationship with typography to the next level, leading to amazing new partnerships and projects—many of which I have highlighted on this site.
My type design practice and letterpress projects kept my mind focused and warmed my heart with a sense of purpose.
The Historic Stimson–Green Mansion
1204 Minor Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Sharing my office space with other compassionate women led businesses on the top floor at the historic building of The Stimson-Green Mansion has been another treat and also a privilege. This is a space where several of the projects featured in this site were conceived, and a place I'm thrilled to work from while continuing to connect with partners and friends.
View Equity Project
Letterpress practice inspired me to further push my deep passion for typography and start seeking education to specialize in designing fonts.
Presentations
To be continued...
Presentation at DiaTipo X, 2021
with transcript
of the presentation
A Digital Typeface for the Reimagined Field of Post Digital Letterpress Printing, 2020
with transcript
of the presentation
II Seminário Brasileiro sobre o Livro & História Editorial, 2009.
XXIV Simpósio Nacional de História, 2007;
I Seminário Brasileiro sobre o Livro & História Editorial, 2004;
II Congresso da História do Livro e da Leitura no Brasil, 2003;
I Congresso Internacional de Design de Informação – SBDI, 2003;
Publications
Post-Digital Letterpress Printing Book of Abstracts / i2ADS – Research Institute in Art, Design and Society University of Porto, Faculty of Fine Arts, 2020 PDLP 2020 Publication.pdf
with transcript
A Pedra na Praça, de Liev Tolstói, Ana Sofia Mariz & Tatiana Mariz, Gonzalo Cárcamo (ilutr), Rovelle, 2012.
Mariz, Ana Sofia, MD & Cunha Lima, Guilherme, PhD. Editora Civilização Brasileira: novos parâmetros na produção editorial brasileira. In Abreu, Márcia, PhD & Bragança, Aníbal, PhD (Org.) Impresso no Brasil: 200 anos de livros brasileiros", São Paulo. Edusp, 2010 p.253-270
Fábulas, de Liev Tolstói, Ana Sofia Mariz & Tatiana Mariz, Gonzalo Cárcamo (ilutr), Editora Companhia das Letrinhas, 2009.
Mariz, Ana Sofia, MD & Cunha Lima, Guilherme, PhD. Experimentação e técnica: O novo design da brochura nacional no exemplo da editora Civilização Brasileira (1959-1970). In Desígnio Revista de História da Arquitetura e do Urbanismo, published by Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo/Universidade de São Paulo, 2008. p95-100
Masters Dissertation: MARIZ, Ana Sofia. Civilização Brasileira publishing house: The design of an editorial plan (1959-1970). Rio de Janeiro, 2005. MSc. Dissertation de Mestrado – Departamento de Artes e Design, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro.
Mariz, Ana Sofia, MD & Cunha Lima, Guilherme, PhD A new approach to Brazilian Book Design: the experience of Civilização Brasileira publishing house, 1950-1960. In **Spinillo, Carla, PhD & Coutinho, Solange, PhD Selected Readings of First Information Design International Conference. Recife: The Brazilian Society of Information Design, 2004. p36-44.
