Brian Kane
Brian Kane graduated from the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design. He worked for several New York City design studios and spent a year in Milan, Italy, working for Architect Silvio Coppola. His projects included the design of seating and casegoods for such companies as Mobil Italia Spa. and Bernini Spa.
After returning to the U.S. he worked in New York for Atelier International (A.I). Work involved special contract furniture design projects, showroom design, and the startup of U.S. production of Italian designs by Cassina, B&B and Tecno.
Kane joined the design staff at Metropolitan Furniture Corporation (Metro) in January, 1977. Less than three years later, he became one of four partners assuming ownership of the firm, and took on the responsibilities of Vice President of Design and Product Development.
In 1987, Metropolitan was acquired by Steelcase. For the next two years, Kane maintained his position as Vice President and was responsible for all aspects of Metro's design, including products, showrooms and graphics.
In March of 1989, Kane established Kane Design Studio in San Francisco. The firm has been involved in the design and development of products for Metro, Steelcase, Turnstone, Landscapeforms, Bernhardt Furniture Co., Martin/Brattrud Inc, Interprofil Gmb, Falcon, Howe, Halcon, Stelter Partners, Fixtures, HBF, and Coalesse. If you have been to an airport or a bank or a hotel - Manhattan midtown or to the Embarcadero in San Francisco - chances are you've sat on one of his designs.
Kane's designs have won over 80 design awards and have been exhibited at the Whitney and Brooklyn Museums in New York and the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco.
PROCESS
I believe that less is more - I'd call myself a minimalist - or even a reductionist. I strive for simplification in both form and manufacturing processes. Achieving uniqueness through simplicity is not an easy task but is truly rewarding when it is realized. Another objective is to achieve craft - through technology. I have always attempted to explore new materials and processes, or existing materials and processes, using them in new ways that add an element of detail or craft that is unique. My products are well designed, highly functional, and intelligently engineered for mass production.
Kane Design Studio has a hands on approach to design and the prototyping of ideas. We work with our clients to develop product solutions. We design, model, prototype, and engineer our concepts. Our goal is to give our clients as complete a finished product as possible, and to guide them through their internal development process.
