Rafael is a writer and creative director currently working at Wieden+Kennedy São Paulo. He is also the co-founder of nada.co studio.
About
Rafael likes to make stuff.
Born and raised in Brazil, he is a creative director, writer, musician, and game designer based in NYC.
After learning how to weaponize his obvious ADHD, he worked for over a decade with some of the biggest companies and artists in the world on a variety of multidisciplinary projects.
Across his career, Rafael has earned over 200 international awards and recognitions. His work brought Wieden+Kennedy São Paulo its first Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, and Guinness World Records accolades. In his first season at W+K New York, he led the team that brought the office its first Titanium Lion with the biggest global campaign of the year.
After an 11-year tenure at one of the biggest creative agencies in the world, he decided to see what else is out there. He now leads his own creative studio and focuses on his own projects, also lending a hand to agencies like Droga5, BBDO, and other studios & artists.
Rafael co-founded Sad Socket, a game studio that gained notoriety in the indie scene and sold over 1 million copies of its experimental games. The studio's first title was the biggest Brazilian launch in history, amassing millions of sales, 97% positive reviews and ranking on top of the best indie games of the year. As lead designer, he and the six-member team are currently working on one of the most anticipated indie titles of 2026.
Rafael also writes songs of questionable taste ever since he was a kid. Under the alter ego Late Again, he is currently nurturing a small indie pop career with a dozen tracks released, a North America tour, and a few million plays on Spotify (nowhere near enough plays to pay for the tour’s gas, mind you).
Rafael Melo
hi@melo.work
New York, NY
Awards and recognitions
(Full list here)
CANNES LIONS
Titanium - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Gold - Film Craft - Dark Chocolate Humor - Lacta 5Star
Silver - Creative Effectiveness - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Silver - PR - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Silver - Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Bronze - Creative Strategy - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Bronze - Media - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Bronze - Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Bronze - Entertainment - P.T.E.N.M.R.C.I.T.F.H.T.B - Old Spice
Shortlist - Media - Obstructed Brews - Coors Light
Shortlist - Media - Obstructed Brews - Coors Light
Shortlist - Creative Effectiveness - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Shortlist - PR - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Shortlist - Creative Strategy - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Shortlist - Design - BudMag - Budweiser
Shortlist - Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Shortlist - Entertainment - P.T.E.N.M.R.C.I.T.F.H.T.B - Old Spice
CLIO
Gold - Integrated - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Out Of Home - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Social Media - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Medium Innovation - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Music - The World is Yours to Take - Budweiser
Gold - Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Gold - Digital - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Silver - PR - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Silver - Sports PR - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Silver - Social Media - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Silver - Experience - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Silver - Design - Budmag - Budweiser
Silver - Design - Vinyl Coasters - Budweiser
Silver - Collaboration - Vinyl Coasters - Budweiser
Bronze - Ambient - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Bronze - Effectiveness - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Bronze - Design - Budmag - Budweiser
Bronze - Branded Content - Budmag - Budweiser
Bronze - Experience - Vinyl Coasters - Budweiser
Merit - Direct - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Merit - Social Media - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Merit - Collaboration - Vinyl Coasters - Budweiser
ONE SHOW
Silver - Social Media - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Silver - Film Innovation - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Silver - Digital Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Silver - Interactive & Online - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Silver - Animation - Dark Chocolate Humor - Lacta 5Star
Bronze - Out of Home - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Bronze - Cinematography - Future - Nubank
Bronze - TV/Cinema Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Merit - Entertainment - Yours To Take - Budweiser
Merit - Effectiveness - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Merit - PR - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Merit - Writing - Future - Nubank
D&AD
Graphite - Original Composition - Yours To Take - Budweiser
Wood - PR - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Wood - Film Innovation - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Wood - Digital Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Merit - Entertainment - P.T.E.N.M.R.C.I.T.F.H.T.B - Old Spice
Shortlist - Art Direction - Future - Nubank
Guinness World Records
Longest Commercial Ever Made - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
the CREATIVE CLUB (BRAZIL)
Grand Prix - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Integrated - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - PR - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Design - BudMag - Budweiser
Gold - Writing - Future - Nubank
Gold - Original Soundtrack - Yours To Take - Budweiser
Gold - Photography - Future - Nubank
Gold - Digital - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Gold - Film (Campaign) - Dark Chocolate Humor - Lacta 5Star
Gold - Film Craft (Campaign) - Dark Chocolate Humor - Lacta 5Star
Silver - Art Direction - Budmag - Budweiser
Silver - Real Time Response - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Silver - Direction - Future - Nubank
Silver - Film - If You Love Your Friend - Old Spice
Silver - Digital - Naked Hour - Sprite
Silver - Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Silver - Film (Campaign) - Fresh Drops - Sprite
Silver - Animation - Fresh Drops - Sprite
Silver - PR - The Last Lot - Halls
Silver - Digital - The Last Lot - Halls
Bronze - Social - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Bronze - Direct - Vinyl Coasters - Budweiser
Bronze - Entertainment - Horror Fest - Fanta
Bronze - Direct/Promo - Naked Hour - Sprite
Bronze - Film - Wave Man - Old Spice
Bronze - Film - The Lobster - Elo
Bronze - Film (Campaign) - 5Star Trilogy - Lacta 5Star
Bronze - Digital - 5Star Trilogy - Lacta 5Star
Bronze - Content - 5Star Trilogy - Lacta 5Star
Bronze - Content - P.T.E.N.M.R.C.I.T.F.H.T.B - Old Spice
Bronze – Film – Amigos - Old Spice
Bronze – Film – Terry vs. Dubber - Old Spice
Merit - Radio - Vinyl Coasters - Budweiser
Merit - Branded Content - Budmag - Budweiser
Merit - Film - Yours to Take - Budweiser
Merit - Editing - Yours to Take - Budweiser
Merit - Direction - Future - Nubank
Merit - Film - Future - Nubank
Merit - Photography - Future - Nubank
Merit - Digital - Rumble - W+K
Merit - Direct/Promo - Rumble - W+K
Merit - Direct/Promo - Same or Better - Fanta
Merit - Film - Health Like No One Else - dr.consulta
Merit - Digital - 48h Live Challenge - Old Spice
Merit - PR - Touch Your Deodorant - Old Spice (CD)
Merit – Digital – The Last Lot - Halls
Merit – Film – The Last Lot - Halls
Merit - Film - High Five - Old Spice
ANDY AWARDS
Grand Prix - Sports - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Grand Prix - Direct - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Direct - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Effectiveness - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - PR - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Events - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Gold - Digital Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Silver - Digital - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Silver - Events - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Silver - PR - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Silver - Digital/Sports - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Bronze - Ambient - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Bronze - Social Media - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Bronze - Ambient Experience - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Bronze - Digital Experience - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Bronze - Film - Dark Chocolate Humor - Lacta 5Star
Andy Awards
Gold - Idea - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Bravery - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Gold - Idea - P.T.E.N.M.R.C.I.T.F.H.T.B - Old Spice
Shorty awards
Audience Honor - Industry - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Winner - Industry - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Winner - Global Campaign - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Winner - Launch Campaign - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Winner - Real Time Response - Bring Home The Bud - Budweiser
Wave Festival
Grand Prix - Film Innovation - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Gold - Digital - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Gold - Film - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Gold - Film Innovation - The Endless Ad - Old Spice
Gold - Film (Campaign) - Dark Chocolate Humor - Lacta 5Star
Gold - Entertainment - P.T.E.N.M.R.C.I.T.F.H.T.B - Old Spice
Bronze - Film (Campaign) - 5Star Trilogy - Lacta 5Star
Bronze - Digital - 5Star Trilogy - Lacta 5Start
Young Lions Brazil
2017' Delegate
GAMESCOM
Game of the Year - 9 Kings - Nominee - 2024
Official Selection (Brazil) - Ending Tau - Winner - 2024