Hello, readers!

Welcome to Meet the Makers, a series that takes a playful, engaging approach to showcasing the personalities and expertise of sign pros while staying rooted in the signage industry. Each feature highlights a different sign professional, sharing their favourite projects, industry insights, and fun stories.

This week, we are featuring Adam Krahn, president of Quarterhorse Solutions, a B.C.-based team specializing in immersive environments, experiential graphics, and architectural signage.

Krahn has been with Quarterhorse for nearly 20 years, starting as a shop helper and growing through design, fabrication, and sales. That hands-on experience gives him a unique perspective on how ideas move from concept to installation. Today, he focuses on supporting creative clients and helping a talented team bring complex projects to life.

Quarterhorse’s collaborative approach has earned multiple national awards, and Krahn credits the team’s creativity, craftsmanship, and problem-solving for those wins.

Here are his responses to our five offbeat questions.

What’s your sign superpower?

My superpower is helping designers refine their concepts by exploring materials, textures, and build approaches that bring out the best version of the idea. I like taking an initial vision, working with the team, and suggesting materials or styles the client may not have considered if it improves the look or feel. Those small shifts often make the final piece more intentional, balanced, and ready for the real world.

What’s the most challenging project you’ve worked on?

Every project has its challenges, but one that really stands out is the hospitality booth we helped produce for Pepsi at the 2017 Super Bowl. We were collaborating with designers in Europe on an extremely tight deadline and needed to build several large, sculptural display forms to showcase their products.

It turned into a true all-hands-on-deck effort. We called in favours from friends and family, worked around the clock, and loaded five semi-trucks’ worth of materials to ship from Vancouver to Houston, Texas.

The entire booth was assembled onsite just in time for the event. It pushed all of us, but it also showed what’s possible when everyone commits to a vision.

What’s a favourite sign or sign system you’ve created?

The Bassano presentation centre is one of our favourite projects. It involved a series of complex builds that came together into a beautiful final result. The client wanted a luxurious Italian-inspired feel, so we worked with the design agency to translate their 2D concept into sculpted 3D wall profiles. Our team CNC-cut the panels out of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and finished them to look like carved marble.

We also created a large 3D map feature where every street and contour was carved into the surface. The tiny road details had to be hand-sanded before painting and installation, which became one of those moments where technology and old-school craftsmanship meet.

The whole project was a true hybrid of digital design, precise fabrication, and hands-on finishing work to bring the design team’s vision to life.

If signage could talk, what’s the funniest thing a sign has ever ‘said’ to you?

Some of the funniest and most frustrating moments are when the wayfinding signage is so vague that every hallway or parkade level feels like a test. I’ve wandered around buildings thinking, “I guess I live here now,” while hoping the next sign points somewhere that makes sense.

What’s the one piece of signage advice you wish everyone knew?

Do the heavy lifting upfront. Get clear on the intent, the details, and the constraints. Once that foundation is solid, don’t be afraid to help the client take a design risk, something a bit bigger, different, or unexpected. With good planning, those bold choices are usually what make a project stand out.

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