About Us
Over 25 Years of Signage, Branding and Illustration Experience
Kristian Studios exists at the intersection of architecture, branding storytelling, and strategy.
Founded by Kristian Key, the studio brings together decades of experience in architectural signage, wayfinding consulting, historic preservation, and hand-rendered illustration. This is not a traditional design studio—and that’s intentional. Every project begins with a deeper question: How do we help people understand, navigate, and believe in a place before it’s fully realized?
What We Do
We help developers, architects, and communities bring clarity and vision to complex environments—especially those rooted in history, transformation, and adaptive reuse.
Our work lives in three core areas:
Architectural Illustration
Hand-drawn, pen-and-ink illustrations that communicate vision with warmth and authenticity. These are not just renderings—they are storytelling tools used to build consensus, secure approvals, and “sell the dream” to stakeholders and communities.
Signage & Wayfinding Consulting
Strategic planning and design of interior and exterior signage systems that align brand, architecture, and user experience. From early programming through implementation, we ensure environments are intuitive, compliant, and cohesive.
Historic Preservation & Section 106 Support
Visual documentation and interpretive materials that support preservation efforts, tax credit narratives, and Section 106 reviews. We bridge technical requirements with compelling visuals that help projects move forward.
How We Think
Most firms start with design.
We start with understanding.
Understanding the history of a place.
Understanding the people it serves.
Understanding the constraints—and the opportunity inside them.
For Architects and Developers
We work proactively to translate complexity into clear, visual language that decision-makers can act on.
Different Project Types, Same Approach
Whether its a new development, renovation or in adaptive reuse and historic preservation, this approach is critical. Projects don’t move forward on technical documentation alone—they move forward when people can see what’s possible and the expectations are in black and white.
Experience That Delivers
What we bring to the Table
With over 15 years in architectural signage, consulting, and project delivery, Kristian has worked across corporate, healthcare, hospitality, and mixed-use environments nationwide.
That background brings a practical edge to every project:
- Designs that consider real-world fabrication and budgets
- Strategies that align with developer timelines and approvals
- Solutions that scale across multi-site programs
This is not just about creating something that looks good—it’s about creating something that works.
Our Services
We offer a wide range of signage and wayfinding consultation services. Contact us today to learn more!