REPUTATION
He has served as a creative secret weapon for some of the most influential luxury brands and independently wealthy industry leaders, with work ranging from globally recognized, to highly confidential. Clients continue to invest in him for his ability to align business goals with best-in-class creative—delivering work that advances brand equity, cultural relevance, and long-term value.
VISION
No matter the category or scope, the objective remains the same; uncover ownable stories, craft captivating identities that resonate with both culture and customers, and create brand worlds of thoughtfully designed moments with the power to romance audiences—positioning brands for immediate success and sustained growth.
EDUCATION
A formally trained Graphic Designer, he was a practitioner of the Swiss design process at The University of The Arts in Philadelphia, where he studied under Basel School of Design lineage. There he received a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design with honors, a minor in creative writing, and was the recipient of the Armin Hofmann award for Excellence in Graphic Design.
joegranatodesign@gmail.com
j.granato.com
@j.granato
Joe Granato is Executive Creative Director at King & Partners in New York City. He is a formally trained Graphic Designer, Brand Strategist, Creative Writer, and University Senior Lecturer. For more than a decade he has partnered with some of the world’s best luxury brands in the landscapes of hospitality, real estate, restaurant, and lifestyle. He has lead award winning design and copy teams at some of the most reputable agencies in NYC.
Select Clients
Ace Hotel
Atlantis Bahamas
Auberge Collection
Blue Bottle Coffee
Carbone
Corcoran
Fotografiska
Four Seasons
Grand Wailea
Hilton
Limelight Hotels
Major Food Group
Marriott
Morgans Hotel Group
Neuehouse
New York University
Nike
Pink Taco
Post Brothers
Related Ross
Samsung
Six Senses
The Boca Raton
The William Vale
Torrisi
Ursa Major
Verizon
Waldorf Astoria
Walmart
Zero Hash
Creative Expeditions Journal
For more than a decade, I’ve traveled the world in service to my clients, immersing myself in their distinct creative challenges, guest experiences, and competitive landscapes. My research and discovery process mirrors that of a cultural anthropologist—studying context, history, and story. To uncover ownable narratives and craft captivating identities, I first seek to understand every destination and asset through the eyes of the client, guest, and creative. The following spotlights some of those project expeditions.
Hualalai, Hawaii
Four Seasons
My team traveled to Four Seasons Hualalai on the big island of Hawaii with the goal of completely reimagining the two most important restaurants on property. Our first day was spent experiencing the property as a guest would, seeking to understand the dining experiences that are missing. The following days I spent in the Ka‘ūpūlehu Cultural Center, working side by side with some of their most trusted advisors on Hawaiian texts, in search of names, concepts, and graphic references for what would become the two newest restaurants on property.
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Tuscany, Italy
Villa Granato
Call it a labor of love—reimagining a historic villa in the rolling hills of Tuscany as Villa Granato for an extended weekend hosting friends and family for my own wedding. The experience became a deeply personal exercise in place-based storytelling, blending design, atmosphere, and emotion to transform the villa into something both intimate and intentional. For a few days, Villa Granato wasn’t just a location—it was a lived-in expression of love, memory, and the power of thoughtful reimagining rooted in place.
Archived Project
St. Simon Island, Georgia
The King & Prince Resort
At the outset of a new multi-year rebranding engagement, my team recently completed an immersive discovery trip and project kickoff at the historic King & Prince Hotel, spending focused time on property to understand its legacy, and lifestyle on St. Simons Island. This early, on-the-ground discovery set the foundation for a thoughtful rebrand rooted in legacy, luxury, and true sense of place, ensuring the work ahead honors the King & Prince’s storied past while positioning it confidently for its next chapter.
Coming Soon
Aspen, Colorado
Limelight Hotels
With three successful hotel properties in Aspen, Snowmass, and Ketchum, and three more under construction in Denver, Mammoth, and Boulder, Limelight Hotels was at a critical evolution intersection. They needed repositioning and rebrand to strategically assert themselves as the new leaders in adventure hospitality. We traveled to all hotel locations and conducted a multi-day discovery process and interviews. A homebase for every adventure. By seamlessly combining alpine charm with a touch of urban energy, we sought to redefine the casual luxury category.
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Boca Raton, Florida
The Boca Raton
Over the course of a multi-year partnership, I’ve spent extensive time on property at The Boca Raton, immersing myself in the rhythms, history, and evolving experience of this iconic 100-year-old destination. Through repeated on-site work during its complete rebrand, renovation, and reimagination, my team embedded alongside ownership, operators, architects, and guests—reimagining every touchpoint from arrival and service rituals to how different generations engage with the property’s distinct districts.
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London, United Kingdom
Borough Yards
Plenty of on-the-ground time in the historic neighborhoods of London deeply informed our work for the Borough Yards brand, balancing the site’s industrial heritage with its future as a contemporary destination for dining, retail, and gathering. On multiple trips I imbedded myself in the communities—moving between Borough Market, the railway arches, and the surrounding neighborhoods. My goal was to understand how people flowed through the area, how old and new London converged, and how culture, food, and craft define the district.
Archived Project
Paradise Island, Bahamas
The Cove, Atlantis
We began our work for The Cove Atlantis with an immersive discovery trip, embedding my team on property to experience the destination, service culture, and emotional nuances of the guest journey firsthand. Insights from this process shaped a refined brand positioning that elevated The Cove beyond a luxury resort to a secluded, design-forward sanctuary within Atlantis—calm, confident, and intentionally apart. This strategic foundation came to life through the new brand identity and an integrated campaign, A Paradise State of Mind.
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Napa Valley, California
Kingsmark Wine
During the concepting and branding of Kingsmark Wine, I spent meaningful time in Napa Valley, immersing myself in the vineyards, wine making process, and philosophy behind the products crafted by Philippe Melka. This on-the-ground presence informed a brand expression rooted in authenticity, restraint, and reverence for terroir, ensuring that every visual and narrative element reflected not just the finished wine, but the depth of intention behind it. A journey that lead to the Kingsmark receiving the highest rating in the history of kosher wine.
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Berlin, Germany
Fotografiska
Prior to the opening of Veronika’s second location in Berlin, my team spent significant time at Fotografiska in New York City, immersing itself in the cultural pulse of the space while developing the concept for Veronika. Working on property allowed the team to closely observe how art, dining, nightlife, and community intersect within Fotografiska, capturing the nuanced rhythms of the guest experience—from gallery transitions to late-night dining moments. These insights were instrumental in developing the Veronika brand.
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Dallas, Texas
Auberge Collection
This multi-year project has been rich with multiple discovery trips to Dallas’s vibrant Knox Street neighborhood. These immersive trips sought insights that were crucial for shaping both the neighborhood narrative and the hotel’s identity. From this foundation, we crafted a brand positioning that captures Knox Street as an intersection of contemporary luxury and authentic local character, and The Knox as the most interesting address in Dallas, a place where design-led hospitality meets the neighborhood’s dynamic lifestyle.
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Maui, Hawaii
Four Seasons
Across multiple projects at Four Seasons Resort Maui, I’ve been lucky to spent meaningful time on property, immersing myself in the cadence, culture, and guest experience that define this resort, most recently known for the location of White Lotus Season 1. Through repeated on-site visits, my team partnered closely with culinary, wellness, and hospitality leaders to shape the branding for the new sushi restaurant Komo, the launch of Kai Holo Spa, and a suite of custom illustrations that visualize guest moments across the property.
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Waterbury, Vermont
Ursa Major
During the rebranding and full product-line redesign for Ursa Major, I spent time at the brand’s office in Waterbury. Being on site allowed me to collaborate closely with the Ursa Major team—sitting in on product discussions, understanding formulation decisions, and absorbing the brand’s deeply held values around nature, wellness, and honesty. This close collaboration informed a thoughtful redesign that balanced refinement, ensuring the updated packaging system and visual language felt true to the brand’s roots while elevating it for its next phase of growth.
Archived Project