Alda Rosa

Alda Rosa

(Braga, 1936)

Editorial Design
Graphic Design
Painting

Alda Rosa was born in Braga in 1936. She graduated in Painting in 1959 from the Higher School of Fine Arts in Lisbon and, between 1967 and 1970, completed a course in Art and Graphic Design at Ravensbourne College of Art and Design in England. She began her career as a designer in the studio of architects Duarte Nuno Simões and José Santa-Rita, where she also collaborated on interior design projects.

In 1965, she joined the Art and Industrial Architecture Nucleus (NAAI) of the National Institute of Industrial Research (INII), where she was part of the organizing committee for the first Portuguese Design Exhibitions, held in 1971 and 1973. She worked as an internal advisor at the Directorate-General for Quality (DGQ) and later at the Portuguese Quality Institute (IPQ). She was a member of the Installing Committee of the Portuguese Design Center (CPD), representing the Ministry of Industry. Additionally, she created the graphic department of the Cultural Institute of Macau (ICM), which she directed from 1987 to 1989. She was a founding member of the Portuguese Designers Association (APD), which she led between 1990 and 1993, and in 1990 she served as the APD delegate to the Bureau of European Designers Associations (BEDA). She was also a consultant for the Portuguese Design Center (CPD) and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Nogueira da Silva Museum in Braga.

Throughout her career, Alda Rosa devoted herself to graphic design for public institutions, where she was also responsible for organizing several competitions, serving as a jury member. Fascinated by art and culture, she began working as a freelance graphic designer in 1993, producing numerous exhibition catalogues and materials for museums across Portugal. She is recognized for her modernist and minimalist style, characterized by strong typographic elements and dynamic geometric forms. Her editorial work in the cultural and institutional sectors is particularly notable, as is her collaboration with publishers such as Estampa, Cosmos, Moraes, Plátano, Inapa, and Livros Horizonte, among others.

Works

(1965/2012)

Timeline

(1954/2012)

(1954/1964)

  • Attended the Painting course at the Higher School of Fine Arts in Lisbon. (1954)
  • Worked at Casa Brasil and did a Fashion Design course at Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design in London. (1960/1961)
  • Teacher at Escola Secundária Alfredo da Silva, in Barreiro. During this time she collaborated in the sets and costumes of the film Verdes Anos (1963) directed by Paulo Rocha. (1962/1963)
  • Started design activity at the studio of architects Duarte Nuno Simões and José Santa-Rita, where she designed book covers for Moraes Editores and created the brand Ligna, Mobiliário e Equipamento. (1964)

(1965/1975)

  • Started working as a graphic designer for the Núcleo de Arte e Arquitetura Industrial (NAAI) part time. During this period, she attended the Industrial Design Course, directed by Sérgio Asti and the Creativity and Innovation Techniques Course, followed by the 1st Fortnight of Industrial Aesthetics (1965) promoted by the INII.
  • Studied Graphic Design course at Ravensbourne College of Art and Design, in England. (1967/1970)
  • Studied Design and Visual Communication course, directed by Bruno Munari promoted by IADE. (1970)
  • Book covers design for Editorial Estampa: Colecção Livros B (1970), Obras Completas (1970/1971) by José Almada de Negreiros, Todos os Fogos o Fogo (1971) by Julio Cortázar (with Cristina Reis) and Born in 27 (1971) by Alonso Féria. (1970)
  • Became a full-time employee at the Industrial Design Nucleus, as a Senior Technician at the National Institute of Industrial Research (INII). (1970)
  • Member of the organizing committee of the 1st Portuguese Design Exhibition (1971) in Lisbon and Porto.
  • Mission - Visits to industrial exhibitions and the London Design Center. (1972)
  • Mission - Participated in technical conferences and Jornadas INOVA 73 (1973), in Paris.
  • Book covers for Poesia Toda (1973) by Herberto Helder.
  • Member of the organizing committee of the 2nd Portuguese Design Exhibition in Lisbon and the OECD / INII Symposium, about innovation in industry. (1973)
  • Poster design for the film Máscaras (1974) by Noémia Delgado in collaboration with José Brandão. A production by the Portuguese Cinema Center.
  • Attended the Graphic Design Course, directed by Peter Reas promoted by Export Promotion Fund (FFE) (current AICEP) (1974)
  • Joined support groups and production cooperatives Dínamo, Travão, Rendimar. (1974)
  • Book cover design for António Sérgio. O Idealismo Crítico e a Crise de Ideologia Burguesa (1975), by Vasco Magalhães-Vilhena, Cosmos Editions.
  • Participated in groups promoting tenders for the visual image of Companhia Portuguesa de Electricidade (CPE), Transtejo, Cimpor and Airports, and Air Navigation and Administration of the Port of Sines. (1975)

(1976/1986)

  • Participated in the study group about Wicker Industry on Madeira Island. (1976)
  • Joined as a partner and founder of the Portuguese Designers Association (1976)
  • Collaborated in the conception and elaboration of graphic pieces and texts of the Design Nucleus Stand at Vimóvel, in Viseu. (1977)
  • Attended the master's degree in Art History at Universidade Nova de Lisboa. (1977)
  • Participated as a graphic designer in the exhibition Artistas Portuguesas (1977), at the National Society of Fine Arts, in Lisbon.
  • Mission - Visits to the centers of transformation and reuse of marble waste in Pisa and Carrara, and participation in the Technical Days of International Exhibition of Ornamental Rocks in Verona. (1978)
  • Participated as a graphic designer at the Figueira da Foz International Film Festival (FICFF), considered the best poster in collaboration with José Brandão. (1978)
  • Attended the Wood Furniture Design Course, directed by Gui Bonsiepe, organized by DGQ's Product Quality Services. (1979)
  • Visual Identity of the National Theater Museum, a poster and catalog for the first exhibition of the Museum A Companhia Rosas & Brazão (1979).
  • Poster, catalog and brochure design for the exhibition Sala do Tesouro, Tesouros da Arqueologia Portuguesa (1980), National Museum of Archeology.
  • Leaflet design for the exhibition A Idade do Ferro no Sul de Portugal: Epigrafia e cultura (1980), National Museum of Archeology.
  • Poster design for the inauguration of the restoration of Galeria Relvas (1981) organized by José Luís Madeira.
  • Mission - Participated in the Congress of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) in Helsinki. (1981)
  • Became an internal advisor to the General Directorate of Quality (DGQ). (1983)
  • Exhibition catalog design Teias e Tramas (1984), by Carmo Esteves, for National Costume Museum.
  • Poster design for the exhibition The photographers of Casa Real (1984), held at Palácio da Ajuda, organized by José Luís Madeira, for National Archives of Photography.
  • Member of the Founding Committee of the Portuguese Design Center (CPD), representing the Ministry of Industry and Energy. (1985)
  • Participated in the organization of a study mission to marble extraction and transformation centers for designers and experts of various specialties. (1985)
  • Catalog design and poster for the exhibition Gente do Palco (1985), direction of Vítor Pavão dos Santos, National Theater Museum.
  • Mission - Participated in the Congress of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) in Washington. (1985)
  • Developed the exhibition O Nu e o Vestido (1986), by João Cutileiro at the National Costume Museum.

(1987/1997)

  • Mission - Participation in the Congress of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) in Amsterdam. (1987)
  • Headed the graphic sector of the Cultural Institute of Macau, in Macau. (1987/1989)
  • Participated in the activity of the Cultural Institute of Macau, where she was part of the Permanent Secretariat of the 1st Macau Music Festival.
  • Participated in the technical committee for the delegation of works by the Cultural Institute of Macau, responsible for the artistic orientation of its art exhibitions.
  • Jury in the logo contest for the 1st Macau Arts Festival and a selection panel of the Week of Culture and Sport artworks. Jury in the contest for the logo, Letters and Jingle for the Blood Collection Service.
  • Made for the Portuguese Institute of Cultural Heritage (IPPC), the design of the poster Fotógrafo da Casa Real (1990) and a book dedicated to the masonry course promoted by IPPC, O Regresso dos Canteiros (1990).
  • Participated as a representative of Portugal by the Directorate General for Quality (DGQ) of the European Jury for the attribution of the European Design Award, under the Sprint Program, DGXIII.
  • Invited to be part of the European Jury for the ECU Banknote and Currency Design Competition. She was also part of the National Jury for this contest.
  • Visual Identity of National Tile Museum. (1990)
  • Participated in the direction of the Portuguese Designers Association (APD). Becoming delegate of the Association at the European Bureau of Design Associations (BEDA) meeting, integrating the European Designers Register (BEDA).
  • Delegated as internal advisor to the Portuguese Quality Institute (IPQ). Where she is in charge of issuing technical opinions on projects presented at the request of the Quality and Design area. (1991)
  • Catalog design and invitation to Cecília de Sousa (1991), photographs by Luís Pavão, National Tile Museum.
  • Design of the catalog, poster and invitation to the exhibition Hein Semke, Ceramics (1991), José Malhoa Museum.
  • Book design, O Traje Império 1792-1826 e a sua época (1992), National Tile Museum.
  • Catalog design and invitation to Arnold Zimmerman, Ceramics (1992), National Tile Museum.
  • Member of the National jury for the nomination of companies for the European Design Award. Also, participated as a European jury, at the invitation of the Portuguese Design Center (CPD) for the first assignment of the CPD design label.
  • Book design Aurélia de Souza (1992), by Raquel Henriques da Silva, Inapa Editions.
  • Became a consultant for the Portuguese Design Center (CPD). (1993)
  • Retires from public administration and dedicates herself only to graphic design as a freelancer.
  • Catalog design and poster for the Exhibition O Escaparate de Todas as Artes, ou Gil Vicente visto por Almada Negreiros (1993), National Theater Museum.
  • Exhibition catalog design and poster, O Grande Teatro do Mundo ou os Clássicos (1994), National Theater Museum, Lisbon 94-European Capital of Culture.
  • Catalog and invitation design Dimas Macedo, Escultura Cerâmica (1994), National Tile Museum.
  • Exhibition catalog design A Influência Oriental na Cerâmica Portuguesa do Século XVII / Oriental Influence on 17th Century Portuguese Ceramics (1994), National Tile Museum, to Lisbon 94-European Capital of Culture.
  • Exhibition catalog design Um Século de Artes do Fogo. 1890-1990. Colecção Pádua Ramos / Un Siécle d’Arts du Feu. 1890-1990. Collection Pádua Ramos (1994), National Tile Museum, to Lisbon 94-European Capital of Culture.
  • Exhibition catalog design A Majólica do Reino de Nápoles do Século XV ao Século XVIII / Majolic in the Kingdom of Naples from the 15th to the 18th Century (1994), National Tile Museum, to Lisbon 94-European Capital of Culture.
  • Exhibition catalog design Imagens da Família na Arte Portuguesa 1801-1992 (1994), José Malhoa Museum.
  • Catalog design Pinturas de Paisagem (1994) de Pedro Chorão.
  • Catalog design Faiança de Estremoz (1995), National Tile Museum.
  • Exhibition catalog design Carlos Bonvalot 1893-1934 (1995), José Malhoa Museum.
  • Poster design and exhibition catalog Dos Árabes a Miro. Cerâmica Espanhola na Colecções do Museu de Cerâmica de Barcelona (1996), National Tile Museum.
  • Poster design, catalog and invitation for exhibition Un Éclat Portugais, l’art de l’azulejo (1996), National Tile Museum.
  • Invitation design and the exhibition catalog of António Montês (1996), José Malhoa Museum.
  • Book design José Malhoa Pintura Portuguesa do Século XIX (1996), for Paulo Henriques, Inapa Editions.
  • Poster design to promote the Gulbenkian Art Archive.
  • Catalog design, Invitation and Poster for the exhibition Neoclassical Ceramics in Portugal (1997), National Tile Museum.
  • Design invitation and exhibition catalog Hein Semke, Esculturas 1899-1995 (1997), José Malhoa Museum.
  • Book Design Manuel de Cargaleiro, pinturas (1997), Livros Horizonte Editions.

(1998/2012)

  • Catalog design, invitation for the exhibition Júlio Resende Obra Cerâmica (1998), National Tile Museum.
  • Catalog design, invitation and poster Os Ratinhos. Cerâmica Popular de Coimbra (1998), National Tile Museum.
  • Book design Mitomanias e Mimetismos (1998), a work of Tito Iglesias, Câmara Municipal de Oeiras edition.
  • Book design for Delfim Maya (1998), Inapa Editions.
  • Catalog and poster design Arte de Cister em Portugal e Galiza (1998), Fundação Pedro Barrié de La Maza, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
  • Catalog design Figures et personnages une histoire en céramique, l’azulejo au Portugal du XVI au XXe siècle (1998), National Tile Museum.
  • Catalog design, exhibition invitation Estúdio Secla. Uma Renovação na Cerâmica Portuguesa (1999), National Tile Museum.
  • Book design Gregório Lopes - Pintura Portuguesa do Século XVI (1999), Inapa Editions.
  • Book design A Arte do Retrato: Quotidiano e Circunstância de Jean-François Lhote (1999), Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
  • Catalog and brochure design A mobília de quarto do actor Talma (1999), Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
  • Catalog design, exhibition invitation Arte Efémera em Portugal (2001), Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
  • Catalog design A catalogue of the Calouste Gulbenkian Collection of Gems (2001), Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
  • Design to Guide National Tile Museum (2003).
  • Catalog design, Invitation and Poster Real Fábrica de Louça, ao Rato (2003), National Tile Museum.
  • Catalog design, A Minha Segunda Casa. Cecília de Sousa. Obra Cerâmica. 1954-2004 (2004), National Tile Museum.
  • Mini catalog for a younger audience, with 370 pages. 365 Obras de Arte (2004), Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
  • Book design of poems by Sacuntala de Miranda O Sorriso de Satya (2005), António Eduardo and Mário Miranda drawings for the Cultural Institute of Ponta Delgada.
  • Catalog design, panels, leaflet Laboratorio Chimico da Escola Politécnica de Lisboa (2007) the Lisbon University.
  • Catalog design Um Jardim para Maria Ondina Braga (2012), at the Nogueira da Silva Museum, under the direction of Carlos Corais.