Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Kershner.
Hi Brandon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I look back at my journey, I see it as the steady gathering of tools. Not only in design, but in business. For me, those two have never been separate. Design decisions are informed by sourcing realities, manufacturing constraints, sales conversations, logistics, marketing strategy, and long term brand positioning. The role requires an open mind, the ability to see how every department informs the other, and how creative direction and commercial viability must move together. It is about identifying opportunity, navigating relationships, building community across teams, customers, and peers, and adapting constantly. When you operate domestically and internationally every day, there is always a new challenge.
I grew up in Nebraska, which may seem far removed from global design, but it gave me something just as important. I was raised in a supportive environment that valued hard work and follow through. My family instilled a strong sense of responsibility, and educators recognized creative potential early and steered me in the right direction. That foundation gave me confidence long before I understood what a design career could look like.
Studying industrial design in Colorado, I became fascinated with mid century architects who treated furniture as small scale architecture. It was there that everything clicked. I realized this was not just an interest, but the path I wanted to pursue professionally. My career truly started in San Diego where my early work in overseas production exposed me to the realities of manufacturing and scale. Walking factory floors changed the way I design. It reinforced that structure, material integrity, and execution matter as much as silhouette.
I later pursued a Masters in Furniture Design in London to deepen my understanding of material, new technology, and global design culture. Afterward, I stepped into a product development leadership role in the Bay Area, working more extensively in Asia to design and engineer products at significant scale. Being hands on in factories and immersed in the full production cycle shaped my approach permanently.
When we created Azzurro Living, it was the moment where those experiences converged. Building the company alongside Martin Jamroz and Heath Malone worked because we each brought distinct strengths and a shared trust in one another’s expertise. Their experience building and exiting furniture brands, combined with the freedom they gave me to execute the creative vision, became another critical tool. Together, we set out to elevate outdoor furniture into something architectural and enduring. Today, I still approach every collection with that same mindset: thoughtful experimentation, disciplined decision making, and an understanding that design and business must move together to build something lasting.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? I think any honest answer would be “smooth-ish.” I cannot imagine building something meaningful without friction along the way.
One of the most consistent challenges has been the geopolitical realities of operating overseas. Designing, manufacturing, and importing products primarily from Asia comes with a unique set of variables. Beyond creative execution, you are navigating cultural differences, regulatory shifts, freight volatility, currency fluctuations, and at times full scale trade tensions. You are constantly stepping into new territory. The ability to think clearly and act quickly becomes essential. In this industry, slow response time and poor decision making can be fatal. We have seen companies in the furniture space come and go because they could not adapt fast enough.
Operating internationally adds another layer of unpredictability. When you are working across time zones, cultures, and supply chains, there is always something unexpected. Material shortages, factory disruptions, shipping delays, political shifts. Adaptability stops being a strategy and becomes a daily discipline.
Launching Azzurro Living just before 2020 introduced challenges none of us could have anticipated. Global supply chains tightened almost overnight. Timelines stretched. Demand surged in some areas while uncertainty lingered in others. We were building a brand while simultaneously navigating disruption on a global scale. It required constant recalibration without losing confidence in the long term vision.
As a designer, you are constantly evaluating your own decisions. Are we pushing far enough creatively? Are we innovating responsibly? Are we scaling with intention? That tension between ambition and restraint never fully disappears. Over time, you realize it is not a burden. It is part of the responsibility that comes with creating something meant to endure.
Looking back, the struggles were not detours. They sharpened judgment, strengthened partnerships, and reinforced resilience. In many ways, the challenges became part of the foundation we continue to build on.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At my core, I’m a furniture designer. My work lives primarily in the luxury outdoor space, but the principles remain the same whether a piece is placed in a private residence or a five star resort. I focus on proportion, structural clarity, and material integrity. Every collection begins with intent and evolves through rigorous development, balancing form, comfort, and performance.
I specialize in performance driven design. Outdoor furniture must withstand harsh environments without sacrificing elegance. That challenge is what draws me in. I am known for bold silhouettes, thoughtful material pairings, and an engineering forward approach that ensures durability is built into the framework, not added as an afterthought. I stay deeply involved from concept through CAD development, factory collaboration, and final presentation.
What sets me apart is that I do not separate design from execution. My background in global manufacturing and product development allows me to move fluidly between creativity and production. I understand how a sketch becomes a prototype, how a prototype becomes a container shipment, and how that shipment ultimately becomes part of someone’s lived environment. That full cycle perspective informs every decision I make.
What I am most proud of is building Azzurro Living from the ground up with my partners and seeing our collections placed in meaningful spaces around the world. But beyond placement, I am proud of the discipline behind the brand, the relationships we have built, and the standard we hold ourselves to creatively and operationally. For me, success is not just about recognition. It is about creating work that endures and contributes to the environments it inhabits.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Adaptability is essential in this profession. You are not always working on personal or dream projects. You are handed a set of requirements, constraints, price targets, and client expectations, and your responsibility is to deliver within that framework. In a perfect world, your personal voice shows up in every project, but there have absolutely been moments in my career where I had to step back from my own aesthetic instincts and focus on what the project truly called for. The ability to adapt without compromising quality is critical.
Adaptability also applies to people. Every project involves a range of personalities, team members, clients, and manufacturers. Learning how to collaborate effectively across hierarchies and cultures is just as important as the design itself. Success often hinges on how well you work with others and how clearly you communicate.
Versatility closely follows. Your design sensibility must be flexible enough to respond to different environments, markets, and price points. I have worked across high volume retail and the broader luxury space, from private residences to hospitality and commercial environments, and each demands a different lens. Outdoor furniture in particular must perform across climates, settings, and budgets without losing integrity. Professionally, versatility means being comfortable moving between creative direction, product development, sourcing conversations, and strategic decision making.
And beyond all of that, relationships have meant everything to my career. This industry is smaller than people realize. The friendships, collaborations, and mutual respect built over time often become the most meaningful opportunities. You never know when a conversation turns into a project, or when a referral becomes a partnership. I genuinely enjoy promoting the work of my peers and supporting their talent, just as many have supported mine. We are fortunate to work within a design community that values collaboration, and maintaining those relationships with integrity has been one of the most important and rewarding parts of the journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://azzurroliving.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonkershnerdesign/; https://www.instagram.com/azzurroliving/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AzzurroLiving/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AzzurroLiving
