Danu Kennedy

Danu Kennedy is a partner at Parts and Labor Design and co-founder of Known Work, working across interiors, objects, and spatial experience. Parts and Labor Design is a full-service studio specializing in hospitality, commercial, retail, and residential projects, driven by a collaborative culture and a deep focus on craft, detail, and transformative design. Each project is approached as an opportunity to merge art and object while remaining closely connected to program and experience. Known Work, a sister studio, takes an anthropological approach to design, exploring the relationship between humans and objects through a hands-on, material-driven process. With a reverence for craftsmanship from sketching and carving to molding, objects are treated as artifacts, created to engage the visceral and make the unknown known.

When you were a kid, what did you dream of becoming? Did any of those childhood ambitions lead you to where you are today?
I grew up in a remote area of New Zealand where I was deeply immersed in the natural environment and isolated from much of the world. It was an incredible childhood, one filled with adventure, discovery, mystery and fun. What led me to this work undoubtedly was this innate connection I had to my surroundings and the wider landscape. I felt a deep curiosity towards understanding how people inhabit spaces, how they inhabit their homes, what this  expresses about a family or individual. To me an individual’s personal space is as informative as what they choose to adorn their body with. Design is anthropological. I think this intuitive curiosity is behind my “why” within interior design/architecture, furniture and sculpture.I have always seen interior environments as an extension of oneself .

Where and what did you study?
I studied Interior Architecture and received a Masters of Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand.

Was there a specific turning point or experience when you realized that design was your true calling?
I touch on this above but it would be hard to point out one distinct turning point or moment.  For me, it’s always felt like a point of view, a way of seeing the world, especially my way of seeing human life. I have a true fascination with people, how they live and interact with their surroundings. Interior spaces have always been a source of interest and reward for me so pursuing a career in creating them just came naturally.

Is there a particular designer, artwork, or design movement that deeply inspires you? How has it influenced your own style or philosophy?
Yes absolutely, multiple, so many. I love to look to history for inspiration. A lot of what is created nowadays has such a different set of parameters to respond to and therefore resonates differently. When you look at the interiors of the past, the materials that were used, the spaces that were created, it’s a reservoir of inspiration. If you look at contemporary work today you can see influences from the likes of Eileen Gray, Jean Michel Frand and Syrie Maugham. I love vintage, the inherent reuse of something that has withstood the test of time. Objects tell stories, and to me there’s nothing better than a couple of vintage or heritage pieces in conversation with a contemporary moment to set the tone of a room.

I am not a very literal person so inspiration comes in all shapes and forms to me. I tend to form more abstract connections that prompt me in certain directions.

Which designers do you love following on social media? What draws you to their work?
I’m a big fan of Teget by Ana Kras, her work is strong, clean lined and beautiful. Pierre Yovanovitch is an incredible designer, his interior work is gorgeous. Studio Valle de Valle is another, interiors and furniture, the way they showcase their beautiful miniature models is so lovely to witness.

How would you describe your design philosophy? Has it evolved over time, and if so, how?
I think my design philosophy is based on the belief that design has the power to shift our emotional states and aspirations. And as a designer it’s a responsibility I take very seriously, I see design as a catalyst for something better. A sort of improvisation at every moment toward creating something better than what was there before.

In terms of evolution, I’ve certainly become more aware of it (having a philosophy) over time and more conscious of it, which has enabled me to form a deeper relationship with my work and become a more considerate designer. I do believe we have a responsibility to each other (within the design community) and to our clients and the broader public to foster a sense of intimacy and connection within the spatial context of our built environment..

Which of your projects are you most proud of, and what makes them stand out for you?
I’m incredibly proud of all of the work that we do!! I am really excited to share more of what we’ve been working on this past year, we have a lot coming out in 2026. I’m not sure I can pick a favorite as so much goes into each project, whether for PLD or Known Work.

What are you currently working on?
We are excited about so many projects, as noted above we’ll be able to share a lot more about these in 2026.

We’ve been doing some really exciting collaborative work with the RAY Community, a residential building brand that celebrates art and design.

We love a local project, so are excited about a new diner concept in the DUMBO Brooklyn Design District that will be a beautiful addition to the neighborhood. Both in offering and in design. One of our favorite aspects of a project is being able to provide a community with something they didn’t have before.

We’re also working on some very unique and diverse hotel offerings. A few of which we are also doing the branding for which is an exciting new endeavor for us and one that we’re thrilled to share with the wider community.

For Known Work, we have our first textiles collection coming out with Zou Zou Rugs set to launch early 2026. We’re also developing our next solo collection so stay tuned!

What’s a favorite movie, band, or song that has inspired or shaped your creative mind?
I do a lot of reading / listening (actual reading time is limited with two young children being around). I find philosophy amd psychology incredibly absorbing topics. I am currently reading ‘The Black Swan’ by Nassim Nicholas Taleb which I have found thought provoking…a reframing of the mind is always a cause of creative focus and inspiration for me. I also look to fashion for a lot of inspiration and art work. Artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and Donald Judd, their perspectives and individual philosophies on the world and how that affected their practice is ongoing inspiration.

Visit Parts and Labor Design website here >>>
Visit Known Work website here >>>

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