Craine Architecture

Brand Extension, Decoration, and Communication

About

Our work for Craine Architecture focused on a move to the Five-Points neighborhood in Denver. I helped with prototyping primary exterior signage, designing secondary window signage, fabrication and installation of two custom wall pieces for their front entrance area. The exterior signage is an evolution of their logo, adapting the form into three dimensions and simplifying it so it would translate to folded steel with intention and integrity. I helped with scaling, prototyping, and advising on the location of installation of the exterior signage to make sure it would be easily seen from the street while ensuring it didn’t interfere with the entrance.

For their front desk piece, Craine wanted something modest and custom that would speak to the neighborhood they just became a part of. My coworker John envisioned a simple map detailing the surrounding area that added dimension with materials such as acrylic and birch wood. I helped configure the best method for construction and advised all material direction. Together, we built and installed this one of a kind piece that the client was overjoyed with.

Window Graphics

The window graphics speak solely to process. As opposed to reiterating the name Craine or only repeating the logo my coworker John took the opportunity to expand the brand language and thought of the steps that go into folding a paper crane and the idea of Senbazuru (1,000 cranes for a wish). As people walk along the north or east elevation towards the entrance, the process folds alongside, leading to the 3D signage above the front door as the final step. I took the process laid out in sketch form and designed a series of graphic icons that had consistent line weights.

The Tool Wall

Lastly, Craine wanted to utilize a short entry wall separating the main entrance and the overall studio. Craine’s studio culture is very important to them so they wanted to turn this wall into a tool for communicating both internally with employees and externally with visitors and clients. I helped envision the overall layout of the wall, helped install the shelving units, laser cut and fabricated containers and imagined what the various tools to be. The final product is a clean and playful shelving system that allows several forms of both written and visual language. Whether you want to start a nerf gun fight with your coworker or suggest a good book to a client there are several options to stay in touch or boost moral. The main wall panels are CNC cut from 1/2” white corian and the insertable shelves from 3/4” pre-finished maple plywood.

Art Direction: Debra Johnson and Rick Griffith

Work completed through MATTER