Meet Kim Knoll

Kim is the Co-Founder of Knoed, a graphic design studio focused on branding for small businesses and startups. She loves working with people who are pursuing ideas they’re passionate about and helping them bring a vision to life through creative strategy, visual identity, print and digital design. Her work has been recognized by industry magazines and published in over 20 books on graphic design. 

Since 2016, Kim has spent a good portion of her free time exploring her interest in abstract paintings. Influenced by minimalism and inspired by nature, she uses watercolor paint, India ink and paint markers to create her works on paper. Her work is an abstract interpretation of thoughts and moments inspired by her time spent in nature. Kim partners with art consultants, interior designers and luxury brands worldwide to put her artworks in the hospitality and home decor industry. Her work can be found in the collections of the Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines as well as boutique hotels, country clubs, resorts and spas.

When Kim’s not working, you can find her taking long walks with her husband and dog, trying a new recipe or stand up paddle boarding in Chicago. She has a healthy obsession with soup, hammocks and Sudoku puzzles.

Q+A

What is your favorite place to travel to? 

There’s a lodge above a supper club in Wautoma, WI that my family has been going to at the same time, every year since 1984. The place hasn’t changed much since then either! With all of my relatives, there are about 30-40 people who go and we rent out the entire lodge, basically turning it into a dorm. It’s something I look forward to every year and where some of my best memories are. 

What makes you laugh?  

When people actually say the things that most people think, but don’t say.

What don’t people know about you? 

I was on The Bozo Show. 

If you had to change careers what would you want to do? 

I would do painting full time. Aside from loving the process and the result, I also love that there are no revisions, meetings or layers of approvals :) It's low-stress with a lot of good feels. People either love it and buy it or they don’t. I love when things are that simple.

What do you suck at? 

I suck at lots of things! Team sports, most things that require coordination, public speaking, snapping, bookkeeping… ok, I’ll stop there.

Want more? Chat with Kim via Twitter @Kim_Knoll