Kristina O’Neal

Founding Partner of AvroKO, Kristina O’Neal lives between two worlds: the creative intensity of Manhattan and the restorative quiet of the Hudson Valley. Working at the intersection of design, art, and storytelling, her practice explores how spaces can become immersive experiences, places that carry memory, emotion, and meaning. Long driven by the instinct to build communities through narrative, Kristina approaches design as a deeply human language, one that reconnects us to something timeless beneath the surface of modern life. In this conversation, she reflects on her inspirations, creative philosophy, and the vision shaping AvroKO’s next chapter.

(Image above: image courtesy of AvroKO)

As a kid, what did you answer when asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

A veterinarian. Then an artist. Then someone who kind of built communities of some sort through story. I didn’t have a name for it, but it was always about creating immersive realities through narratives.

Which artist and/or piece of work inspires you? Why?

Joseph Beuys for how he blurred the lines between art, ecology, and social healing. His work has always been a great mystery to me. I return to that often as a reminder that design can function beautifully at a story level with lots of intrigue built in.

How would you describe your design philosophy?

Design should trigger memory, sensation, and possibly even coherence when done in the right way. It should feel like a return to some deep part of the human experience that modern life might even obscure.

Who are the three designers you follow on Instagram?

1. Laura Gonzalez — for the soulful pattern explosion and fantastical quality
2. Neri Oxman — love the innovation in material intelligence
3. Pam Shamshiri — she’s the best at making you feel space

Give us some context about where you live: How long you’ve been there and how does it influence your work?

I split my time between New York City and Edition Farm, a rural sanctuary in the Hudson Valley. The city gives me to creative collisions, and I think I need that to stay stimulated. The farm clears the whole field peacefully. The animals, land, and the general silence seems to recalibrate my system.

Was there a moment when you realized you wanted to be a designer? If so, what was it?

It wasn’t a single moment, maybe more of a series of good cues. I remember staying up all night even in grade school to design just about everything from complex, visual science projects to book reports that turned into lavish dioramas. Art and design were always blended into everything possible from a young age.

Which of your projects or products are you most proud of? Why?

Our gallery HOST is a culmination of everything we’ve dreamt of: design, Hospitable Thinking, art, furniture and lighting, and place-making for gatherings. It’s hospitality translated in a totally new way.

What are your favorite materials with which to work? Why?

Natural, timeless materials with a wee bit of memory: stone, raw wood, clay, and plaster. They’re not trend-driven and they age quite gracefully.

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?

The future isn’t linear, so trust the leaps when they come. And protect your creative bandwidth like it’s literally oxygen, because in a way I think it is.

What is the most pressing issue in the interior design field today?

Too much noise without enough clean design signal. Some design has been hijacked by aesthetics over real, raw essence. We might need fewer mood boards and more happy accident in the process to build from creatively and intuitively.

What now?

We’re overseeing the transition of AvroKO into a new era and it’s a really exciting time to be building the next iteration of the company. Also working on a series of experimental artworks in our studio Upstate. More to come on that in the next HOST show.

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