WHO WE ARE

We were pioneers in qualitative ethnographically-based research when we opened shop over 16 years ago. Today, we have nearly 300 projects under our belts, and have completed research across four continents. We have explored dozens of topics and industries, translated numerous languages and cultures, and found inspiration and meaning in the most unexpected places.

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Our strength is in our multi-disciplinary team of social psychologists, cultural anthropologists, documentary film makers, and brand strategists who work to design smart research, and actionable analysis.

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We believe passionately that finding the truth is a result of hard work, intelligent planning and an understanding that inspiration can often be unexpected and magical. We know that asking the right questions will help us peel away the extra layers in order to get to what matters to people at the deepest levels. At PortiCo, we take pride in getting the real story from real people's lives. And the real story defies expectations, provokes a questioning of one’s preconceptions, and often changes our clients' outlook.

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The PortiCo name was inspired by the spirit of the Italian Renaissance and the notion that knowledge is often gained by being on the right doorstep at the right time. The Renaissance was a time of discovery and innovation, when people sought to understand and explain their world in new and meaningful ways. In fact, Michelangelo himself handwrote the name of our company as it appears in our logo. While researching architecture books on the Renaissance years ago, Caroline fell in love with the master artist's calligraphic rendition of "portico" and what it stands for: a warm invitation to discovery, sense of adventure, genuineness and purpose.

As the complexity of modern living challenges us to develop new ways of engaging consumers and their world, we continue to draw inspiration from the inquiring spirit of the Renaissance.