Welcome to studio of Curioso
Curioso is a design studio, specializing in creating meaningful and memorable experiences through interior design, brand development, and architectural services. Established in 2013, the firm operates with a team of approximately 45 professionals, including designers, architects, and artists, who collaborate to deliver unique and thoughtful spaces.
Led by co-founders Nina Grondin and Daniel Pierce, Curioso emphasizes a human-centered approach to design. They work closely with clients worldwide to tackle ambitious design and innovation challenges, aiming to transform spaces into experiences that resonate with people.
The firm's portfolio showcases a diverse range of projects, from physical spaces to digital branding, all crafted with a focus on hospitality and community. Curioso's commitment to collaboration and flexibility allows them to adapt to various project scopes and client needs effectively.
Will you give us a brief history of Curioso?
Nina Grondin, Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Curioso was born in 2013 out of a shared instinct between me and my business partner, Daniel Pierce - we wanted to do good work with good people. That’s it. No grand plan. No five-year forecast. Just a desire to make meaningful things with people we liked and admired.
What started as two curious humans has since grown into a team of 45, with studios in Chicago and Merida, Mexico. Along the way, our work has taken us deep into the worlds of hotels and resorts, restaurants and bars, wellness spaces, branded residences, multi-family developments, workplace strategy, and brand design. We’ve traveled far, geographically and creatively, but our compass, and our North Star, hasn’t changed.
Curioso isn’t just a company. It’s our longest-standing and most important project. It’s alive. It evolves with every new teammate, every project, and every lesson learned. Today, we’re still doing good work with good people—there are just a lot more of us now, and a lot more stories to tell.
As a multi-national design firm, with studios in Mérida, Yucatán and Chicago, how do you foster team culture and community in your nearly 50 person team?
Nina Grondin, Managing Partner & Co-Founder
At Curioso, we strongly believe that “Good design puts people first.” That doesn’t just apply to the spaces we design - it’s the foundation of how we run our business and build our team culture.
In order to do that we encourage our team to bring their whole selves to Curioso. A lot of companies want their team members to have a separation of personal life from their work life - we’re the opposite. Our mindset is we believe every team member (or “Oso,” as we affectionately call ourselves) carries a unique story, perspective, and creative lens. That’s what makes our work so rich.
Even though we have two physical locations, Chicago and Mérida, we operate as one studio. Every project is an international collaboration, woven together by designers from different places, backgrounds, and disciplines. This cross-studio approach means our work is always informed by diverse voices, cultural contexts, and a kind of creative consciousness and empathy that can’t be faked. And our clients are a part of that. They are key collaborators on every project.
We’re not just designing beautiful spaces - we’re designing a company culture where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to do their best work. That’s the real project.
Storytelling is foundational to your design process and how you approach your work. How did this become a pillar in the business? How do you incorporate storytelling into each project?
Katrina Hoernig, Brand Storyteller
Storytelling is how we look at the world—it's immersive, emotive, and human. When starting each project, we’re led by the senses, guided by intuition, and decisive by heart. We spend significant time tuning to the frequency of a place, breaking bread with those who've been there before us, and walking alongside those who know the land like the back of their hand. We use those experiences to define the North Star that guides our design. These story-driven decisions make the experience visceral for those curious to explore.
Your spaces are full of soul and character. From the design to branding to styling, what makes a Curioso space?
Katrina Hoernig, Brand Storyteller
The throughline of our storytelling might range from jovial and theatrical to profound and purpose-driven, but the heart of the story is always a reflection of the local people and place. This is felt through every detail in a space, from ceramic signage glazed with the sand of the local shoreline to the sound of a vintage sports broadcast playing on cassette in a hotel lobby, each unique detail ties back to the project’s story. While the context for each project changes, the level of intentionality is always the same.
One of your main strengths is community building and nurturing relationships. How does this positively impact your team and clients?
Nina Grondin, Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Our work is really in creating community. And that’s because everything we touch is through a hospitality lens. Hospitality is one of the oldest industries in the world. Historically, hotels were the heart of a town. Where people gathered, broke bread, shared stories, held meetings, and welcomed travelers bringing fresh perspectives. They were more than buildings; they were cultural and social anchors. That spirit still resonates today, and we design with that in mind.
Hospitality is about caring for one another. Hospitality spaces connect people to place, to culture, and to one another. Design is simply our medium for the real work of creating spaces that foster connection, understanding, and belonging: in a word, community.
This philosophy naturally extends to how we build our own team and nurture relationships with our clients. We aim to partner with people who share our values - those who care deeply about the long-term impact of their work: socially, environmentally, and economically. Community doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with relationships built on trust. And trust is established over time - through collaboration, shared stories, open dialogue around challenges, and showing up for each other.
Our most powerful projects emerge when everyone involved understands we’re not just designing spaces, we’re shaping the experience of a community, both within the project teams and for every future guest or team member who walks through the door of the places we design.
Tell us about the Curioso studios. What were non-negotiables when designing your workspaces? Do you have a favorite area?
Caitlin Daly, Design Lead
Creating a welcoming and inspiring environment, both during and after work hours, was a top priority when designing our spaces. We wanted each studio to radiate creative energy while fostering a genuine connection between the place and the people who work here, our clients, and the vendor partners we collaborate with. Our Chicago studio offers stunning skyline views throughout every season, while our Mérida studio features a lush courtyard with a warm breeze flowing through native plants. Though each space is uniquely tied to its location, they share the same core values and sense of community.
As someone who works out of our Chicago studio, I gravitate toward our newly expanded space for the flexibility it provides, but being surrounded by pinned-up inspiring projects and having easy access to our materials library is a definite bonus!
Your projects contain incredible pieces made by artists and artisans. How do you find the talented people you work with? What’s your favorite part of the sourcing and procurement process?
Katrina Hoernig, Brand Storyteller
Aligning with like-minded artists allows us to tune to a more precise frequency of the place. When we connect with the local creative community, we can tap into a deep reservoir of passion and understanding that takes generations to amass. These artists inspire us to infuse each experience with purpose and weave individuality into every work of art or furniture selection.
Zoe Browning, Designer
My favorite part of sourcing FF&E for a project is being able to bring together a mixture of different manufacturers and artists within the space and witness that beautiful moment where it all comes together. It’s so exciting when you find that perfect fabric, wall sconce, or area rug and you just get that feeling of “this is it.”
What is a project that you’re currently working on that you’re excited about?
Caitlin Daly, Design Lead
As a studio, we’re fortunate to work on many incredible projects, but the one I'm most excited about right now is a boutique hotel in Boca Raton, Florida. This historic gem is approaching its 100th anniversary next year, and while restoring a property with such a rich past comes with its challenges, it's incredibly rewarding to work with clients who value its original character and want to honor the beauty that comes with it.
For this project, we've been pushing our creativity through custom carpet and textile design while immersing ourselves in the history of the hotel and the people who helped shape it. It's a true blend of research, craftsmanship, and storytelling.
Could you share more about The Curioso Quarterly? How did this publication start? What are your future plans for this editorial project?
Emily Green - Communications & Marketing Lead
The Curioso Quarterly was created as a way to celebrate and share the culture and creativity of our studio. Our work is so multidimensional, and we wanted to dive more deeply into all the different elements that inspire the spaces we create—people, places, other creatives and artists, music, animals, plants (!). But we didn’t want The Quarterly to feel like a promotional piece, we really wanted it to add value to readers. It’s a reminder and an invitation to invest in beautiful things, to celebrate art, to focus on growth, and to continuously innovate.
The Quarterly evolved into an even later editorial endeavor that began a year ago: a coffee table book celebrating Curioso’s ten-year anniversary. This book (“Curioso X”) has been a true labor of love, taking us into the archives to reflect on a decade of work, partnerships, and creative evolution.
Where are you hanging out in and around Chicago? What spaces bring you joy?
Caitlin Daly, Design Lead
Lately, I’ve been returning to my tried-and-true spots—the ones filled with the best memories. Whether it’s dinner at Elina’s or a nightcap (or two…) at Rainbo Club, these places bring me joy. I’m drawn to spaces where you can settle in for hours, surrounded by the warm glow of candlelight and a steady flow of classic cocktails.
Zoe Browning, Designer
I moved to the Logan Square neighborhood a year ago and I feel like there is always something new to discover here. I basically don’t leave! I find myself hanging out at Bungalow by Middle Brow for an amazing slice of pizza on the patio, Solemn Oath for a round of pool with friends, or Easy Does It for a night of wine and dancing. A space that gives me joy is Palmer Square Park! It’s the quintessential park and has the best dog watching, beautiful trees and is surrounded by historic homes. My goal is to host picnics here this summer. Also, I love walking to City Lit Books and picking out several new books and then going to the Logan Square Farmers Market and buying a bouquet of flowers.
Nina Grondin, Managing Partner & Co-Founder
I love the oldies but goodies.
Avec (the original on Randolph) still blows me away. The food that comes out of that tiny-ass kitchen is consistently amazing. The fact that the entire restaurant is basically two communal tables? That’s community, plain and simple.
Sparrow in the Gold Coast is a hidden gem. Tucked into an ever-evolving, hyper-commercial neighborhood, it somehow feels intimate and timeless. Beautiful cocktails, perfect lighting, corners to disappear into, and staff who know exactly when to appear and when to give you space.
Zebra Lounge - this one’s a “when you know, you know” situation. I’m not saying anything more.
And then there’s The Red Lion Pub on Lincoln. Not for the design or the food, though both hit the spot in their own right, but for the people. Especially the owner, Colin Cordwell, who’s been at it for over 40 years. The community of people he has built, and that I have met there has enriched my life over the years. Sit down any night and you’ll meet doctors, professors, politicos, authors - people from every walk of life who’ve found a home there. It’s a hospitality space in its truest form.
What are you currently loving at Martha Mae?
Nina Grondin, Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Jean Cate and Curioso share a core belief: everyone is a designer. Everyone is creative in their own right. What I love most about Martha Mae is how effortlessly and beautifully it reminds people of that truth.
Through the workshops - gentle, welcoming, and wildly inspiring, Jean creates space for anyone to show up, no artistic background required, and simply create. To watercolor a leaf of lettuce with no pressure or pretense… and it’s so quietly beautiful it makes you want to f*cking cry. That’s the magic. We’re all artists. We started out in the world that way. Some of us just forgot somewhere along the journey. Martha Mae brings us back to that creative spirit It’s a gift. A kind of hospitality all its own. Jean, we’re so grateful for you, and the world is better because you’re in it, and because you’ve shared Martha Mae with all of us.
