What Kilo does

Kilo is a Copenhagen-based industrial design studio founded in 2005 by award-winning designer Lars Larsen, operating from a single headquarters at Stevnsgade 14 in Copenhagen N, Denmark. The studio provides idea-driven industrial design services from concept through mass production to clients ranging from early-stage startups (Veo, Kintobe, Airmotion Laboratories) to global corporations (Virgin Hyperloop, Google, IKEA, Samsung, Carlsberg, Razer, Markforged, Royal Copenhagen, Louis Poulsen, HAY, Fritz Hansen), spanning consumer electronics, audio, transportation, sports technology, furniture, lighting, bicycles, wearables, beverages, and additive manufacturing. Its portfolio includes the TMA-2 Modular Headphone System for AIAIAI (offering 360+ configuration possibilities and multiple Cannes Lions, Red Dot, iF, and D&AD awards), the Veo Cam 2 AI-enabled sports camera, the Markforged FX20 industrial 3D printer, the Virgin Hyperloop Pegasus XP-2 pod (co-designed with BIG and exhibited at the Smithsonian), and the Aillio AiO AI-powered coffee roaster. The studio frequently collaborates with KiBiSi partners (BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and others) and is recognized among Scandinavia's most influential design practices.

The business operates on a professional services model, generating revenue through design fees, development partnerships, and ongoing client engagements handled on a project-by-project basis with no publicly disclosed pricing. Kilo does not sell products directly; instead, it delivers completed designs to clients who then manufacture and distribute them. Marketing is conducted primarily through its portfolio website (kilodesign.dk), earned media from international design awards (Cannes Lions, Red Dot, Good Design, D&AD, Clio, Core77, Fast Company Innovation by Design, Wallpaper*, Architectural Digest, NYCxDesign, iF, Iconic Awards, Design For Asia, Index, Beazley), and institutional exhibitions (Smithsonian FUTURES, SFMOMA Permanent Collection). The firm is privately held and founder-controlled, with no disclosed external investment, parent company, or M&A activity on record. Its go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct enterprise relationships and reputation rather than traditional demand-generation channels.

Name

Kilo

Legal name

Kilo Design

Website

https://kilodesign.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kilo is a Copenhagen-based industrial design studio founded in 2005 by Lars Larsen that provides concept-to-production design services to enterprise clients and startups across audio, transportation, consumer electronics, furniture, and sports technology, including the TMA-2 Modular Headphone System for AIAIAI and the Virgin Hyperloop Pegasus XP-2 pod.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Valby

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Design Services: Kilo provides industrial design services to clients, working from concept through production. Revenue is generated through design fees, development partnerships, and ongoing client collaborations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kilo is a Copenhagen-based industrial design studio that provides idea-driven design services to clients from startups to major corporations. The studio combines strategy, design sensibility, and production know-how to support clients from concept through mass production across sectors including consumer electronics, furniture, wearables, transportation, sports technology, and home goods.

Product overview

Kilo is a Copenhagen-based industrial design studio (founded 2005) that acts as an idea-driven design partner for leading-edge clients across diverse sectors. Rather than offering a unified software product, Kilo provides industrial design services resulting in client-specific product portfolios. Their major design achievements include the TMA-2 Modular Headphone System (for AIAIAI) offering over 360 configurations, the Veo AI-powered sports camera system, the FX20 industrial 3D printer (for Markforged), the Pegasus XP-2 Hyperloop pod (with BIG for Virgin Hyperloop), and the AiO AI-powered coffee roaster (for Aillio). Other notable products include anti-pollution masks (Woobi Play/Plus), furniture collections (Facade for HAY/COBE, HAV for Royal Copenhagen), sustainable packaging systems, watches (Pebble, Facette, Ore, Topo, Oblong for Bulbul), and various consumer products. The studio collaborates extensively with other design firms including KiBiSi (with partners BIG and Bjarke Ingels) and has won major awards including Cannes Lions Golden Lion for the TMA-2 system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Design Studio Services Comprehensive industrial design services including product design, design strategy, brand development, and production support from concept to mass production. Engaged on a project-by-project basis with clients from startups to major corporations across diverse sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• TMA-2 Modular Headphone System achieved 360 different configuration possibilities for music professionals
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AIAIAIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partnership spanning over a decade. Kilo has designed multiple product lines for AIAIAI including TMA-1, TMA-2 Modular, Tracks, Pipe, Capital headphones and various special editions and collaborations with labels like Ninja Tune, Ed Banger Records, and others. The partnership has produced numerous award-winning products including Cannes Lions Gold winner.
• BIG-Bjarke Ingels GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on major projects including Virgin Hyperloop Pegasus XP-2 pod, VIA57 Chair with Fritz Hansen, Taper collection for Kallista, HAV porcelain collection, and Llama restaurant. Kilo shares office space with BIG and has worked together on multiple design ventures through KiBiSi partnership.
• Carlsberg GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on sustainable packaging innovation - the Green Fiber Bottle project developed with Carlsberg Circular Community, EcoXpac, Innovation Fund Denmark, and Technical University of Denmark. Project aims to create 100% biodegradable beer bottle from sustainably sourced wood fiber.
• SkånetrafikenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Swedish agency Neumeister to design a series of new bus shelters for Skånetrafiken. First model installed in Malmö as part of an eight-module system. Each shelter designed to be welcoming, safe, easy to maintain with sedum-covered green roofs.
• COBEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Danish architecture firm COBE on the Facade container collection for HAY, inspired by Forfatterhuset kindergarten architecture. Also collaborated on Architectural Terracotta collection for COBE's Danish Architecture Centre exhibition.
• CP+B CopenhagenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership on Carlsberg Green Fiber Bottle sustainable packaging project.
• NeumeisterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish agency collaboration on Skånetrafiken bus shelter design project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Hugmunktur (Iceland): Iceland-based multidisciplinary design studio working in product, brand, and spatial design. Comparable to Kilo as a Nordic boutique design firm with cross-sector capabilities, though operating from a different geography.
• People People (Sweden): Stockholm-based industrial design studio working with international clients on consumer products, furniture, and electronics. Comparable to Kilo as a Scandinavian boutique design peer with similar cross-sector approach and target clients.

Direct peers

• IDEO: Global design and innovation consultancy working across consumer products, transportation, and digital experiences. Comparable to Kilo as a multidisciplinary industrial design firm serving blue-chip clients from concept to mass production.
• Pentagram: Partner-led design consultancy spanning product, brand, and digital design for major global brands. Comparable to Kilo in serving high-profile clients and producing award-winning work, though Pentagram is much larger and broader in scope.
• fuseproject: Yves Béhar's San Francisco-based design studio known for consumer electronics, furniture, and wearables with strong brand-building impact. Comparable to Kilo as a boutique, award-winning industrial design studio serving visionary global clients.
• Map Design (Norway): Oslo-based industrial design studio serving Scandinavian and international brands in consumer products, transportation, and audio. Closely comparable to Kilo as a Nordic peer with overlapping client industries (audio, mobility, consumer goods) and similar size.
• Teague: Seattle-based design and innovation firm specializing in transportation, aviation, and consumer products. Comparable to Kilo in industrial design work for major brands across transportation and consumer categories.
• Ammunition Group: San Francisco design studio led by Robert Brunner, known for consumer electronics and furniture work for premium brands. Comparable to Kilo as a boutique studio producing award-winning industrial design for high-profile clients.
• Layer Design: London-based design studio founded by Benjamin Hubert, working across furniture, mobility, consumer electronics, and digital products. Comparable to Kilo as a boutique, award-winning studio operating across similar cross-sector categories.
• Frog Design (frog): Global design and engineering firm with deep expertise in consumer electronics, transportation, and industrial products. Closely comparable to Kilo in cross-sector industrial design for leading global brands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kilodesigncph

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kilo