Beija-flor is a Portuguese stationery brand deeply connected to Portuguese culture and illustration. Founded in 2011 as a casual project in collaboration with the talented Raquel Graça, with whom were developed several notebooks, it evolved into a more extensive endeavor in 2014 under Susana Gomes' leadership - a woman, mother, and designer. Although not strictly an authorial project, it is undeniably a reflection of her influences, experiences, and tastes, characterized by a unique, delicate, and simple style.
Susana Gomes creates products that tell stories on paper, without any regularity or obligation. These stories reflect both their origins and the new meanings they acquire in the hands of those who use them. Her work combines graphic design, illustration, typography, photography, traditional printing, and bookbinding techniques, with a variety of finishes. She places great value on Portuguese craftsmanship, quality, detail, and the preservation of history and memory.
Once conceived and designed, these products are brought to life by a group of partners Susana Gomes has collaborated with over the past decade. Many of these partners are artisans and companies with decades of expertise in bookbinding, paper, and graphic arts, primarily based in the greater Porto area. This controlled, local, and conscious production process greatly benefits from their extensive experience and the ability to create new products using traditional methods and techniques.
