R2 is the signature of the designers and artists Lizá Défossez Ramalho (Troyes, France) and Artur Rebelo (Porto, Portugal). R2’s practice extends beyond conventional boundaries, navigating both typical graphic design’s two-dimensional mediums and architectural landscapes. R2 has earned global acclaim for its groundbreaking projects that contributed to redefine the boundaries of the design field. Driven by an unwavering commitment to excellence, they passionately devote themselves to crafting high-quality, both conceptually and visually, designed projects. R2 Design studio was co-founded in 1995 by Defossez Ramalho & Rebelo and works with cultural institutions and commercial clients in fields ranging from culture and lifestyle to industry. R2’s multidisciplinary approach allows them to respond effectively to a wide range of projects from Dam Signage in the Douro River (with Souto de Moura-Architects) to extensive branding that includes typography on building ceilings (Casa & typography do Conto), to a complex museum graphic identity with more than 14 locations (Museu do Porto). Recent projects includes branding project for Évora 2027, European Culture Capital in 2027 as well as for Vhils Studio.

Ramalho and Rebelo have received a number of international awards and honours, including the Brno Biennale Grand Prix (CZ), several premier awards from the International Society of Typographic Designers (UK) and the Society for Environmental Graphic Design (USA), and Gold Prize at the International Poster Triennial, Toyama (JP). Some of their original pieces are also held in international museum collections —Museum für Gestaltung (Zürich, CH), Museum of Modern Art (Toyama, JP), and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris, FR). They are represented in the History of Graphic Design (Taschen, 2018).

Artur Rebelo holds a PhD from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, where he currently teaches Design and Multimedia, while Lizá Ramalho holds a PhD from the Faculty of Fine Arts – University of Barcelona, with a scholarship from the Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal). They are both AGI members since 2007 and co-organised the AGI Congress/Open Porto in 2010.