The Spirit of Andor
You might have noticed that things look a little different around here. This summer, I took a holiday to hone in on the essence of this studio. I’ve been in the branding business for over 11 years, but oftentimes, while I would painstakingly craft bespoke and strategic brands and websites for my clients, my own branding slipped through the cracks. So this summer, while living in Lisbon, I decided to take a dedicated work retreat in Lake Como. The plan was simple: hole up in a rental a la “The Holiday”, sip bottled Aperol spritzes, unwind by the pool, and spend my afternoon hours researching and discovering who this studio really was.
The apartment pool…spent most of my time here
My quaint bedroom in Lake Como
Before I had left for my trip, I had a lucky stroke of inspiration. At the time, I lived in a flat in Lisbon on the seventeenth floor. This meant I had the most insane view of the entire city. While I would sip my morning coffee and lounge before the work day, I would watch several barn swallows dance across the sky, joyfully soaring through the brilliant blue sky. I loved watching those birds throughout the day. During my time in the city, I noticed a recurring motif of ceramic barn swallows on the outside of people’s homes. I knew Bordallo Pinheiro was a famed surrealist ceramicist in Portugal, and assumed the decorations were merely kitsch. But while sitting and watching the birds one morning, I decided to look it up. This article from Nat Geo (which stays permanently pinned in my phone's Safari tabs) told the sweet story behind these decorations.
The view from my living room in Lisbon, PT
According to the article, Swallows hang out in Portugal for some of the same reasons humans do: warm weather and great food. And when the weather gets chilly, or the food source runs out, they fly south. But here’s the amazing thing about these birds: they always return to the first nest they built. So if a barn swallow graces your house with a nest, they will return with the same mate year after year.
During wartime, this bird became a symbol of luck and of hope. If a loved one was sent away to fight, the family hung a bird on their walls to ensure they would return home safely. Now the bird is gifted as graduation gifts, housewarming presents, and as a token of celebration. Whatever life brings you, you will always have a home, and you will always reunite with family.
Feeling the finality of my time in Lisbon, the sight of the swallows offered a powerful truth: there is an inherent path to return. The landscape may be altered, and you, the traveler, will have evolved. But the deepest truth remains: home is a deliberate creation, a space built to extend its welcome without condition. This was what inspired the name of the studio, STUDIO ANDOR.
At STUDIO ANDOR, we believe true luxury is found in the timeless and the deeply personal. Our name, “ANDOR,” is a tender nod to the Portuguese andorinha, the swallow—a cherished symbol of home, enduring commitment, and the eternal return to what truly matters. Just as these graceful birds navigate vast distances only to always find their way back, we guide our clients in crafting brand identities that are both expansive in their reach and deeply rooted in their essence.
The swallow’s journey speaks to a legacy, a timeless elegance that transcends fleeting trends. This is the very heart of our design philosophy: to create brand identities, strategies, and custom websites that aren’t just visually stunning but are built to stand the test of time, fostering deep connection and unwavering recognition.
ANDOR also subtly echoes “and/or,” a reflection of our comprehensive yet flexible approach. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, we embrace the multifaceted nature of your vision, exploring every avenue to unearth the unique narrative that sets your brand apart. We are here to help you define and/or redefine your presence, ensuring your story is told with unparalleled sophistication and impact.
