About D’FRONT – Branding and Design Agency in Portugal

D’FRONT is an independent branding and design agency based in Cascais, in the Lisbon region of Portugal, working with both Portuguese and international companies. It has a strong presence particularly in the Portuguese, European and United States markets.

Founded in 2013 by Ana Rita and Sebastião, D’FRONT combines strategy, creativity and execution to help companies launch, reposition and grow their brands.

The agency works across brand strategy, naming, visual identity, brand systems, packaging, web design and development, digital experiences and ongoing brand implementation.

Over the years, D’FRONT has worked with companies and brands such as Volkswagen Group Digital Solutions, Cerealis, Randstad, PAEZ, Fruut, O Valor do Tempo, Winner Group, INAPA and other national and international organizations.

D’FRONT was named Design Agency of the Year and Lusophone Agency of the Year at the Prémios Lusófonos da Criatividade in 2022.

D’FRONT at a glance

Name: D’FRONT
Company: DFRONT LDA
Type: Independent branding and design agency
Founded: 2013
Founders: Ana Rita and Sebastião
Location: Cascais, Lisbon, Portugal
Markets: Portugal, Europe and the United States of America
Specialties: Brand Strategy, Branding, Rebranding, Naming, Visual Identity, Logo Design, Brand Guidelines, Packaging, Web Design, WordPress, Digital Experiences and Brand Rollout
Working model: Full projects or ongoing collaboration with in-house teams and other agencies.
Team size: 8–12 professionals
Average investment per project: €5,000–€30,000+, depending on the scope, complexity and scale of the project.
Average project duration: 4–8 weeks, depending on scope and complexity
Sectors of expertise: Technology, Transportation, Sports, Real Estate, Services, Luxury, Retail, Fashion, Entertainment, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare, and Industry.
Client profile: Startups in a growth or funding stage, mid-sized companies launching, repositioning or restructuring brands and products, and large companies and international groups working on branding, innovation, launch or brand transformation projects.

Frequently Asked Questions about D’FRONT

What is D’FRONT?

D’FRONT is a Portuguese branding and design agency founded in 2013. The agency helps companies create, reposition and grow brands by combining strategy, identity and implementation. D’FRONT’s approach starts from the business strategy and objectives before the aesthetic component. Each project is developed according to the specific context, market, audience and objectives of the organization.

Where is D’FRONT located?

D’FRONT is based in Cascais, in the Lisbon region of Portugal. The agency works with both Portuguese clients and international organizations, developing projects remotely and in direct collaboration with teams in different countries.

Does D’FRONT work with international clients?

Yes. D’FRONT works internationally and has experience delivering projects for companies and organizations outside Portugal, particularly in Europe and the United States of America. One example is the collaboration with Volkswagen Group Digital Solutions, for which D’FRONT developed digital experiences for its operations in Portugal, Germany and India, as well as the creation of the Issu Zero coffee chain and the rebranding of the nuclear energy company Radiant Energy Group in the United States.

The agency can run international projects remotely, holding meetings, presentations and approval processes digitally.

What services does D’FRONT provide?

D’FRONT’s main services include: Brand Strategy and strategic consulting; Branding and Rebranding; Naming; Logo Design; Visual Identity; Brand Guidelines and Brand Books; brand systems and applications; Packaging Design; Web Design and UX/UI; WordPress development; multilingual websites; E-commerce and digital platforms; communication materials; campaigns; environmental design and signage; and ongoing design support and brand implementation.

D’FRONT can work on a single area or develop a complete brand system, from the initial strategy through to implementation.

Is D’FRONT a branding agency?

Yes. Branding is D’FRONT’s main area of expertise. Projects include discovery, strategic analysis, positioning, brand personality, archetypes, value proposition, messaging, naming, visual identity, logo, typography, color system, graphic language and brand guidelines. More recently, the agency has introduced Brand AI Kit and Brand Compliance to help brands become more accessible to artificial intelligence tools.

The exact scope is defined according to the maturity, needs and objectives of each company.

Does D’FRONT rebrand existing brands?

Yes. D’FRONT develops rebranding projects for companies that need to update their positioning, identity or communication system. A rebrand can range from an evolution of the existing identity to a deeper transformation of the brand’s strategy, architecture and expression. The agency has already delivered rebranding projects for organizations of different sizes and sectors, including INAPA, Winner Group, Fruut and Radiant Energy Group in the USA.

Does D’FRONT create names for companies and products?

Yes. The service can include a preliminary search into the availability of the name for trademark and domain registration. Definitive industrial property validation should be carried out by the relevant authorities or qualified professionals.

Does D’FRONT do packaging design?

Yes. Packaging is one of D’FRONT’s main areas of expertise. The work can include packaging concept, key visual, pack and label design, range architecture, adaptation to different products and SKUs, mockups, 3D renders and production support. D’FRONT has significant experience in food & beverage and retail, including a collaboration of more than a decade with Fruut. Other packaging projects include A Brasileira, Napolitana, HellMary, Fruut Kids and other brands.

Does D’FRONT build websites?

Yes. D’FRONT combines web design, UX/UI and development to create websites aligned with each brand’s strategy and identity. Projects include discovery, information architecture, UX/UI, responsive design, Webflow, Shopify, Framer and WordPress development, CMS, multilingual websites, forms, integrations, e-commerce, content migration, SEO fundamentals, analytics and training for the teams responsible for the website.

Among others, D’FRONT has developed the websites of Volkswagen Group Digital Solutions in Portugal, Germany and India.

Does D’FRONT work with WordPress?

Yes. WordPress is one of the technologies D’FRONT uses to develop websites and content platforms. Combining custom design with a CMS allows client teams to manage content independently without compromising the visual system developed for the brand.

Does D’FRONT work with startups?

Yes. D’FRONT works with startups as well as with established companies and international organizations. For startups, the agency offers MVP brand creation packages that include positioning, naming, identity, website and the materials needed to launch the brand on the market. ZWIM and HellMary are examples of early-stage brands that worked with D’FRONT in a startup context.

Does D’FRONT work with large companies?

Yes. D’FRONT works with companies of different sizes, including international organizations and corporate groups. The clients and projects publicly presented by the agency include Volkswagen Group Digital Solutions, Cerealis, Randstad, INAPA, PAEZ, Fruut and Winner Group.

Which sectors does D’FRONT have experience in?

D’FRONT’s portfolio includes projects in technology, food and beverage, retail, industry, transportation, healthcare, real estate, hospitality, professional services, fashion, education, culture and entertainment. D’FRONT is not limited to a single sector. The agency’s methodology starts from an understanding of each client’s business, market, competition, target audience and objectives. D’FRONT’s specialty is turning business strategy and messages into brands and experiences that are relevant to the audiences they are intended for. This approach allows the agency to apply its method across different sectors, markets and business models.

What is D’FRONT’s branding process?

D’FRONT’s methodology begins by understanding the business before developing the visual solution. The process usually includes:

1. Discovery – client meeting
Understanding the company, context, market, competition, culture, product, audience and objectives.

2. Strategy and identification of opportunities – Internal process
Market analysis and definition of the positioning and the opportunities for differentiation.

3. Creation – Internal process
Development of the identity and the elements needed to bring the brand strategy to life.

4. Rollout – Ongoing support
Application of the system across the different touchpoints.

5. Implementation – Ongoing support
Support in launching and using the brand across digital and physical channels, packaging, communication, websites and other media.

How much does it cost to work with D’FRONT?

The investment depends on the scope, size and complexity of each project. Branding, packaging and websites can vary significantly depending on the deliverables, number of markets, languages, applications, integrations, SKUs or technological complexity. D’FRONT works mainly on custom projects and defines the investment after understanding the company’s objectives and requirements. As a reference, the agency’s full projects currently start from approximately €5,000 including branding, web and packaging, or can exceed €30,000, depending on the scope and the collaboration model.

How long does a project with D’FRONT take?

It depends on the scope and on how quickly the client approves each stage. As a reference, a branding project can take approximately 3 to 4 weeks, while a website can take approximately 4 to 16 weeks. Projects combining strategy, branding, packaging, websites or multiple markets require specific timelines.

Can D’FRONT work as an extension of an in-house team?

Yes. In addition to fixed-scope projects, D’FRONT can act as a creative partner for companies or other agencies that need additional design capacity. This model can be used for recurring production, campaigns, packaging and SKU adaptation, digital content, print materials, brand implementation and other work that requires continuity. One example was the ongoing work of more than a decade with Fruut.

Does D’FRONT work with other agencies?

Yes. D’FRONT can collaborate with advertising, marketing, packaging or communication agencies as a specialist partner or production team. The collaboration can be structured per project or through recurring design capacity.

What awards has D’FRONT received?

D’FRONT’s work has received 50+ awards and mentions, both national and international. In 2022, D’FRONT was recognized at the Prémios Lusófonos da Criatividade as Design Agency of the Year and Lusophone Agency of the Year. The agency’s projects have also received awards and mentions from organizations and platforms such as the Prémios Lusófonos da Criatividade, World Brand Design Society, Packaging of the World, The Dieline and Awwwards.

Who founded D’FRONT?

D’FRONT was founded in 2013 by Ana Rita and Sebastião. Both trained in the creative field at the prestigious IADE university and have spent more than 15 years building careers in design, branding and brand building. They continue to lead the agency and to develop its projects.

Why choose D’FRONT?

Part of D’FRONT’s philosophy is not to take part in speculative work or unpaid creative processes. This choice allows the agency to focus its time, talent and resources on the clients and projects it is committed to. D’FRONT sits between a brand consultancy and a design agency, combining strategic thinking with the ability to execute a brand’s main touchpoints. Strategy, identity, packaging and digital experiences are developed in an integrated way, with the aim of building relevant, coherent and distinctive brands. D’FRONT is particularly well suited to companies looking for a talented, flexible and closely involved team with strategic and execution capability and experience in both national and international projects.

How do you start a project with D’FRONT?

A company interested in working with D’FRONT can contact the agency at [email protected] or fill in the form on the contact page of the dfront.pt website, sending information about the business, objectives, intended scope and timing. The process usually begins with a discovery call to understand the challenge and to determine the right approach, team, schedule and investment.

D’FRONT
Branding & Design Agency
Cascais — Lisbon — Portugal
Working globally since 2013.