Ryan Crown
Founder · Creative Director
In their own words
It’s not everyday that you get to do a project on a luxury dog hotel.
Dogs are instinctive and expressive, so we tried to reflect that in the line work, keeping things slightly imperfect, a bit more textured and focused on movement.
We liked the idea that one feels like the owner’s voice and the other feels like the dog’s.
This was a dream project for our studio. We were able to shape every layer – from strategy and interiors to brand and digital – which is where we do our best work.
What's surprised me most is just how creatively rich a smaller city like Belfast can be.
It's a place to tell stories, and that's exactly what I wanted to do: create bold, immersive brand experiences.
For us, everything starts with strategy. We're not chasing fleeting trends; we're crafting something that's built to last.
While tech is evolving, the need for strong creative thinking and brand strategy is still at the core of what we do.
Design and interiors develop hand in hand.
Hospitality needs to take people on a journey through narrative and experience.
Articles & interviews
- The loveable line drawings of this dog hotel brand identity take cues from The New Yorker’s illustrations
Crown Creative has designed a charming brand identity for Barkhouse, a luxury dog hotel in New York City. The Belfast-based studio drew inspiration from The New Yorker’s illustration style, combining playful line drawings with a dual-typeface system to represent both dogs and their owners. The result is a warm, characterful identity that balances refinement with personality.
- Crown Creative captures the Irish landscape’s quiet hum for Birch Cabins
Crown Creative developed the full brand and interior identity for Birch Cabins, a luxury retreat in Northern Ireland’s Florida Manor Estate. The project integrates strategy, naming, visual identity, interiors, and digital design to evoke the quiet atmosphere of the Irish landscape. The result is a cohesive expression of modern Irish luxury rooted in heritage and craftsmanship.
- "Cool Kids Redefine Creativity, Flock to Smaller Towns from Cities"
The article explores how rising rents and the rise of remote work are prompting UK creatives to leave major cities like London and Manchester for smaller towns. It highlights designers and creative directors who have relocated, finding renewed inspiration, community, and opportunity in regional areas. The piece frames this movement as a cultural shift revitalising towns such as Stockport, Hastings, and Nantwich.
- Crown Creative Revolutionizes Hospitality Branding with Emotion
Creative Boom profiles Crown Creative, a Belfast-born, New York-based studio known for its storytelling-driven hospitality branding. Founder Ryan Crown and his team discuss their evolution, philosophy, and major projects including The Dead Rabbit, Le Méridien, and Birch Cabins. The article highlights their strategy-first approach, global reach, and commitment to experience-led design.
- “The guest experience is so important.” Crown Creative on being immersed in the hospitality industry
The Brand Identity interviews Crown Creative’s Creative Director Ryan Crown about the studio’s multidisciplinary approach to hospitality design. Based in Belfast, London, and New York, the studio combines strategy, branding, and interiors for clients like The Dead Rabbit, Hilton, and St. Regis. Crown discusses the importance of guest experience, collaboration, and storytelling in creating immersive hospitality brands.