ABOUT US
CO-FOUNDERS
The founders of Kim Kurz Design built their careers designing hospitality, wellness, commercial and residential projects at some of New York City’s most respected architecture and interior design firms. Their shared passion for thoughtful, refined spaces led them to establish Kim Kurz Design.
STUDIO
Kim Kurz Design is a boutique interior design studio supported by a talented team of designers who bring each project’s vision to life. This collaborative approach lets us scale to meet the demands of any engagement, while preserving the personalized service of a partner-led studio.
Kim Kurz Design is honored to be NYC MWBE certified.
Jenny Kim’s impressive 18-year career in design has been marked by her exceptional talent and numerous award-winning projects.
Prior to co-founding Kim Kurz Design, Jenny most recently served as Principal at Stroop Design, following her role as Studio Leader at Jeffrey Beers International. These positions have provided her with the platform to lead design teams effectively and ensure the successful completion of complex projects.
Throughout her career, Jenny has worked on an array of projects, ranging from private residences and office spaces to large-scale hospitality developments. Her impressive client list includes JW Marriott, Rosewood Hotels, InterContinental Hotels, Omni Hotels, Open Society Foundation, Turnberry Associates, Sydell Group, MGM, TWA Hotel, and Equinox.
In managing large-scale projects, Jenny emphasizes the importance of collaboration. She works closely with clients, consultants, and design teams to ensure the seamless integration of architecture and sophisticated interior aesthetics.
Her approach ensures that every project not only meets but exceeds client expectations, resulting in successful openings and satisfied clients.
Jenny’s career is a testament to her dedication, creativity, and ability to deliver outstanding design solutions. Her work continues to inspire and set high standards in the design industry.
JENNY KIM
CO-FOUNDER
KERRY CLERKIN-KURZ, NCIDQ
Kerry Clerkin-Kurz is an NCIDQ Certified Interior Designer with a diverse and notable 14 -year career. She has successfully completed interior projects of various sizes, including boutique hotels, luxury resorts, multi-unit residences, retail spaces, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Before achieving success in interior design, Kerry gained valuable experience in fashion design and hospitality management. This unique background has enriched her design approach, allowing her to blend style, function, and guest experience seamlessly.
As a client-facing member at New York City’s premier firms, including Jeffrey Beers International and Stonehill Taylor, Kerry has worked on projects for Omni Hotels, One & Only, Equinox, Pestana Group, Live Nation, Silverstein Properties, Summit Hotel Properties, Marriott, and Hilton Hotels.
Kerry has worked with design teams throughout all stages of the creative and construction process. Adept in creating inspiring interiors across a spectrum of financial considerations. Her keen understanding of materials, furnishings and finishes maximizes the impact of every design, ensuring that even smaller projects exude a sense of refinement and style.
Kerry’s ability to create luxurious and stylish interiors, combined with her diverse experience has made her a respected and sought-after professional in the field of interior design.
CO-FOUNDER
DER SEAN CHOU, NCIDQ
Der Sean Chou is a NYC based designer with professional experience in hospitality and luxury residential projects. His background includes roles at Jeffrey Beers International, Stonehill Taylor, Ajemian Design, Plan Architecture and Der Sean Design. Prior to his career in Interior Design, Der Sean worked in the film industry as a 3D and visual effects artist, bringing a unique perspective to visualization, storytelling and spatial design.
At Kim Kurz Design, Der Sean contributes a thoughtful design approach supported by his strong technical expertise, concept development, space planning, material selection and project coordination skills. His diverse experience enables him to create interiors that are both highly functional and visually compelling.
In addition to his professional practice, Der Sean is an Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute, where he helps educate the next generation of designers. He also continues to share his knowledge as an instructor at The School of Visual Arts (SVA) and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and brings to KKD an academic perspective that complements his industry experience.
ED KURZ
With a career spanning fine arts, construction, and digital visualization, Ed brings a multidisciplinary perspective to Kim Kurz Design, His combination of artistic talent, technical expertise, and hands-on construction experience allows him to translate complex design concepts into compelling visual narratives.
A graduate of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), Ed began his career creating large-scale murals, sculptures, and installations before expanding into theatrical production, construction management, and architectural visualization. His passion for visual storytelling led him into sound and scenic design for The Public Theater and other productions, including TV’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”. He later created sculptural installations for the renowned Macy’s Christmas window displays, an iconic New York tradition. Ed’s digital skills have earned him a diverse client roster, including The New York Times, McGrory Capital, the NFL, and Target.
Ed’s career naturally evolved into construction management and site supervision, overseeing the projects for luxury and retail brands including Apple, Burberry, Hermès, Cartier, and Esprit. His work later expanded to include directing large experiential events, such as Bloomberg’s Annual Summer Picnic, along with international installation projects.
Through these experiences, Ed recognized the critical role visualization plays in every project’s success. He established a specialized CAD drafting and 3D visualization practice, helping clients understand the spatial relationships and design intent long before production begins.
At Kim Kurz Design, Ed produces photorealistic architectural renderings, immersive 3D visualizations, animated walkthroughs, CAD documentation, and graphic presentation packages that bring each design to life. Giving clients clarity and confidence throughout the design process.
CAROLINE BERTRAND
Caroline has spent her career designing exceptional interiors for some of the country's most notable hospitality, cultural, academic, and civic institutions. Her work is guided by a keen sense of balance—between beauty and function, and between a space's history and its future— carried through from a project's earliest concept to the final placement of furnishings.
She developed her expertise at internationally recognized firms including HOK, Brennan Beer Gorman Monk Interiors, Perkins Eastman, and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, where she led design efforts across a diverse range of award-winning projects.
Her hospitality work includes the InterContinental New York Barclay, the Rainbow Room, Windows on the World, and Guastavino's, along with destinations further afield such as the Rosewood Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences and the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel Convention Center & Casino. She has brought the same care to cultural landmarks, contributing to the restoration of Radio City Music Hall, The New Amsterdam Theatre, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and The Joyce Theater.
An active member of the design community, Caroline has served on the Metropolis Magazine Advisory Council for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), is a member of the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality and was invited to speak on the Restoring Beauty panel at the Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference. Her work has been featured in Hospitality Design, Boutique Design, and The New York Times. Caroline holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Ontario College of Art (OCAD) and is recognized for her refined aesthetic, attention to detail, and ability to create interiors that are both timeless and memorable.
SELECTED BRANDS
Our team has designed for leading hospitality and lifestyle brands throughout their careers, including:
