Ricardo Santos is a Portuguese art director and graphic designer. Currently working as a freelancer, Ricardo has given over the years glimpses of his talent at newspapers such as Diário de Notícias, 24 Horas and Jornal i, with the latter being awarded by the Society for News Design with the World’s Best-Designed Newspaper, in 2010. Part of the design team that drew the journal from day one, Ricardo has since collected other awards while working at Turbo and AutoSport — two Portuguese icons regarding cars and motorsport.

Always eager to accept a new challenge, it is in this particular environment that he thrives the most. His résumé includes covers and illustrations for international magazines such as american “Racer” or UK’s “Top Gear”, and world renowned brands like Ferrari, Nissan and Red Bull. A former rally co-driver, Ricardo’s love for cars and motorsport has driven him to create illustrations of Formula 1 and rally cars from the 80’s and 90’s, all penned up on an irresistible retro style that remind us why we love racing: “I try to focus on the shape, the shadows, glows and colors of the cars to create simple but eye catching images, which I believe is a direct influence of my day job in newspapers and magazines trying to create simple and easy to understand work”, he said on an interview for Motorsportretro.com, with the guys over there mesmerized by his work. A perfectionist by nature, motivated by giving that extra detail that makes the difference, Ricardo’s work resemble his personality and can be purchased as prints.