Sampaio shares: “My family has supported me in every
single decision I’ve made so far, so they motivated me to do
what I do today. Also, one of my clients—now my friend—is
the kind of person that works 24 hours a day to get things done.
It’s impressive what he achieved, and he started with nothing!
Anyone that works hard to get what they desire is an inspiration
to me, as long as they are honest and humble.”
Sampaio himself had no shortage of work ethic, however,
the market for design work, in general, is riddled with
competition. With a few major firms maintaining a rigid grasp
of the industry, it is always difficult for a beginner freelance
designer to be capable of maintaining a living off of their work.
Surmounting these odds, Sampaio laid his inhibitions to
rest, earning his first paid project designing flyers for a small
pub in Porto, Portugal in 2012. The doubt and uncertainty that
had plagued his mind and caused him to question his worth
as an artist vanished; a newfound sense of courage and self-
confidence took its place.
Diogo Sampaio - @strongsidesigns
Since his first paid project, the scope of StrongSide
Designs has increased tremendously, providing sustenance for
Sampaio and his girlfriend in Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon.
A conscientious worker, Sampaio grew his reputation, and the
quality of his artwork began breaking ground in the art world.
“I can be extremely careful on details, because sometimes
the difference between good work and exceptional work
can simply be a bad kerning, some shadow that doesn’t look
realistic or some colour that doesn’t match the background—
at times, any flaw can be the motive to a failed project,” asserts
Sampaio, “So, depending on the budget (and my spirit), I can
spend hours looking for minor errors that can be avoided in
order to make the perfect artwork.”
Sampaio’s personal work is a direct reflection of his
professional odyssey. The arduous, seemingly impossible
expedition depicted through perplexing landscape manipulations
and eloquently blended photo collages, each provoking viewers to
discern for themselves which direction is up.