The Genesis of a Design Studio
Echelon Graphix
Echelon Graphix was born from a singular vision: to transform ideas into compelling visual experiences through disciplined design, photography, and storytelling. Founded by Jonathan Nickens, Echelon Graphix did not begin as a trend-chasing studio or a mass-production design house. Its foundation was laid years earlier, in the early 1990s, when Jonathan began developing his design discipline through hands-on photography, layout, and early digital composition — at a time when tools were limited and skill mattered more than software.
When Echelon Graphix was formally established in 1998, it started as a part time endeavor, NOT an experiment. It was the natural continuation of four years spent mastering visual structure, restraint, and narrative clarity. What began as a one-man studio quickly gained recognition for its precision, originality, and refusal to compromise on quality.
Now based just outside Spokane, Washington — the same vicinity where his creative journey began in 1991 — Echelon Graphix remains a founder-led studio, intentionally small, focused, and accountable. Every project reflects decades of experience not only in design, but in business, communication, and client services, ensuring a professional, transparent, and deeply personalized experience from start to finish.
What We Do & How We Do It
Over the past 25+ years, Echelon Graphix has meticulously crafted a diverse portfolio that reflects both the depth and breadth of its creative capabilities. While nationally recognized for award-winning Car Show Display Boards and photographic artwork, the studio’s skills extends far beyond the automotive world.
From iconic logo design and brand identity to memorial artwork honoring beloved pets and loved ones, from book covers and publishing graphics to custom visual pieces created for deeply personal milestones — every project is approached with the same level of care, intent, and artistic discipline.
Long before automation, presets, or AI-generated imagery became commonplace, Echelon Graphix developed its visual language through manual photo compositing and precision layout — a decades-old, NON-AI design methodology requiring patience, control, and creative intent. That foundation still governs how our work is created today. Tools and tech may evolve, but the process remains rooted in deliberate design rather than automated output.
Each piece fuses fine-art principles, photography, illustration, and graphic design into a single cohesive visual narrative. No templates. No shortcuts. No outsourced assembly lines. Every composition is custom-built around the customer’s vision, story, and purpose.
The Commitment That Endures
Echelon Graphix has endured, not by expanding recklessly or chasing trends, but by remaining intentionally focused on quality, integrity, and long-term client relationships. Every project is personally overseen, every design decision is deliberate, and every finished piece is created to stand the test of time — both visually and emotionally. The mission is simple: to provide over-the-top artistic inspiration, fully personalized to what the customer needs or desires, without limitation.
Jonathan Nickens remains actively involved in every phase of the creative process, ensuring that the standards on which Echelon Graphix was built on are never diluted.
Thank You for 25+ Incredible Years
Echelon Graphix owes its success to the trust of its clients, the relationships built along the way, and the belief that design should always serve meaning, not trends. As this studio moves forward, that same commitment continues — pushing creative boundaries, refining craft through new technologies, and transforming ideas into visual works meant to endure.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
Jonathan Nickens
Founder, Echelon Graphix
Author of the MYTH Saga
