About the studio
The soul behind KOROOTS.
I am Marije Richards — explorer, creator and designer of worlds. A free spirit, a life optimist, and the eye behind KOROOTS Studio.
KOROOTS is about reconnecting with the essence and soul of places — the raw beauty of local communities, the deep-rooted spirit of cultural heritage, and the quiet dialogue between nature, people and architecture.
With over eight years of experience in high-end interior architecture and more than twenty years of off-the-beaten-path travel — solo journeys, time spent with indigenous communities, sourcing trips through Asia, and deep immersion into local cultures — I bring a designer's eye into content creation and brand storytelling.
Atmosphere, composition, emotion and identity are woven into visuals designed not only to look beautiful, but to make people feel something.
Because in today's world, people rarely connect first through a physical space. They connect through perception. A website, a photograph, a short video, a Google Maps listing or an Instagram page often becomes the very first emotional introduction to a place, a restaurant, a stay, a craftsman or a concept.
And yet, so many beautiful businesses remain invisible online. Not because the quality is lacking — but because the soul behind the work is never truly translated into image and story.
"That is where KOROOTS comes in."
I work with conscious stays and communities, hospitality concepts, craftsmen, designers, family businesses and experience-driven brands who create from the heart. People who pour their soul into what they create — but often don't know how to visually communicate that feeling online.
KOROOTS helps translate:
- —craftsmanship into atmosphere
- —quality into emotion
- —places into stories
- —experiences into visuals
- —vision into identity
Not through artificial marketing, but by making what is already there truly visible. Because branding, to me, is not about pretending to be something else — it is about revealing the essence that already exists beneath the surface.
A beautiful space deserves to be felt before someone even arrives. A restaurant deserves to communicate its warmth before the first dish is served. A stay deserves to evoke emotion before the booking is made. A craftsman deserves to have his years of dedication translated into image, texture and atmosphere.
A small example
Grotto Efra — Sonogno, Ticino.
"A stone table, a dish made with local products, a glass of red wine... all accompanied by the sounds of lush, wild nature. A few steps from the center of Sonogno, in the shade of centuries-old maple trees, the historic Grotto Efra is ready to welcome you."
The soul was there. The atmosphere was there. The experience was real — but visually, almost none of it existed online. After translating the textures, warm light, food and quietness of the place into cinematic imagery, the experience finally became visible. Visitor numbers grew naturally — through word-of-mouth and the kind of trust only authentic atmosphere can create.
Approach
Worlds, not just visuals.
- —Real environments and natural light, never staged.
- —A designer's eye for atmosphere, composition and emotional identity.
- —Mobile-first & hybrid setup: iPhone 15 Pro Max, DJI Osmo, Drone, Canon + Tamron.
- —Edited in Photoshop, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut and Canva.