Based in Curitiba, Brazil, Cyla runs her studio with a global footprint—speaking at conferences, painting large-scale pieces, and collaborating with clients around the world. Her style is known for its handcrafted detail and meticulous letterforms.

A Journey Drawn in Letters

Cyla’s path was shaped by a deep, academic love for letterforms. She studied Graphic Design at UFPR in Brazil, continued in Barcelona at EINA and Elisava, and completed additional studies at Cooper Union in New York—an arc that refined her eye for type and the tactile beauty of lettering. Today, that training shows up in the versatility of her output and the craft in every curve.

Her studio began as a one-woman operation in her hometown and has grown through thoughtful collaborations. Over more than a decade working with type, she’s become a reference in her field—praised for vibrant palettes and an ability to switch visual languages without losing her voice.

What Fills Cyla’s Cup

Cyla thrives on exploration. She describes the early stages of projects as a playground—space to experiment before constraints kick in—and encourages her team to create “more freely and experimentally” to unlock better ideas.

Personal projects are a core part of that practice; her color font Juma began as a self-driven exercise and went on to win multiple awards. Murals, too, are a long-running passion that lets her “free [her] hand” at a massive scale.

That blend of curiosity and discipline has been recognized by peers and institutions: her work has received honors from Communication Arts, the Brazilian Graphic Design Biennial, and Type Directors Club.

DIA x Cyla: La Chula

Our collaboration with Cyla comes to life on La Chula, a medium roast with notes of melon, allspice, and dark chocolate. The bag art—designed and hand-painted—brings Cyla’s precise lettering and vibrant sensibility to a coffee that’s smooth, complex, and proudly rooted in Latin American craft. It’s a match of flavor and form: bold, detailed, and unmistakably handmade.

Selected Works & Clients

Cyla’s portfolio spans global brands and cultural institutions, including Google, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Penguin Random House, &Walsh, Nissan, Kimberly-Clark, Workman Publishing, and Hachette Book Group—alongside editorial, packaging, and identity projects that keep letters center stage.

No-Nonsense Notes for Creatives (from Cyla)

• Protect the exploratory phase. Great outcomes start with unpressured play—give your ideas room to stretch before the brief snaps them into shape.
  
• Make personal work non-negotiable. Side projects build skill, attract the right clients, and keep curiosity alive. (Juma is proof.)
  
• Grow the studio at your pace. Cyla ran solo for years, then expanded her team to focus more on creative direction—when it made sense.
  
• Balance in seasons. Especially as a parent, balance is dynamic; some “imbalance” is part of a balanced life. Prioritize with intention.
  

Why We Partner with Latin Artists

At DIA, great coffee is culture—grown in volcanic soil, traded fairly with farmers and co-ops, and wrapped in stories told by Latin American artists like Cyla. Every bag is an invitation to taste (and see) the craft.

Quick Bio

• Discipline: Graphic Design & Lettering
  
• Base: Curitiba, Brazil
  
• Specialties: Branding, book covers, editorial, advertising, murals
  
• Education: UFPR (Brazil); EINA & Elisava (Barcelona); Cooper Union (New York)
  
• Clients: Google, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Penguin Random House, &Walsh, Nissan, Kimberly-Clark, Workman, Hachette
  
• Find Cyla: Website/Portfolio & Recent Projects
  

Credits

Artist portraits and selected portfolio images © Cyla Costa. Used with permission. (wearefido.org)