JKBA is an award-winning boutique architectural practice based in the heart of Wellington. Led by Judi Keith-Brown—a registered architect and former President of the New Zealand Institute of Architects—the studio focuses on creating deep personal connections between people and their spaces. Judi’s process is uniquely tactile; she still works primarily on a drawing board with very little computer input. My challenge was to create a brand identity and digital presence that reflected this craft-led approach while maintaining the warmth of a small, intimate studio. Since Judi also happens to be my mum, the stakes for getting this right were naturally a bit higher than your average client brief.

My role was to rethink the entire visual language, spanning the brand identity, print collateral, and digital touchpoints. I first tackled the brand in 2016 and returned in 2021 to lead the second iteration of the website. The process was incredibly collaborative, anchored in a "less is more" philosophy that mirrored Judi’s architectural style. We moved away from cluttered layouts toward a minimalist, grid-based digital home that allowed the photography of finished builds to do the heavy lifting. To bring her personality into the brand, I drew inspiration from her habit of sketching a vase of flowers within kitchen or living room elevations to bring them to life. I wanted this character to flow through the entire identity, balancing technical rigour with an inviting, hand-crafted feel.

The result is a cohesive, colourful, and playful identity that has matured alongside the practice. The refreshed website serves as a sophisticated portfolio that captures both Judi’s industry leadership and her hands-on approach. By translating the feeling of receiving one of her hand-drawn floor plans into a digital environment, we created a space that feels as considered and warm as the homes she designs.