Office Tour: How Burnkit designed its Railtown studio around ideas

Perched on the east side of Vancouver’s historic Railtown District, branding and design agency Burnkit’s studio is designed to do one thing well: bring people together around ideas.

The studio—celebrating its 25th anniversary this year—operates out of a converted mid-century warehouse, reimagined by Vancouver-based BattersbyHowat Architects as a mostly open and fluid workspace that retains its industrial character. For founder Josh Dunford, the physical environment is essential to the creative process.

 

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Pointing to the giant central wall of ideas—covered in printed logos, design concepts, type treatments and catalog spreads, all displayed for clients (including Ballet BC, the Audain Art Museum, the BC Parks Foundation and the Vancouver Art Gallery) and team members to review instead of relying solely on a presentation screen—Dunford says: 

“We actually find having a physical space, having work up, standing back, stepping forward—that’s really nice,” he says. “It’s good for us internally in every way we use it. And then it’s great for our clients too. They’ll come down here through a whole arc of thinking… it helps people make decisions and get to the good ideas.” 

A sky-blue staircase makes an immediate impression at the entrance, rising toward a round skylight that fills the space with natural light. Nearby, a cluster of Bocci lights hangs overhead, casting a soft glow above a low sofa where team members and clients often gather. Just beyond, the long lunch table acts as the studio’s everyday hub—a place for casual chats, quick reviews and shared meals—underscoring Burnkit’s focus on bringing people together. 

The layout, too, supports that openness. Accounts and digital teams work on one side, while the design team anchors the other end, creating distinct zones while keeping everyone connected through common spaces. 

Upstairs, a private boardroom offers space for presentations and hybrid meetings. 

“It’s nice to have a space where you can close the door and just set up with a large screen for presenting,” the founder says. “It’s adapted nicely for sort of modern, remote style,” explains Dunford, whose team observes a hybrid schedule.  

Taken together, the studio reflects Burnkit’s core philosophy: creative work happens best when people can see it, question it and build on it together.