We all arrive at design through different paths, and that diversity is something I deeply value. For me, it’s difficult to pinpoint a single defining moment—I’ve always been drawn to beauty, art, and the act of creating. My environment, both interior and exterior, has always had a profound effect on me. That instinct sharpened when I studied interior architecture at university, giving my passion a clear direction. I feel incredibly grateful to have found something I love so deeply—it's shaped so much of my purpose.— Danu Kennedy, Co-Founder of Known Work

I kind of stumbled into design by accident—a happy accident. I think most of us are drawn to it in pursuit of beauty (maybe we all have a bit of a magpie instinct). For me, there’s a symbiotic relationship between design and the human experience. I was a theater kid, so I see design as a form of set design in its own way. We create spaces and objects that shape, influence, and foster human connections. That human aspect is what gives our work meaning—without interaction, a piece is just an object. It’s the conversations, gatherings, and rituals around design that bring it to life.— Alex Dilena, Creative Director, Known Work

Funny story: when my mom was pregnant with me, she saw a psychic who told her I’d be a handful (she was right) but that, no matter what, I should stay on an artistic path. As a kid, I naturally gravitated toward painting, drawing, and building things, and those interests only deepened as I got older. When I discovered the possibility of turning sketches into functional objects, the rest was history. There’s something endlessly fascinating about transforming an idea into something dimensional, tangible—something that can shape an entire environment.— Jeremy Levitt, Co-Founder of Known Work

Our design approach is fluid, as iterative as we can make it. The three of us share a natural alignment in how we work, and verbal communication plays a huge role in our process. Spoken ideas are the foundation of everything. Designing, for us, is about giving form to something intangible—something that was once just a thought.When creating furniture or lighting, function is just as important as form. The Perceptions Collection is a perfect example—we wanted to strike a balance between linear geometry and ergonomic comfort. Each piece is designed in relation to the others, serving both an aesthetic and practical purpose.Ideas come from everywhere—a napkin sketch, a conversation, a piece of jewelry, an experience, a color. With this collection, we wanted to explore how perception shapes our interaction with objects. No two people experience the same object in exactly the same way, and that notion of subjective reality became central to the design. It’s an exploration of how we process our environment and the relationships that emerge from it.

They absolutely do. Materials are in conversation with one another—some textures or finishes only reveal their full character when paired with something unexpected. That idea of perception plays a role again.Take The Perceptions Cube, for example. It's a rectilinear form, made from metal, yet there's an unexpected softness in its aluminum finish—almost a creamy, tactile quality that offsets its sharp edges. In raw steel, it feels entirely different—harsher, more industrial.We love pushing materials to their limits, discovering how they behave under different conditions. With this first collection, the material choices felt intuitive. Before we had even finalized the design of the table lamp, we knew it had to be polished stainless steel. That decision then dictated the shade—it needed to contrast, to bring warmth and depth. The glass shades are all hand-blown, each unique, with organic imperfections like chill marks and occasional bubbles that soften the precision of the metal frame.This collection explores contrast—rigid geometries meet soft curves, industrial materials meet organic forms. Even small elements, like the dimmer switch or the candlestick detail, were carefully considered to enhance that balance.

It’s difficult to pinpoint exact moments of evolution, but our style and approach have definitely matured. One of the most fascinating aspects of design is its fluidity—one idea inevitably leads to another. David Lynch once said that we don’t create ideas, they come to us. That realization has been pivotal for us—learning to carve out space for stillness, to allow ideas to arrive naturally.Our aesthetic has become more refined, more focused. We have a clearer sense of who we are now, and with that comes a more confident visual language. One major shift in our thinking has been our commitment to creating heritage pieces—objects designed to last, to be cherished and passed down. We draw inspiration from art, which has the power to become an instant heirloom without conforming to fleeting trends. That sense of permanence feels like an important evolution in our work.

– Alex Dilena, Creative Director, Known Work

Launching Known Work has been incredibly liberating in that regard. Unlike our interior design practice, which comes with more external constraints, Known Work allows us to create with total artistic freedom. This first collection, Perceptions, is a pure expression of our aesthetic, uninhibited by outside expectations.That said, working with materials means embracing a certain level of unpredictability. Prototypes, material studies—our initial ideas often shift when we see a piece take physical form. Materials have a will of their own. Learning to be comfortable with that discomfort, to see it as an opportunity rather than a limitation, has been a defining lesson for us.

We believe your environment should be an extension of your values. The spaces we inhabit have a direct impact on our mental and physical well-being. That’s why thoughtful, well-crafted design is so important.Collectible furniture, in particular, encourages a shift in mindset—it’s about investing in pieces that will endure. We want people to see furniture not as something disposable, but as an artifact, an heirloom. This perspective guided our decision to launch Perceptions as a cohesive vignette, offering a fully realized moment rather than just standalone objects.

For me, meditation is a huge source of creative clarity, along with movement and the wider design community.— Danu Kennedy

Books are a constant inspiration—though not necessarily design books. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with an old book on napkin folding and another on 1970s obscene cake decorating. I love looking in unexpected places—it keeps you from getting stuck in the design echo chamber.— Alex Dilena

Museum visits always reignite my creativity. And I have this habit of finding geometry in nature—sometimes it sparks unexpected design ideas.— Jeremy Levitt

We’re excited to be launching with such iconic retail partners, and we’ve already had incredible collaborations—including a show with Jorge Yazpik and a hardware collection with Petra Hardware. We’re constantly exploring new mediums, from textiles to jewelry. The goal is to grow Known Work with intention, keeping exploration at the heart of everything we do.