Spanish graphic designers

Spanish graphic design has written its own language, bringing together conceptual rigour, cultural vocation and social sensibility. To understand its evolution, we must turn to a talented generation of pioneers that determined the identity of not only a profession, but also a country. They established the roots that allowed those who came after to fly. As it happens, José María Cruz Novillo (Cuenca, 1936) was key in building the visual imagination of democratic Spain. The creator of the corporate identities of institutions like Correos, Renfe or Policía Nacional, media outlets like El Mundo, Cope or Antena 3 and companies like Repsol, Endesa or Telefónica, he introduced a coherent and long-lasting design concept. Spain stepped into modernity in 1992—coinciding with the celebration of the Games in Barcelona—largely thanks to the work of Javier Mariscal (Valencia, 1950) with Cobi, the mascot that the entire world fell in love with. With his spontaneous and colourful language, this Valencian artist connected with millions of people. Furthermore, Enric Satué (Barcelona, 1938) is the pioneer of the city of Barcelona. This essay writer, communicator and designer contributed significantly to providing Spanish graphic design with a critical discourse, defending it as a cultural discipline and not just a commercial tool. It was precisely in Barcelona, in the 1960s, that two schools that were key to understanding the boom of graphic design in Spain were founded: the Barcelona School of Design and Engineering (ELISAVA) and the University School of Design and Art of Barcelona (EINA). Both established a teaching tradition that continues to directly or indirectly influence current generations and provided a home for some designers featured below.

Alex Trochut

Alex Trochut (Barcelona, 1981) did not get to meet his grandfather, a pivotal figure in the field of Spanish visual arts in the 20th century. Even though Joan Trochut did not share his knowledge directly with his grandson, Alex has become a worthy successor. After studying graphic design at the prestigious ELISAVA, he left his hometown to have a successful career abroad. This digital artist, with a deep-rooted personality and sensibility, has worked for major brands—like Apple, Adidas or Coca-Cola—and bands like Arctic Monkeys or The Rolling Stones. In 2023, he presented his first exhibition in Spain, It’s complicated, an ode to love and its hardships. One of his latest works, the typography for the Andalucian Crush campaign to encourage tourism in Andalusia, was a resounding success.

Pati Núñez

If female graphic designers receive the same recognition today as their male counterparts, it is thanks to the work of pioneering women like Pati Núñez (Figueres, Girona, 1959). As recognition, in 2007 she became the first woman to receive the Spanish National Design Award. The jury highlighted her “impeccable trajectory,” her “formal elegance” and “her visual interpretations full of sensuality and poetry.” Just like Alex Trochut—even though several years before—, she studied in Barcelona, in her case at the other major design school in the city, EINA. She then worked as a teacher there for many years. Specialized in branding and packaging, she has worked for brands like Loewe, Opel, Danone, Camper or La Caixa. In 2022, she received the Laus de Honor for her graphic design legacy.

Alex Trochut’s work for 'Sneaker Freaker' magazine was a success at the prestigious CLIO Awards. © Alex Trochut – Sneaker Freaker

Manuel Estrada's covers for Alianza have turned into a classic of editorial design. © Alianza Editorial

Javier Aramburu’s cover for the album ‘Super 8’ (Los Planetas) has become an indie icon. © El Ejército Rojo

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Manuel Estrada

Maybe you do not know Manuel Estrada (Madrid, 1953), despite being one of the most influential graphic designers in recent decades, but we are sure that you have held a book with one of his covers in your hands. His close collaboration with Alianza Editorial has given us some iconic covers. At the head of Estrada Design, a studio founded in 1989, he has also worked for brands like Repsol or Carmencita. He has featured in dozens of exhibitions as well. In 2022, he shared his vision of talent with us: “Talent that only shines through fast, spontaneous or immediate solutions resolves the problem cosmetically and superficially.” This is someone who has dedicated his heart and soul to design. Funnily enough, he studied architecture. In 2017, he received the Spanish National Design Award.

Marta Cerdà

If you are passionate about the world of design, rush to read the essay published by Marta Cerdà (Barcelona, 1980) in 2025: Surviving Design (Anagrama). Written with a playful spirit, she reflects on the keys of her discipline while defending its artisanal side in the era of AI. This is not her first book; in 2022, she published Type to Image (Terranova), where she explored how blurred the lines between illustration and typography are through her work. Her collaborations with Nike particularly stand out: one of the last ones consisted of creating the new logo for Erling Haaland after being recruited by the brand—. Also, her work for publications like The New York Times, Vogue, Wired, La Vanguardia or El País. Her eclectic style, which combines organic and digital elements, has significantly influenced contemporary editorial design.

Javier Aramburu

The figure of Javier Aramburu (San Sebastián, 1966) is shrouded in mystery. His non-existent public presence—he does not do interviews or attend events, so there are hardly any images of him—has not kept him from becoming one of the greatest graphic designers in Spain. During the 1990s, he created some of the most memorable covers in Spanish music. His collaboration with Los Planetas was particularly fruitful, although he also worked with Duncan Dhu, Fangoria, La Buena Vida, Sexy Sadie or Kiko Veneno. His season as a member of Family, a band that disappeared after publishing its acclaimed debut album (Un soplo en el corazón, 1993), did nothing but increase the amount of intrigue. During a time, he was also in charge of the design of music magazine Rockdelux. For the last few years, he has thrown himself into his facet as a painter.

Marta Cerdà compiled some of her best work as a designer in her book ‘Type to Image.’ © Marta Cerdà Alimbau - Terranova

Packaging is one of Pati Núñez’s specialities. In the image, packaging for Colmado Singular. © Pati Núñez Associats

Laura Meseguer has created dozens of new typographies throughout her career, including ‘Ella.’ © Laura Meseguer

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Laura Meseguer

The expertise of Laura Meseguer (Barcelona, 1968) lies in typography. The child who “used to draw letters for fun” has grown into one of the biggest advocates of the field. “Now, everyone understands that typography is essential, a fundamental pillar of design,” she told us. A passion she conveys to her students at her school: Tipo-g. After specializing in type design at the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague, she started freelancing at design studios, including that of the aforementioned Pati Núñez. In 1992, she cofounded Type-Ø-Tones, one of the first digital type foundries in Spain. Throughout her career, she has created dozens of fonts—Rumba, Lola, Ella, Cortada, Holiday Sans, etc.—. In 2018, she received the Premio Gràffica in recognition of her trajectory.

Spanish graphic design is not limited to these names, but rather includes dozens of widely renowned figures both nationally and internationally. Veteran names include Pepe Gimeno (Valencia, 1951), Josep María Mir (Barcelona, 1949), Emilio Gil (Madrid, 1949), Paqui Martín (Las Palmas, 1959) or Nacho Lavernia (Valencia, 1950). This generation was taken over by names such as Clara Montagut (Madrid, 1975), Susana Blasco (Zaragoza, 1972), Asís G. Ayerbe (Valladolid, 1978) or Isabel Cabello (Antequera, Málaga, 1976). The younger cohort includes Ingrid Picanyol (Torelló, Barcelona, 1988), Beñat Olea (Legazpi, Guipúzcoa, 1987), Rebeka Arce (Barakaldo, Vizcaya, 1988) or Javier Jaén (Barcelona, 1983). Look up their work and enjoy the infinite talent of Spanish graphic designers.