Raphael Castillo, known as RAPRUESIGN, is only 24 years old but already has a well-defined artistic vision. Born and raised in Vancouver with Filipino roots, he has gained attention for his mixed-media animations and digital collages, but his work also embraces video editing, concept covers, posters, and t-shirt design. His is a total creativity, rooted in a passion born in childhood, when he never stopped scribbling on any sheet of paper within reach.
Growing up in the early 2000s, as stated on his website, Raphael absorbed that colorful, over-the-top visual world made of NBA, music, video games, and streetwear. Old Nike commercials, PS2 game covers, vintage posters: these were his first teachers, models that still echo in his visual imagination today. An aesthetic infused with pop energy and nostalgia that he has transformed into a personal, recognizable language, deeply connected to sports and music culture.
Before making a name for himself with his mixed animations, RAPRUESIGN’s work was almost entirely for himself: posters and t-shirts created for his own space and taste. Then came the first requests, the first clients, and above all social media, where with daily content he began building a loyal community of fans.
Today Raphael can already boast collaborations with giants such as NBA, NFL, Disney, Wimbledon, the Boston Celtics, and even Lewis Hamilton. Among these stands out his latest project for Nike, which involved him in a campaign connected to Just Do It (which we discussed here a few weeks ago), almost a full circle: from the 2000s ads that inspired him to becoming part of that visual universe. A recognition that confirms his ability to transform pop culture into vibrant and dynamic images, able to speak both to sports enthusiasts and design lovers.
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