CV
Maria Filipe Castro
Character Designer / Toy Designer / Fiber Artist
Porto, Portugal
About
I'm a character designer with a passion for bringing stories to life through expressive, memorable designs.
With a background in toy design I’ve developed a strong eye for shape language, appeal, and storytelling through silhouette.
Experienced in creating cute, engaging characters inspired by nature, food, and toddlers, using a blend of traditional techniques (like needle felting) and digital tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Blender.
I have gained valuable work experience in visual development, working on the design of characters to support the overall aesthetic and narrative of an animated TV series.
I thrive in collaborative environments where storytelling and design go hand-in-hand, and I love shaping worlds through thoughtful, character-driven design choices.
With a background in toy design I’ve developed a strong eye for shape language, appeal, and storytelling through silhouette.
Experienced in creating cute, engaging characters inspired by nature, food, and toddlers, using a blend of traditional techniques (like needle felting) and digital tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Blender.
I have gained valuable work experience in visual development, working on the design of characters to support the overall aesthetic and narrative of an animated TV series.
I thrive in collaborative environments where storytelling and design go hand-in-hand, and I love shaping worlds through thoughtful, character-driven design choices.
Work Experience
Character Designer
Hanna Barbera Studios Europe
Character Design - Visual Development for a TV animated series in pre production. NDA project.
January 2025 - April 2025, United Kingdom (Remote)
Toy Designer / Character Designer / Fiber Artist
droolwool, Self-employed
Designer and maker of Fiber Art Toys, Soft Sculptures and accessories made in felt wool.
February 2016 - Present, Portugal
droolwool, Self-employed
Designer and maker of Fiber Art Toys, Soft Sculptures and accessories made in felt wool.
February 2016 - Present, Portugal
Teacher
Domestika
I currently teach how to create Art Toys using the Needle Felting technique in Domestika’s online platform. In this course I try to inspire my students while I share with them my personalized technique.
September 2021 - Present (Remote)
Domestika
I currently teach how to create Art Toys using the Needle Felting technique in Domestika’s online platform. In this course I try to inspire my students while I share with them my personalized technique.
September 2021 - Present (Remote)
Guest Speaker
Pictoplasma
I was invited to participate on the 1st Pictoplasma in Isolation. In this talk I described my work process, where my inspiration comes from, my approach to Character Design and my needle felting technique.I was invited to participate on the 1st Pictoplasma in Isolation. In this talk I described my work process, where my inspiration comes from, my approach to Character Design and my needle felting technique.
Sep 2020 Berlin, Germany (Remote)
Pictoplasma
I was invited to participate on the 1st Pictoplasma in Isolation. In this talk I described my work process, where my inspiration comes from, my approach to Character Design and my needle felting technique.I was invited to participate on the 1st Pictoplasma in Isolation. In this talk I described my work process, where my inspiration comes from, my approach to Character Design and my needle felting technique.
Sep 2020 Berlin, Germany (Remote)
Textile Artist
Self-employed
Designer and maker of sculptural / plush jewellery made in textile materials. Toy Artist, designer and maker of neefle felted Art Toys.
Sep 2002 - Sep 2016, Portugal
Self-employed
Designer and maker of sculptural / plush jewellery made in textile materials. Toy Artist, designer and maker of neefle felted Art Toys.
Sep 2002 - Sep 2016, Portugal
Skills
|
- Character concept design
- Character visual development - Toy design - Communication skills |
- Storytelling
- Blender - Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Illustrater |
Achievements
Lecturer at Pictoplasma 2020
I was an invited lecturer in the 1st Pictoplasma in Isolation, where I was able to describe my work process and where my inspiration comes from, but also my approach to Character Design and my Needle Felting technique.
10th Annual Designer Toy Awards, presented by Clutter Gallery, 2021
I have been nominated for Best Non-Plastic in the Annual Designer Toy Awards, an event organized by Clutter Gallery
I have been nominated for Best Non-Plastic in the Annual Designer Toy Awards, an event organized by Clutter Gallery
Education
Fine Arts - Sculpture
Bachelor of Arts
Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto, Portugal
2002
Bachelor of Arts
Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto, Portugal
2002
Beaux-Arts de Nantes, France
Fine Arts - Sculpture
Erasmus Exchange Programme
Bachelor of Arts
2000
Fine Arts - Sculpture
Erasmus Exchange Programme
Bachelor of Arts
2000