Studio Vico
Sylvia Hungria has always been drawn to the power of good design.
She grew up in a creative family in Brazil, with a grandfather who was a modernist architect (a colleague of Oscar Niemeyer, the designer of Brasilia) and a mother who’s a world-renowned botanical illustrator.
Surrounded by this rich artistic heritage, Sylvia’s curiosity about design started at a young age.
"I remember being fascinated by the simplest things — like the label on a bottle of Ajax cleaning product. I asked my mother 'Who designs these things? How do you design the label on it?", Sylvia recalls.
This early interest sparked a lifelong passion for design which eventually shaped her career.
Sylvia moved to Australia in 2002 to study Interior Design and Visual Merchandising. Her design career took off when she joined the now international brand T2 Tea in 2005 as the in-house graphic designer, where she honed her creative skills in branding, packaging design, and marketing.
In 2011, she took the leap to start her own studio, Studio Vico — named after her childhood nickname. Studio Vico is a design studio that blends Sylvia’s talents in graphic design, interior design, and visual merchandising to help businesses create meaningful brands. Her work spans a variety of industries, from fashion and food to beauty and beyond.
“Whether it’s designing packaging, creating brand identities, or developing marketing campaigns, I love the wide variety of briefs that come with owning my own studio,” Sylvia explains. “I meet so many interesting people and it's always inspiring to collaborate with clients to learn and create something magical together.”
But design isn’t just about work for Sylvia — it’s also about community.
In 2021, she was hired to rebrand the North & West Melbourne Precinct Association, a project that allowed her to showcase the area’s unique identity.
"Having lived between North and West Melbourne for over 15 years, I'd become deeply connected to the area. This project was about telling a story, building relationships and a sense of collectiveness in my local neighbourhood."
Shortly after starting the project, she was honoured to be elected President of the Association. Together with her passionate team, she advocates for local growth and the wellbeing of businesses in the area.
"My work with the Precinct Association is a natural extension of my design practice. I think good design is all about creating something that works and connects with people. It has the power to bring communities together and support businesses in meaningful ways."
Looking ahead, Sylvia is excited to continue growing both Studio Vico and her work with the Precinct Association.
“I’m always looking for new ways to evolve as a designer and to support our local businesses,” she says. Whether she’s working on a new branding project or supporting a local initiative, Sylvia’s goal is always the same: to make a positive impact through design.
In everything she does, Sylvia is proof that design is not just about what things look like — it’s about how it makes people feel, and how it helps communities thrive.
Studio Vico
