Studio DADO

Studio Dumbar2023ProjectInterview

23 Oct

Project

Studio DADO

A brand built at sea sets its sights on land.

Studio DADO, an acclaimed interior design firm renowned for its
work in the cruise industry, partnered with Motto as it expanded
into land-based hospitality. Motto clarified the brand's philosophy and aligned its business goals with a more intentional, human-centered
design approach. This resulted in a new identity, voice, and rallying
cry that centres on the belief that great design begins with how
a space makes you feel.

Published
October 2025

Agency
Motto

Studio DADO's success in designing for cruise lines was undisputed, yet they faced a significant hurdle entering the land-based hospitality sector. The quality of their work spoke for itself in pitch meetings, but getting those meetings in the first place proved challenging. They required a more distinct market position and a unified brand narrative to articulate their differentiating approach. Their objective was simple: drive growth by making their unique story clearer and more intentional, not by altering their core identity.

The project started with deep discovery. Using stakeholder interviews, strategic workshops, brand and competitive audits, and social listening, the team immersed itself in DADO's operations. They quickly found a powerful emotional thread: DADO designs for how people move, connect, and feel,
not for aesthetics alone. The studio simply needed a clear
and intentional way to articulate this existing, core philosophy.

The brand strategy was built on the powerful idea that interior design should emotionally resonate with those who experience it. The agency helped give language to the deep-seated instinct that had always guided the firm, formalising
a philosophy rooted in empathy.

The resulting concept, “Form Follows Feeling,” challenges traditional thinking by stating that a space's success lies in
how it makes people feel, not just how it looks or functions. This philosophy became more than a catchphrase; it is now
the brand's core purpose, directing how DADO approaches every design, business decision, and opportunity for growth.

The team designed Studio DADO's new visual identity to mirror the emotional richness of its work. The updated visual language features a layered colour palette that shifts between warm and cool tones, reflecting a wide spectrum of feelings. Gradients add energy and depth, serving as a visual metaphor
for emotion in motion.

Furthermore, the refined logo incorporates softened curves
for warmth and enhanced legibility. This emotional intention extends to the art direction, which prioritises the human experience.

Imagery highlights real people in real spaces, using intimate cues, like a shadow on a wall or a book on a bed to evoke "spaces lived deeply." These quiet moments suggest lives unfolding just beyond the frame: spaces rich with feeling
and story, designed by humans, for humans.

The new website embodies Studio DADO's commitment to intentional design, mirroring the quality of the spaces they create. Built specifically to support their push into land-based hospitality, the digital platform elevates the core philosophy
of “Form Follows Feeling.”

It achieves this balance of emotion and utility through immersive visuals, strategic copywriting, and a structured layout that builds credibility. The site serves as a layered, human, and expressive brand experience that consistently reflects the belief that design should profoundly move its audience.