KEM STUDIO - Better Design Better Living™

WE MAKE LIFE BETTER THROUGH DESIGN™

KEM STUDIO is an award winning design firm that fuses architecture + industrial design. This fusion is a natural extension of our underlying design philosophy, Better Design Better Living™, making design more approachable, livable, and necessary in our lives.

We are united by our belief that people interact with three different scales of objects as part of their daily life. The first are the things we manipulate (phones, microscopes, etc). Second are things we are equal with (chairs, benches, etc). And third are things that manipulate us (buildings, playgrounds, etc).

It is through our interdisciplinary approach and shared knowledge, as architects + industrial designers, that allows us to coalesce these scales into holistic design solutions and authentic experiences.

BETTER DESIGN BETTER LIVING

We believe that a wide range of experience is beneficial for all our projects and clients. It gives us an understanding of how people live, work and play in all aspects of life. That’s why we don’t have a specific style. Every one of our solutions is response to a specific client, market and user — making it something truly distinct and personal.

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A LINE OF THOUGHT

At Berkley Riverfront, we’ve extended the culture of climbing beyond the wall, creating site furnishings for the new bouldering amenity.
In collaboration with JE Dunn’s fabrication shop, SWT, + Port KC, we carried forward the material language from our earlier work at the Town of Kansas Bridge - designing a gathering and lounge space that invites you to pause, lean, and connect.

See you sitting, lounging, or leaning on the riverfront soon.

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Completed project alert! We're excited to share the Faust Residence—now live on our website. [Link in bio]

Located at Lake Winnebago, the Faust Residence is a thoughtful collaboration between architect and builder – who also happens to be the homeowner. Innovative, budget-conscious construction strategies are paired with intentional design to create a refined lakeside retreat. KEM STUDIO led the architecture, working closely with Faust Construction, Bootlace Design & Build, and the homeowner on interior finishes, custom casework, and detailing.

Though the home sits within a lake community, its second-tier lot offers views without direct water access. The design embraces this elevated setting, treating the house as a personal dock floating above the land. A boardwalk-like sequence – from the entry porch and front door to the back deck – emphasizes this concept. Massing and vertical stacking are strategically composed to maximize lake views, culminating in an upper-level deck perched above the landscape. Warm exterior lighting enhances curb appeal and offers a welcoming glow when viewed from the lake.

📸: © 2025 Matt Kocourek, All Rights Reserved

#KEMSTUDIO #FaustResidence #Residentialdesign #NewConstruction #Architecture #InteriorDesign #BetterDesignBetterLiving

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New photo of a throwback design.

Inspired by 1960s moto culture, OSK is a kayaking helmet we designed for @shred_ready_helmets ready, featuring interchangeable visors, ear covers, and a face guard. Developed in collaboration with @koroyd and @innegra, it's designed for protection, performance, and personality.

Oh, and we also integrated a bottle opener in the adjustment buckle. Cheers! 🍻

#KEMSTUDIO #ThrowbackThursday #ShredReady #Koroyd #Innegra #IndustrialDesign #BetterDesignBetterLiving #BDBL #IDSA #DesignProcess #Research #Sketches #Renderings #Photos

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LINE OF THOUGHT - From early sketches to final solutions, we believe in sharing the visual story of how design comes to life at KEM STUDIO.

This post highlights the development of two products (Hide and Parallel) we designed for @loftwall, shown through storyboard sketches, renderings, and final product photography. Both are designed to provide privacy while curating our ideas (via magnetic whiteboards) and the tools that support the way we work.

#KEMSTUDIO #LineOfThought #Loftwall #Parallel #Hide #IndustrialDesign #BetterDesignBetterLiving #BDBL #IDSA #DesignProcess #sketches #renderings #photos

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Have fun and stay safe this holiday... just like the US Women’s National Rafting Team does in Zeta!

#KEMSTUDIO #ZetaRaft #TeamUSA #HolidayVibes #StaySafe #AdventureReady #BetterDesignBetterLiving #BDBL #industrialdesign

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Completed project alert! We're excited to share our Field Office tenant improvement project—now live on our website. [Link in bio]

This renovation transforms an existing warehouse into a branch office for a national specialty contractor. Rooted in the client’s deep expertise in framing and wall finishing, the design honors the craft while staying grounded in authenticity and function.
The concept pairs two core ideas: true craft—a commitment to precision—and work boots—a symbol of utility, grit, and timeless performance. The result is a space that’s equal parts pragmatic, beautiful, and honest.

At the center of the space: two striking 20-foot skylights that flood the interior with natural light. Around them, a shared kitchen, lounge, and flexible conferencing center support workforce training and continuing education.

📸: Bob Greenspan

#KEMSTUDIO #FieldOffice #TenantImprovement #WorkplaceDesign #AdaptiveReuse #Architecture #InteriorDesign #BetterDesignBetterLiving

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Colorado’s newest community-oriented development, True North, offers a range of attainable and affordable housing options—without compromising on quality or style.
We worked closely with the development team to ensure homeownership is accessible to a broader range of incomes. Each home combines conventional materials, bold color palettes, and unique roof forms to give the neighborhood its own distinct character.
#KEMSTUDIO #TrueNorth #AttainableHousing #ResidentialDesign #CommunityDriven #Architecture #BetterDesignBetterLiving #longmont

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For everyone putting the final touches on showrooms for @neocon_shows and @fultonmarketdesigndays - we’ve been there, we see you, and we’re looking forward to meeting up next week in #Chicago!

#KEMSTUDIO #bdbl #BetterDesignBetterLiving #IndustrialDesign #Architecture #ShowroomLife #NeoCon #DesignDays #FultonMarketDesignDays

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We can't wait to welcome you to our recently completed project, The Helm, for the next installment of @aiakc Cocktails & Conversations on June 4th! This thoughtfully designed amenity space is all about connection—to the river, the adjacent park, and the surrounding community. Come experience how design can create a meaningful dialogue between people and place.
Registration is required — visit aiakc.org/event to reserve your spot. See you there!

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While designing Aperture for Herman Miller, Google expressed interest and was part of the process during the development of their Bay View Campus with BIG and Heatherwick Studio.

Throughout the process, we built several full-scale prototypes, while Google explored the concept by placing scaled Apertures inside a 16' x 16' architectural model.

This video is a great reminder that prototyping, at any scale, brings clarity, sparks ideas, and moves a concept forward.

#KEMSTUDIO #ApertureFurniture #HermanMiller #GoogleBayView #WorkspaceDesign #PrototypeToProduct #FurnitureDesign #BetterDesignBetterLiving

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Craning into place in Erie, Colorado: a new kind of neighborhood.

The Cheesman Street Residences are all about attainable homeownership rooted in good design. A mix of single-family homes and townhomes that connect new development with the walkable, historic character of Erie.

Attainable. Efficient. Designed for how people live today.

#KEMSTUDIO #CheesmanStResidences #ErieColorado #AttainableHousing #CommunityDesign

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We love a good challenge—especially one that reimagines what riverside living can be. With our HELM project, we worked alongside public and private partners to reconnect people to the Kansas River and levee trail.
Built right up to the levee, this project balances protection with connection. Bonus: we incorporated a FEMA-rated tornado shelter for added safety. Storm-ready, flood-safe, and riverside living? We'd say that's a win all around.

#KEMSTUDIO #TheHELMKC #RiversideLiving #UrbanDesign #StormReady #FloodSafe #BetterDesignBetterLiving

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