UDRA STUDIO

Celebrating the voices
of the Galician seas

Development of the visual identity for UDRA, a secluded creative space in Bueu, Galicia. The aim was to redefine its perception, transforming UDRA from a private family home into a distinguished hub for creativity in the international scene.

The space seamlessly integrates a music studio and artist residency, a boutique B&B, and a venue for cultural events. The identity captures the soul and culture of the Galician sea, preserving marks at risk of disappearing by translating them into a written and accessible language.

The visual identity is inspired by its location and by the maritime culture of southern Galicia, which is deeply connected to the Atlantic Ocean and the traditions of the Ría de Pontevedra. For centuries, fishing has shaped the town’s identity, economy, and daily life.

In Galicia, the sea is not only a livelihood but also a heritage passed down through generations. In Bueu, this legacy lives on through its fishing guilds, seafood markets, boat-building traditions, and community festivals that celebrate the close relationship between people and the ocean.

Since UDRA stands on a cape facing the sea, its identity is built around a typeface inspired by the marks used by sailors from A Guarda. A custom typeface was developed, reinterpreting these traditional symbols as alternative glyphs within a cohesive typographic system.

In parallel, over 300 marks were redrawn to create an iconographic system applied across digital, print, and spatial design, resulting in a flexible identity that translates vernacular heritage into contemporary typography.

Based on the original inscription methods, geometric strokes were softened with rounded corners, echoing the wear of wood and granite. A modular grid was developed to ensure legibility and versatility while preserving their original character.

The sailor marks of A Guarda, Galicia, are simple, geometric symbols historically used to sign boats, tools, and personal belongings. Originating in a largely illiterate community, these unique marks served as family identifiers passed down through generations, forming a distinctive part of the region’s maritime cultural heritage.

All the research conducted points to an identity rooted in the location and maritime culture of southern Galicia. This identity shapes Udra’s creative space in Bueu, providing a cohesive visual language that allows it to communicate effectively across its music studio, artist residency and cultural events.

The art direction plays a key role in grounding the project in its local context, reinforcing the overall intention of the typographic language.

To support this, four chapters (Journey, House, Artists, and Local Culture) have been developed to structure the narrative, with photography helping to bring each chapter to life.