Carlos "Carcalugo" Castro is a Spain-based Senior Visual Designer and Art Director with a passion for branding, UI and typographic projects.
Hi, I'm Carlos, a Madrid-based Art Director and Senior Visual Designer with 10+ years of experience crafting compelling visual identities and user-centric design systems across fashion, tech, and digital commerce. My work blends graphic precision with conceptual depth, drawing inspiration from maximalism, Op Art, and typographic storytelling.
I've led digital design and e-commerce campaigns for global brands including Wolford (LVMH), ESPRIT, Meta, and Birkenstock. I specialize in bridging creative direction with scalable design systems, contributing to product teams with strategic design thinking and hands-on execution in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.
My international collaborations span agencies and start-ups in the US, Europe, and LATAM. With a deep focus on branding, typography, and visual systems, I thrive in cross-functional teams, remote settings, and fast-paced environments that demand both detail and vision.
My background also includes published academic research in cultural semiotics and design theory, with a Master’s thesis focused on neo-esoteric consumption and cultural hybridization in boutique retail environments (Palermo, Buenos Aires).

Publications & Awards
Design Areas
Art Direction
Product Design
Graphic & Visual Design
Typography
Illustration
Web Design
Design Systems
Product Design
Graphic & Visual Design
Typography
Illustration
Web Design
Design Systems
Contact
Selected Clients
Birkenstock (at Machinas Development)
EIT Urban Mobility
ESPRIT (at Machinas Development)
Everson Museum of Art
Ford Foundation
Fundación Varrios
Huaqin
Kailen Lewis: Pilates
Kiva
Learning Equality
Meta (Facebook)
Negra Como Yo
Pathos Labs / Popshift
Ranking Digital Rights
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Smart Partners
Smart Smileys Toys
Stanford University
Sundance Institute
The University of Texas at Austin
UN Women
Wired Magazine
Wolford LVMH Group (at Machinas Development)
EIT Urban Mobility
ESPRIT (at Machinas Development)
Everson Museum of Art
Ford Foundation
Fundación Varrios
Huaqin
Kailen Lewis: Pilates
Kiva
Learning Equality
Meta (Facebook)
Negra Como Yo
Pathos Labs / Popshift
Ranking Digital Rights
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Smart Partners
Smart Smileys Toys
Stanford University
Sundance Institute
The University of Texas at Austin
UN Women
Wired Magazine
Wolford LVMH Group (at Machinas Development)