Background

Founded by Maiken Lyster Thonke in 2004, LYSTH creates clear, narrative-driven design across branding, photography, and exhibitions. With a background from the Danish Design School, Pentagram in New York, and leading roles at Kunde & Co and Valtech, Maiken brings more than 25 years of experience.
Her many years living and working in Africa and South America give LYSTH a rare combination of Danish design simplicity and global insight. Maiken’s exhibition work for Danida earned a nomination for the Danish Design Award.

LYSTH works with international organisations, ministries, and companies on impactful visual communication.

         

From the left: Maiken together with school kids in Ouagadougou, showing them the photos from the day’s photo session; Kenya’s president Kibaki at the opening of the Governing Council in Nairobi; In front of an exhibition in UN Headquarter in Nairobi, Maiken as curator showing crown princess Mary the Danida Anniversary Exhibition at the opening in Copenhagen (Photos: K. Hyllested, Danida). 

 

What LYSTH works with

Exhibition & event design
– concepts, spatial storytelling, and full visual identities for conferences and international events.

Visual communication & graphic design
– branding, visual identities, reports, magazines, digital design, packaging, and infographics.

Advertising & campaigns
– art direction, creative concepts, SoMe assets, video/motion direction, and AI-enhanced image and video production.

Photography
– portrait, reportage, and documentary work.

 

International experience
10+ years in Benin, Bolivia & Kenya
Missions in Africa, Asia, Middle East & the Americas

 

References / Maiken has experiences from the following clients:

International organisations such as UN-Habitat, UN Women, WFP, UNFPA, Danida, and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, World Climate Foundation.
Companies including Royal Copenhagen, Montana, ECCO, Brabantia, Novo Nordisk, Radiometer, Grundfos, Sydbank, and Maersk.

 

All photographs displayed on lysth.dk are for viewing purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way without permission.