The name comes from the way I believe good branding should be created.
Before we decide how a brand should look, we need to understand what’s at its core: the heart of the business, why it exists, who it’s for, what it offers, what makes it different and how it should make people feel.
Only once we understand that can we start giving those ideas a visual form: the logo, typography, colour, imagery, website and all the pieces people eventually see.
Core first. Form second.
Why is the studio called Core & Form?
I’m Roberta, designer, creative problem-solver and the person you’ll work with directly.
I help founders turn the ideas in their heads into brands and websites that feel clear, distinctive and genuinely like them.
No unnecessary jargon. No expecting you to arrive knowing exactly what you need. And no designing something just because it happens to be trendy this week.
Just thoughtful design, a clear process and plenty of conversation along the way.
Roberta,
your designer.
I graduated with a degree in Communication Design in Lisbon in 2005. But my career hasn’t followed one straight line.
Alongside design, I’ve worked in project management and data analytics roles within big tech and pharmaceutical companies. Those experiences shaped how I approach projects, organise the work and look after the people I work with.
Since starting my business in 2020, I’ve brought those skills together at Core & Form: creative thinking supported by a clear process, careful planning and an understanding of what a business needs from its design.
I care about how your brand looks. I also care about how we get there, with clear communication, organised feedback and a project that feels manageable from start to finish.
A creative eye.
A business mindset.
Roberta x
When I’m not designing, you’ll probably find me reading, watching a crime documentary or disappearing down a spiritual rabbit hole.
Spirituality matters to me. So does kindness, in life, in business and when you’re working closely with someone on something that matters to them.
I care deeply about the work. I just don’t think we need to make things complicated to prove that.
I’m Portuguese, and after 14 years living in Ireland, home has come to mean more than one place. Wherever I am, family is at the centre of everything, especially my teenage daughter.
I’m happiest near the sea, preferably with sunshine and a very strong coffee. Black. No sugar. Always.
Books are my weakness. Typography is a close second. I also love art history and semiotics, how images, symbols and small details carry meaning. That curiosity finds its way into my clients’ brands: a subtle reference, a considered shape or a detail that quietly tells part of their story.