Contact

London
+44 (0)20 8291 6801
Email

St. Louis
6161 Delmar Blvd, Suite 200
St. Louis, MO 63112 USA
+1 314 361 3110
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Profile

Kiku Obata & Company is a St. Louis and London based design consultancy specializing in identity, editorial and environmental design. Founded in 1977, the studio remains an intentionally small, design-led practice undertaking a diverse range of work in the fields of art, culture, commerce and the public realm.

We specialize in establishing an organization’s identity and visual language across all communications and physical environments with the greatest attention to detail. Our work is creatively-led, rigorously executed and rooted in a thorough understanding of a client’s intentions and a project’s context. The studio’s team is made up of graphic designers, architects and strategists who collaborate on multi-disciplinary projects that span media including print, digital and the built environment.

Contact

London
+44 (0)20 8291 6801
Email

St. Louis
6161 Delmar Blvd, Suite 200
St. Louis, MO 63112 USA
+1 314 361 3110
Email

Join our mailing list

Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter

Disciplines

  • Identity
  • Brand Strategy
  • Print
  • Wayfinding
  • Signage
  • Environments
  • Architecture
  • Retail
  • Campaigns
  • Packaging
  • Digital

People

Directors:

  • Kiku Obata
  • Kristen Malone

Designers:

  • Igor Karash
  • Amy Knopf
  • Sarah Newitt
  • Amelia Rista
  • Ashlie Wiegner

Architects:

  • Kevin Flynn
  • Melissa Harlan
  • Dennis Hyland
  • David Leavey
  • Kurt Sinclair

Environmental Graphic Designers:

  • Todd Mayberry
  • Jim Redington

Studio:

  • Mike Alsup
  • Karen Van Horn

Credits

© 2023 Kiku Obata & Company Photography: Carlos Jaramillo, Ross Mantle, Simon Menges, Mike Sinclair Site built by LLOS

Profile

Kiku Obata & Company is a St. Louis and London based design consultancy specializing in identity, editorial and environmental design. Founded in 1977, the studio remains an intentionally small, design-led practice undertaking a diverse range of work in the fields of art, culture, commerce and the public realm.

We specialize in establishing an organization’s identity and visual language across all communications and physical environments with the greatest attention to detail. Our work is creatively-led, rigorously executed and rooted in a thorough understanding of a client’s intentions and a project’s context. The studio’s team is made up of graphic designers, architects and strategists who collaborate on multi-disciplinary projects that span media including print, digital and the built environment.

Disciplines

  • Identity
  • Brand Strategy
  • Print
  • Wayfinding
  • Signage
  • Environments
  • Architecture
  • Retail
  • Campaigns
  • Packaging
  • Digital

Press & Awards

  • Tokyo Type Directors Club, Prize Nominee in Annual, 2020
  • The Type Directors Club of New York, Certificate of Typographic Excellence, 2018
  • Tokyo Type Directors Club, Prize Nominee in Annual, 2018
  • Print Magazine, Regional Award x 3, 2017
  • The Type Directors Club of New York, Certificate of Typographic Excellence, 2017
  • Dezeen, June 2016
  • It's Nice That, June 2016
  • Design Week Awards, Nomination, 2015
  • RDI, International Store Design Awards, Outstanding Merit, 2015
  • Presenting Shakespeare: 1,100 Posters from Around the World, 2015, Princeton Architectural Press
  • Women’s Wear Daily, January 2015
  • The New York Times, August 2011
  • American Planning Association, 10 Great Streets in America, 2011
  • American Planning Association, 10 Great Streets in America, 2009
  • Inc. Magazine, May 2008
  • SEGD, Honor Award, 2004
  • segdDesign Magazine, No.02, 2003
  • Print Magazine, Regional Award, 2002
  • SEGD, Award of Merit, 2000

Boards & Committees

  • Saint Louis Art Museum (2019–present)
  • St. Louis Public Library (2019–present)
  • Shakespeare Festival St. Louis (2001–2019)
  • Laumeier Sculpture Park (2014–2018)
  • The Whitaker Foundation (2011–2017)
  • AIA, Retail & Entertainment Committee, Chair (2011)
  • SEGD (2003–09)

Teaching & Lectures

  • AIA St. Louis
  • AIA Philadelphia
  • University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
  • AIA Convention, Atlanta
  • Kansas State University, Manhattan
  • AIA Convention, Miami
  • Washington University, St. Louis

Press & Awards

  • Tokyo Type Directors Club, Prize Nominee in Annual, 2020
  • The Type Directors Club of New York, Certificate of Typographic Excellence, 2018
  • Tokyo Type Directors Club, Prize Nominee in Annual, 2018
  • Print Magazine, Regional Award x 3, 2017
  • The Type Directors Club of New York, Certificate of Typographic Excellence, 2017
  • Dezeen, June 2016
  • It's Nice That, June 2016
  • Design Week Awards, Nomination, 2015
  • RDI, International Store Design Awards, Outstanding Merit, 2015
  • Presenting Shakespeare: 1,100 Posters from Around the World, 2015, Princeton Architectural Press
  • Women’s Wear Daily, January 2015
  • The New York Times, August 2011
  • American Planning Association, 10 Great Streets in America, 2011
  • American Planning Association, 10 Great Streets in America, 2009
  • Inc. Magazine, May 2008
  • SEGD, Honor Award, 2004
  • segdDesign Magazine, No.02, 2003
  • Print Magazine, Regional Award, 2002
  • SEGD, Award of Merit, 2000

Selected Clients

  • AltonWorks
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Base4 Innovation
  • BJC Healthcare
  • Beauty Brands
  • The Body Shop
  • Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
  • Caleres
  • CIM Group
  • CityArchRiver
  • City of Clayton
  • City of Mt. Sterling, IL
  • Colorado Rockies
  • Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
  • Danforth Plant Science Center
  • David Chipperfield Architects
  • Delmar Redevelopment District
  • Detroit Tigers
  • Disney
  • Dulles Intl. Airport
  • Gateway Foundation
  • Grand Ole Opry
  • Great Rivers Greenway
  • Harvard University
  • Indiana University Health
  • Indianapolis Museum of Art
  • Jazz St. Louis
  • Laumeier Sculpture Park
  • Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
  • Metro Nashville Arts Commission
  • Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
  • Newark Liberty Airport
  • New York Presbyterian Hospital
  • National Park Service
  • Oilily
  • Pulitzer Arts Foundation
  • Renault
  • Saint Louis Art Museum
  • Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
  • Shedd Aquarium
  • Stanford University
  • Starbucks
  • St. Louis Cardinals
  • STL CITY FC
  • St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
  • St. Louis Zoo
  • Target
  • Tsuruta Architects
  • Tyler Florence
  • UBS
  • Velvet Coat
  • Vornado Realty Trust
  • Washington University
  • Whole Foods Market

Credits

© 2023 Kiku Obata & Company Photography: Carlos Jaramillo, Ross Mantle, Simon Menges, Mike Sinclair Site built by LLOS