Case studies

Toothpicks are just toothpicks, right?

Palito will have you think differently. Recognising the immense aesthetic and functional potential of such a small, delicate object, Palito has reimagined the humble toothpick as a luxury object. Serious in craftsmanship yet playful in spirit, the brand explores the potential of a simple tool, having fun while delivering a collectible object. Made with premium woods like Peteribí and Guayubira, each piece is meticulously handcrafted to elevate this everyday item into something extraordinary.

Eight arms, infinite possibilities

Do we keep the octopus? This was the conundrum that MullenLowe U.S. faced when planning a rebrand to unify the agency’s U.S. offices because, while the signature mascot, for many, felt outdated, it couldn’t be abandoned completely. “After rounds of exploration,” Head of Design João Paz tells us, “the octopus kept coming back as the perfect symbol for creativity – an ancient creature that literally edits its own DNA to adapt and survive.”

Interviews

Actuel Studio

Actuel Studio is a sum of parts. The studio’s work, which spans various disciplines – branding, creative direction, editorial, spatial design, and more – is touched by the disparate backgrounds of its Co-founders & Creative Directors, Paulina Paige Ortega and David Caon. Ortega is an art director and graphic designer with a rich history in the industry, while Caon, on the other hand, is an industrial and interior designer. It is this diversity in their backgrounds, knowledge, interests and tastes that gives Actuel Studio its creative elasticity.

“We are fluent across many dialects of design and creative expression,” Ortega tells us as we sit down with the duo for a chat. We trace back time to the serendipitous way the two met and then founded the studio, while they give us a peek at the inner workings of Actuel, and reveal what makes them tick.

Mockups

“We try to approach things with longevity and scalability in mind.”

Paulina Paige Ortega, Actuel Studio
18th March 2025

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Assets

Stipple Dot Work Effects Pack

Transform your designs with the power of stippling. This easy-to-use PSD file lets you add dots to create depth, texture and artistic allure to your imagery. The effects excels when applied to images with high-contrast backgrounds, or isolated objects and illustrations.

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