JKI Brand Studio · Salida, Colorado
OurJKI Brand Studios creates strategic visual systems for the next generation of beverage brands — built in the Colorado Rockies and designed to move product in the real world.
Based in Salida, Colorado, JKI is an independent design studio led by James Kennedy, a creative director and brand founder with more than 25 years of experience across CPG, packaging, brand systems, and retail storytelling.
A brand that can't be explained in one sentence isn't ready for the shelf. We start where most studios don't — with positioning.
We map the category, define the occasion, and identify the whitespace before a single visual decision is made. Strategy is not a phase — it is the foundation every other decision is built on.
What we do herePackaging is a two-second argument. Everything on the label — the hierarchy, the color, the type — either wins that argument or loses it.
We design packaging systems that are production-ready, shelf-tested, and built to scale — from logo and visual identity through print-ready mechanicals and co-packer coordination.
What we do hereGetting on shelf is a sales problem. We build the tools that make that conversation easy — from the sell sheet to the trade show booth.
We create the full suite of retail and sell-in assets — sell sheets, buyer decks, retail launch kits, POS, shelf talkers, investor materials, and trade show graphics. Everything a brand needs to walk into a buyer meeting ready.
What we do hereMost brands don't need a CMO on payroll. They need one in their corner — for the decisions that actually move the needle.
Fractional creative and strategic support for brands in growth mode. Retailer resets, new SKU launches, seasonal campaigns, vendor coordination, and expansion decisions — handled with the same depth as a full-time hire, without the overhead.
What we do hereWe publish intelligence reports, trend analysis, and regulatory tracking built specifically for beverage professionals — operators, buyers, developers, and brand builders. The same intelligence that informs our work, available directly.
Explore Intelligence Tools