Kirsten Ulve

ProAvailable to hire

Illustrator and graphic designer specializing in iconic visual systems, large-scale environmental graphics, branding-adjacent illustration, and contemporary graphic storytelling.

About

Illustrator and graphic designer specializing in iconic visual systems, large-scale environmental graphics, branding-adjacent illustration, and contemporary graphic storytelling.

My work is known for emotionally resonant imagery, strong conceptual thinking, and scalable illustration systems adaptable across environmental graphics, product design, animation styling, and destination-based merchandise.

  • Joined July 2024

Languages

  • EnglishFluent

Industry experience

  • Media & Entertainment
  • Consumer Goods
  • Financial Services
  • Healthcare
  • Retail
  • Travel & Hospitality
  • Non-Profit Organization
  • Education
  • Professional Services
  • Other

Projects · 25

Public Awareness Campaign — HelpWanted Netherlands

Public awareness poster campaign created for HelpWanted in the Netherlands, developed to address online image sharing and digital consent awareness. The series combines bold character-driven storytelling, integrated typography, and contemporary graphic reduction across a system of large-scale public posters and digital applications. Developed as part of a nationwide awareness initiative for Dutch audiences. Created using vector illustration, custom lettering, and modular visual design principles to support scalable campaign deployment across multiple formats. graphicdesign campaigndesign posterdesign visualidentity typography vectorillustration editorialillustration publicart environmentalgraphics motiondesign branding graphicart contemporaryillustration illustrationartists artdirection visualcommunication characterdesign dutchdesign netherlandsdesign kirstenulve

  • Freelance Digital Illustrator
  • Illustrator
  • Poster Designer
Liberty — Large-Scale Hospitality Mural

Large-scale environmental mural created for the Livingston Hotel in Brooklyn, New York. Developed as a contemporary reinterpretation of the Statue of Liberty, the piece was designed to integrate with the hotel’s industrial architecture and communal lounge spaces through bold graphic reduction, symbolic form, and monochromatic texture. Originally developed for hospitality interiors as part of an ongoing series of large-scale environmental graphics for New York hotel properties.

  • Freelance Digital Illustrator
  • Illustrator
  • Poster Designer
Workbook Cover Illustration

Cover illustration created for Workbook, the premier commercial art and illustration sourcebook. Combining fashion-influenced figure work, geometric composition, and bold contemporary color. workbook commercialillustration coverillustration fashionillustration editorialillustration graphicdesign vectorillustration publicationdesign artdirection branding contemporaryillustration illustrator

  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator
The Zodiac Room Series – Textile Wall Hanging

The Zodiac Room Series is an ongoing collection of symbolic graphic works developed for hospitality, wellness, and interior environments, adapted across textile wall hangings, fine art prints, and decorative applications. hospitalitydesign textiledesign illustration wallhanging decorativeart surfacepatterndesign wellnessdesign interiordesign licensingart zodiacart

  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator
Times Square Hospitality Installation — Melia Hotels NYC

Large-scale architectural illustration created for the lobby of Melia Hotels in New York City. This hospitality installation reimagines Times Square through geometric signage, urban rhythm, and contemporary environmental graphics designed for immersive public interiors.

  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator
The Big Apple

Contemporary architectural portrait of New York City created for Meliá Hotels International. Originally developed for large-scale hospitality interiors as part of the brand’s international “Hero Artist” series. illustration graphicdesign hospitalitydesign interiordesign travelillustration cityscape

  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator
  • Poster Designer
Liberty – Landmark Edition

Large-format architectural print created for hospitality interiors and installed at the Livingston Hotel (Hyatt, Brooklyn). A minimal graphic reinterpretation of the Statue of Liberty designed as a statement-scale environmental artwork for contemporary public spaces. hospitalitydesign environmentalgraphics publicart installationart wallart illustration architecturalillustration placemaking hoteldesign contemporaryart

  • Freelance Digital Illustrator
  • Illustrator
  • Poster Designer
Rainy Girls, NYC

Fashion-inspired illustration created for Meliá Hotels International as part of the brand’s international “Hero Artist” campaign. Developed for hospitality guest rooms and interior environments, the piece combines graphic transparency, atmosphere, and contemporary lifestyle imagery in a bold editorial style. illustration fashionillustration editorialillustration artprint travelart graphicdesign boutiquehotel

  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator
Finger Lakes District — Brave Women Tourism Campaign

Award-winning tourism campaign illustration created for the Finger Lakes region’s “Brave Women FLX” initiative. Developed across print, environmental graphics, digital animation, and promotional materials, the campaign combined regional storytelling, lifestyle imagery, and contemporary graphic design to celebrate women-led travel, culture, food, and outdoor experiences throughout the Finger Lakes district. tourismbranding destinationmarketing illustration graphicdesign campaigndesign motiondesign environmentalgraphics travelillustration branding hospitalitydesign visualidentity editorialillustration digitalillustration placemaking artdirection

  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator
Public Market Center — Seattle

Illustration created for Dufry’s airport retail program, celebrating Seattle’s Public Market culture through layered environmental storytelling, local iconography, and placemaking-inspired design developed for large-scale travel and retail environments. Seattle PublicMarket Placemaking EnvironmentalGraphics DestinationBranding HospitalityDesign UrbanIllustration ArchitecturalIllustration TravelIllustration AirportDesign RetailDesign CityBranding ContemporaryIllustration Dufry KirstenUlve

  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator
Boston Harbor

Contemporary illustration created for Dufry’s Boston retail and travel environments, blending architectural landmarks, maritime history, and local culture into a stylized destination portrait. illustration travelillustration hospitalitydesign destinationbranding environmentalgraphics wallart graphicdesign retaildesign

  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator
Queens, New York

Destination illustration created for Dufry’s airport retail environments, capturing the cultural diversity, architecture, transit, and neighborhood energy of Queens through bold geometric composition and contemporary placemaking design. QueensNY NewYork DestinationBranding EnvironmentalGraphics Placemaking TravelIllustration UrbanIllustration ArchitecturalIllustration HospitalityDesign AirportDesign RetailDesign CityBranding ContemporaryIllustration Dufry KirstenUlve

  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator

Work experience· 13 roles

Artist · Livingston Hotel BrooklynJan 2026 – Present · 11 mos

Created large-scale Liberty installation for boutique hospitality interior.

Illustrator · Underground / Reliable Grid ProjectJan 2026 – Present · 11 mos

Created illustrated visual systems and animation keyframes for a large-scale infrastructure campaign.

Mural Designer/Illustrator · LaserAwayJan 2024 – Present · 2 yrs 11 mos

Designed custom large-scale mural installations for multiple clinic locations including Hoboken, Houston, and NYC.

Illustrator · Wynn Las VegasJan 2024 – Present · 2 yrs 11 mos
Illustrator · Live Nation / Brooklyn Paramount TheaterJan 2024 – Present · 2 yrs 11 mos
Designer · ITC Mall ShanghaiJan 2023 – Jan 2023 · 1 mo
Illustrator · La Poste FranceJan 2023 – Jan 2023 · 1 mo
Designer · Dufry / HudsonJan 2022 – Present · 4 yrs 11 mos

Education

BFA Drawing; BA Graphic Design · University of Iowa2030 – 2026

Certifications and awards

26 years of professional, full time experience as a freelance Illustrator2024

I've worked with a very broad range of international clientele over the years on an equally broad range of projects: advertising campaigns, product design, fashion and beauty illustration, caricature and portraiture.

Hire Kirsten Ulve today

Post a job and invite Kirsten, or contact them directly. No hidden commission.

Post a job