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. After returning to the U.S., he worked in New York for Atelier International (A.I.), and joined Metropolitan Furniture Corporation (Metro) in January 1977.

Less than three years later, he became one of four partners assuming ownership of the company 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 many global companies.

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.

Kane believes that less is more – he calls himself a minimalist – or even a reductionist. His work strives for simplification in both form and manufacturing processes and seeks to achieve craft through technology. His products are well designed, highly functional and intelligently engineered for mass production.