CRG Graphics – Malden magic, by design

By Jack Drees

If you’re driving down Route 60, one building stands out for its poppy, artsy exterior. That building, which is home to CRG Graphics, may look nice on the outside, but the real magic lies inside.

That’s where a dedicated team designs everything from door hangers and business cards to window graphics and political signs. The most surprising part? This modest Malden shop has done props for more than 30 Hollywood films, including Ted, The Equalizer and Central Intelligence, along with working on TV series, such as the award-winning Widow’s Bay, plus commercials for Nike and Whole Foods. This type of work tends to be all about the very small details — graphic design on props and scenery that’s sometimes barely noticeable to first-time viewers.

“The little pin that’s on [Ted’s] apron, we did that,” said Craig Murphy, CRG’s president. “They came in with a motorcycle that was black, we turned it red. And put the little Flash Gordon symbol on that.”

CRG Graphics is a name that holds both history and a happy accident. The company’s name was shortened from Cambridge Reprographics years ago, as the term “reprographics,” which refers to reproducing text and images, an original mainstay of the business, fell out of fashion. In addition, it was a mouthful to type, and of course, the company is also no longer located in Cambridge.

And no, CRG is not an abbreviated acronym for Craig, the first name of the company’s president, as some clients assume.

The printing business is coded in Murphy’s DNA. “My dad was a printer, I grew up doing this from birth, basically. I was running my first printing equipment at 10 years old,” he said. Over the years, he purchased companies specializing in signs and awnings, contributing to CRG’s hybrid model.

For Design Manager Naomi Kahn, who lives in Malden, the best part of the job is helping clients realize their visions.

“That’s part of the fun of it, not always the creativity that goes into the job, but it’s working with the clients and trying to help them try to make their businesses work better, get more recognition,” said Kahn.

Some of Kahn’s favorite work has been in her own neighborhood. She helped build the frames for many of the murals in Malden Center, including the train mural on Summer Street.“We painted the train tracks on the wall and installed all the panels, and I painted the trains that bookends the whole mural.” she said. CRG Graphics also collaborated with Malden High School students on The Wonderful World of Ed Emberley Mural.

CRG’s other clients include Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy, Patrick’s and Franny’s restaurants in Maplewood Square and Urban Media Arts, the parent company of Neighborhood View. The company has also worked with bigger names like Lululemon and CAVA. “I would say all of [CAVA stores] we are doing installations for,” Murphy said.

CRG continues to do work for Franny’s and Patrick’s. On top of the signs, Kathleen Proditola, who owns both locations, says CRG Graphics designs sweatshirts for both Franny’s and Patrick’s every Christmas. She orders a bunch of sweatshirts, but usually ends up asking for more because her employees want them.

As for film, the work goes beyond props. The team has designed potato chip bags for vending machines, original signs to cover a company’s logo while filming and more. During this year’s World Cup, CRG Graphics did work for FIFA, designing items like shirts and soccer balls.

On the television side, CRG recently worked on Apple TV+’s Widow’s Bay, a comedy thriller set in a New England town that swept the 2026 Emmy Awards. They designed brochures for the tourist shop seen in the series, an entire game board and accompanying box featured in one episode and more.

Murphy has worked with many different mediums to get projects done.

“When I started, the computers were not there. Now the computers are there and I am so thrilled, I do such amazing work on these computers,” he said. In the age of artificial intelligence, Murphy sees it as the latest industrial shift. To Murphy, the rise of AI means less work and an easier time satisfying clients. “I do not look at A.I. as a negative to my industry, I look at it as a positive. I have fishermen coming to me that have designs that are incredible and they want them on their shirts. Like, great! I don’t have to worry about trying to figure out what they want. They bring them in and it is already set to go.”

Murphy’s move to Malden came with some pressure — the business relocated in March 2020, just as COVID-19 was spreading across the U.S. “My hand was shaking a little bit,” he said.

Six years later, Murphy has no plans to move operations away from Malden. Unlike his previous office in Cambridge, which was a lease, he was able to purchase his current space. The building even has a solar farm on its roof, allowing the business to control costs when utilities go up. Murphy also loves Malden’s restaurants and its proximity to major highways like Route 1 and I-93.

“Between the technology and the staff, it’s fun to come to work every day,” Murphy said. “I just never found it boring to come to CRG Graphics.”

Jack Drees has been a contributing journalist to Neighborhood View since 2021. He also currently writes for 7 News (WHDH-Boston) and for his own movie blog, Flicknerd.com.