About the Studio
Refining the details that matter for over 20 years
Highly Refined Design is a woman-owned branding and design studio based in Gramercy, NYC. We work with independent businesses, professionals, and organizations on brand identity, websites, design, and communication. We bring the same care and attention to detail to every engagement, from building a brand from the ground up to helping an established organization communicate a complex idea. You’ll work directly with our founder throughout the process, with a collaborative approach that connects ideas and design.
About Christine Collister
Founder & Principal
I’m a graphic designer with more than two decades of experience in the field, much of which has been spent working with founders and senior leadership teams. My background in both marketing and design gives me a practical understanding of the business goals, audiences, and stories behind the visuals. I believe good design lives in the details that make an idea compelling, distinct, and memorable.
I put my skills and philosophy into practice when I design, edit, and publish Irving, an independent print magazine about the history, culture, and businesses of NYC’s Gramercy neighborhood. Building it from the ground up has given me firsthand experience with the many decisions involved in bringing an idea to life.
Before establishing Highly Refined, I founded Better Pitchbooks to focus on strategic communications and investor materials for firms including Citizens, McKinsey, and BlackRock Sustainable Investing. Earlier, I held marketing roles at Golub Capital, ultimately serving as Marketing Manager in its Middle Market Lending group, where I developed marketing communications for a rapidly growing private credit platform. Before I relocated to NYC, my career began at a design firm on Philadelphia’s Main Line.
I earned my BFA in Graphic Design from Rhode Island School of Design. I also went to elementary school with Taylor Swift’s touring drummer, which seems worth mentioning.
Outside the studio, I’m rarely without a carefully chosen soundtrack, whether I’m running, cycling, cooking, or exploring art and culture: What I’ve been listening to lately.
