“With a remarkable career, José Brandão left a profound mark on graphic design. He collaborated with institutions, publishers, musicians, and filmmakers, and contributed to the teaching and appreciation of design as a fundamental discipline in Portuguese culture and society,” noted Dalila Rodrigues in a statement of condolence issued by the Ministry of Culture.
“As a teacher and mentor, he helped shape generations of professionals and played a decisive role in structuring design education in Portugal, notably through the creation of the Master’s program in Communication Design at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Lisbon,” the Culture Minister added.
The death of José Brandão was announced on Wednesday night by the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Architecture, where the designer, “one of the most significant” in Portugal, had been an emeritus professor since 2017.
“It is with great sadness that the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Lisbon announces the passing of Professor José Brandão, who left us today, March 26, 2025,” the announcement read.
Born in New York in 1944, José Brandão began his professional career in 1961, later working in the studio of architect, painter, designer, and professor Daciano da Costa from 1964 to 1966.
In 1966, José Brandão moved to Paris and then to London in 1967, enrolling at Ravensbourne University London as a scholar of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. There, he completed his studies with distinction, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design.
In the 1970s, he began his teaching career, first in London (1970-1971) and then at the current Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Lisbon (1976-1995), later at the Faculty of Architecture, where he was instrumental in establishing the Master’s degree in Communication Design and served on the Doctoral Council in Design.
The Faculty of Architecture emphasized Brandão’s substantial contribution to the development of design education in Portugal.
Beginning in 1975, in Portugal, he worked as an independent designer, creating album covers for artists such as José Afonso, Sérgio Godinho, Fausto, Janita Salomé, and Carlos Mendes, as well as book covers for works like “Os Passos em Volta” by Herberto Helder and “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. He also designed movie posters for films including “Kilas, o Mau da Fita,” “Crónica dos Bons Malandros,” “Deus Pátria Autoridade,” and “Sem Sombra de Pecado,” and worked for the former Figueira da Foz International Film Festival (1974-1980).
In 1976, Brandão co-founded the Portuguese Designers Association, holding positions in its board and general assembly.
In 1982, with his wife, Salette Brandão, he founded B2 Atelier de Design, undertaking projects for institutions such as the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministries of Education, Culture, and Science, the Portuguese Postal Service (CTT), the National Commission for the Commemoration of the Portuguese Discoveries, the Bank of Portugal, EXPO’92 in Seville, São Luiz Municipal Theater, and foundations like Calouste Gulbenkian, Oriente, Luso-American, and Espírito Santo, among others.
“José Brandão’s work is widely recognized, having received multiple awards, both national and international, including the Career Award (2001) and APOM’s Best Exhibition Award (1995) and Personality of the Year (2017). He was also honored with the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique in 2006,” highlighted a biography published by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
In 2014, this foundation published a catalog dedicated to the designer’s work.
José Brandão remained active in the management team of B2 Atelier, working with a team of graphic and product designers.
