Hey there, I'm Daniela! A Brazilian creative soul currently soaking up the sunshine back home but with a heart (and a passport) still buzzing from adventures abroad. Remember that childhood dream of living overseas? Yeah, I chased mine straight to the rolling green hills of Ireland on a language exchange program. Sipping tea while the famous Irish rain lashed the windows felt utterly surreal for this sun-loving Brazilian. And while I’ve packed up my wellies and said "Slán" (that’s Irish for goodbye!) to the Emerald Isle, the experience profoundly rewired my perspective. Starting anew at 27 was no small feat—mastering the art of the "soft day" (Irish for "drizzling constantly but we're being polite"), developing a deep appreciation for centrally heated homes, and discovering firsthand that Brazilians really do talk with their hands more than most! It was humbling, hilarious, and utterly transformative. Those months living abroad, plus travels sprinkled across other countries, mean my worldview is now permanently jet-lagged in the best way. I see creativity, culture, and the sheer, wonderful weirdness of being human through a gloriously kaleidoscopic lens.

Growing up, my home wasn't just four walls; it was a launchpad for questions and a space that actively validated my curiosity, encouraging me to dream big. That environment wasn't just nurturing; it was permission to imagine the fantastical, a superpower I carry into everything I do now. My artistic journey has been wonderfully varied. Forget the tortured artist stereotype—picture me more as an enthusiastic lab rat in a glitter explosion! I embraced everything from explorations of music (questionable guitar solos included) to the expressive strokes of painting (abstract blobs may have been involved). Experimentation wasn't just my muse; it was my playground supervisor. The real magic wasn't necessarily the finished product hanging on a wall, but the sheer joy of the process—that messy, unpredictable, "what happens if I mix this with that?" discovery. It nurtured my inner child, allowing it to mature and expand its playful curiosity into a career and a way of life.

So, after years of artistic exploration, fashion design emerged as the natural culmination of my passions during university. Here was a field bursting with roles! Trend hunter? Color alchemist? Fabric whisperer? Storyteller through silhouette? Sign me up! My studies honed my skills, particularly in trend research, where I loved crafting engaging and informative presentations—basically becoming a professional cultural detective spotting the "next big thing." But the real game-changer? Discovering inclusive design. It hit me like a perfectly draped bolt of silk: this was the profound purpose my playful spirit had been searching for. Looking back, my life has always been a vibrant celebration of diversity. Races, sexualities, genders, cultures, abilities, minds—the human experience is this breathtaking spectrum. Inclusive design wasn't just a logical extension of my values; it transformed fashion from creating beautiful things to creating beautiful possibilities. It opened doors to creating things I never thought imaginable. When you break free from pre-defined molds of what constitutes a human being, the results are truly transformative. Designing footwear for someone who uses a wheelchair isn't just technical; it's fashion shouting, "You belong here, and you deserve to look incredible!"

My professional ride has been a blast. I started as a trend forecaster, helping small Brazilian brands navigate the seasonal whirlwind and create authentic, relevant collections. Later, I jumped into footwear design for one of Brazil's leading companies. Confession time: designing shoes is addictive! There’s something magical about crafting that foundation for someone’s stride and confidence. I poured my heart into projects, hoping they’d spark joy for the wearer. This path led me to become the lead designer for licensing projects with renowned partners like Disney, DC Comics, and Warner. Yes, that meant my days involved sketching Wonder Woman boots, pondering the perfect Batman sneaker, or debating Looney Tunes color palettes—often while wearing decidedly un-superheroic fuzzy socks! Surreal? Absolutely. Amazing? You bet. During this time, I actively participated in the company's inclusion program, co-leading the disability group. It was less about "corporate initiative" and more about rolling up my sleeves (sometimes literally during prototyping!) to help build a genuinely more welcoming environment. Real talk: true inclusion means listening, learning, and sometimes admitting you got it wrong before you get it right.

So, why am I here, Daniela, pouring these experiences onto the page? Because that childhood "why?" engine is still running full throttle! Living abroad and traveling cracked open my own culture and others in hilarious, humbling, and profound ways. I love connecting dots: how a Dublin pub chat inspires thoughts on community, how Brazilian resilience fuels creativity, and how a badly translated menu becomes a lesson in empathy. Expect articles served with a big dose of playful curiosity, hard-won empathy, and lighthearted self-awareness (thanks, Ireland, for the masterclass in dry wit!). No jargon, just genuine, globe-trotting insights shared like a good chat over coffee… or a cafezinho (old habits die hard!). Let’s explore this wild, wonderful world of ideas together. Stick around—the stories are ready, and the kettle's always on (an Irish habit I happily brought back!).