What Various Projects does

Various Projects, Inc. is a privately held multidisciplinary creative studio founded in 2005 by Elizabeth Beer and Brian Janusiak and headquartered at 2 Bond Street in New York City. The studio operates at the intersection of design, art, and commerce, producing collaborative objects, garments, accessories, books, furniture, and interior spaces on a project basis. Its work spans hand-knit alpaca collectibles (Birdwatching, Angora Rocks), customizable consumer accessories (Various Keytags, Sterling Silver Keytags, Signal Mittens, Market Bags), menswear and womenswear lines, and commissioned installations for cultural institutions including the Whitney Museum, Walker Art Center, and New Museum. The studio has no proprietary technology stack and does not employ AI/ML; its value lies entirely in founder-led creative direction and curated collaborator relationships.

The studio generates revenue through three principal streams: direct product sales via the variouskeytags.com e-commerce platform and its broader consumer catalog; commissions and collaborations with cultural institutions, brands, and hospitality clients (Ace Hotel, Barneys New York Tokyo, Herman Miller, Sonos, Casper); and interior design services for venues such as The Dance nightclub. Project No. 8 operated as the owned retail arm from 2006 to 2019 before being closed, after which Various Keytags was spun off as a separate e-commerce entity. The customer base is split between design-oriented individual consumers purchasing limited-edition objects and institutional or brand clients commissioning custom work, with pricing not publicly disclosed. No external funding rounds have been raised, and the company operates with 1-10 employees under continued founder control.

Name

Various Projects

Legal name

Various Projects, Inc.

Website

https://various-projects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Various Projects is a privately held New York-based multidisciplinary creative studio founded in 2005 by Elizabeth Beer and Brian Janusiak that designs collaborative objects, garments, accessories, books, furniture, and interiors for cultural institutions, brands, and design-oriented consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multidisciplinary Design Services

NAICS

Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410)

SIC

Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures (2590), Public Bldg & Related Furniture (2531)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL), Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM), Pavilion & Country/Group Exhibit Build-Outs (THAHAHAD), Event Signage, Props & Custom Installations (HSACAOAG)

Keywords

• Multidisciplinary design studio
• Collaborative product design
• Limited edition accessories
• Interior design services
• Exhibition installation design

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of designed objects, keytags, accessories, clothing, and furniture through direct e-commerce and retail channels. The Various Keytags line has grown into its own e-commerce entity.
2. Retail Operations: Project No. 8 served as the retail arm of Various Projects from 2006-2019, operating physical retail spaces that offered Various Projects and their creative partners products through experimental retail environments.
3. Collaborations and Commissions: Revenue generated through collaborative projects with clients including design studios, hotels, galleries, and cultural institutions for creating custom objects, garments, interiors, and installations.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Various Projects is a New York-based multidisciplinary design studio that creates collaborative objects, garments, accessories, books, furniture, and interior environments alongside commissioned design services for brands, museums, hospitality operators, and cultural institutions. Its commercial arm centers on the Various Keytags line and an array of knit apparel, accessories, and furniture pieces; its services arm covers custom collaborations, pop-up/exhibition design, and interior design work.

Product overview

Various Projects, Inc. is a multidisciplinary creative studio founded in 2005 by Elizabeth Beer and Brian Janusiak that operates in blurred areas between design, art, and commerce. The company creates objects, garments, accessories, books, furniture, and spaces as the need arises. Key products include Various Keytags (a keytag product line with customizable phrases), the Birdwatching collection (hand-knit alpaca state birds), Angora products (Rocks, Brick, Wine Cozy), Print All Over Me (PAOM) clothing collaborations, and various furniture and installation pieces. Project No. 8 was the retail arm from 2006-2019, operating multiple physical retail spaces. The company frequently collaborates with other designers, artists, and brands on limited edition products and experiential installations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Various Keytags: A product line made by Various Projects that evolved from a single souvenir created exclusively for the Travel/Hotel store. Now its own entity or spin-off, offering an infinite number of word and phrase variations.
• Project No. 8

Products and services

• Various Keytags product line A line of customizable keytags featuring various word and phrase combinations, sold direct-to-consumer through a dedicated e-commerce site (variouskeytags.com). Includes a Sterling Silver (.925) special edition in addition to standard variants. Targeted at consumers seeking design-forward, artist-pedigreed accessories.
• Birdwatching collection Hand-knit alpaca bird collection honoring state and regional birds of the United States, produced in Bolivia under Fair Trade compliance. Marketed as collectible souvenirs for design-conscious consumers.
• Angora knit objects (Rocks, Brick, Wine Cozy) A family of 100% Angora knit collectible objects - including rock, brick, and wine-cozy forms - sold as design-forward novelty items and collectibles.
• Menswear collection Timeless-silhouette clothing collection for men, including suits, shirts, and outerwear, sold through the studio's own and partner retail channels.
• Womenswear collection Timeless-silhouette clothing collection for women, reimagined for different applications, sold through the studio's own and partner retail channels.
• Lifestyle accessories (notebooks, enamel pins, travel pillows, lighters, silk scarf, pencil) A range of small lifestyle accessories spanning stationery, travel, and personal items: customizable gold-foil artist notebooks, collectible enamel pins, travel pillows in multiple colors, tetra lighters, a silk scarf (PN8 Grid), and an architectural pencil.
• Market and Wine Totes / Market Bag Leather carryalls (Market and Wine sizes) crafted from a single piece of leather and engineered to lie flat for travel, plus a 100% cotton expandable market bag made in France; offered with a Maharam collaboration variant.
• Studio-designed furniture (Magazine Rack, Island Display, Wood Garment Rack, Utility Belt, Leather Sandbag) In-house furniture and small-format product designs including a powder-coated steel magazine rack, an Island display vitrine (originally designed for the Project No. 8 Ace Hotel space), a wood garment rack, a leather sandbag, and a utility belt. Sold as design objects for residential and commercial interiors.
• Ward Bennett Book for Phaidon (published monograph) Published monograph on the American interior and furniture designer Ward Bennett, issued by Phaidon and featuring previously unpublished materials, including an interview with Bennett. Sold through book retail channels.
• Custom design collaboration and commissioning services Bespoke design services delivered through collaborative projects with brands, cultural institutions, and other creatives. Engagements include custom objects, garments, interiors, installations, exhibition design, residency programs, and co-branded products, each scoped and contracted individually with the client.
• Interior design services (hospitality and venues) Interior design and space design for hospitality, retail, and entertainment venues, delivered as commissioned projects. Includes design for hotels (e.g., Ace Hotel retail spaces), retail stores (Project No. 8 locations, TurnStyle pop-up), and entertainment venues (e.g., The Dance nightclub and music venue).
• Exhibition, installation, and pop-up experience design services Design and production of branded installations, pop-up environments, and large-scale experiential projects for partners such as Collective Design, Sonos, Casper, Print All Over Me, Day for Night, ACE Hotel, and cultural institutions. Each project is a separately commissioned deliverable combining spatial design, custom fabrication, and brand storytelling.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

39 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Print All Over Me (PAOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration creating printed clothing and textile products. Print All Over Me is described as the premier online platform for creative collaboration and clothing customization. Various Projects Creative Director Elizabeth Beer serves as Creative Director of PAOM Kids line.
• Ace HotelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProject No. 8 operated retail spaces within Ace Hotel locations in New York and Tokyo, creating a symbiotic relationship between hospitality and retail.
• Herman Miller / GeigercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Ward Bennett exhibition 'Making Sense' - a public showcase of the late designer Ward Bennett's work through Herman Miller Collection and Geiger-produced custom furniture pieces.
• New MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on special dress edition for Chris Ofili's retrospective 'Night and Day' opening exhibition.
• Walker Art CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRO/LU x Various Projects residency and performance installation 'Participation As Performance' where bright orange garments were available to museum visitors.
• Whitney MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated uniforms for Dexter Sinister's project at the Whitney Biennial, designing garments for the esoteric information office at the Park Avenue Armory.
• Barneys New YorkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVarious Projects Pop-Up at Barneys New York in Tokyo featuring Zimmerli collaboration t-shirts.
• RO/LUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign studio collaboration on furniture installations including 'Surfaces On Which You Are Setting And Sitting Will Be Uncertain' at Design Miami and Walker Art Center residency.
• ZimmerliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss knitwear company collaboration on t-shirt designs for Various Projects Pop-Up at Barneys New York Tokyo, featuring Egyptian cotton in black or white.
• Casper MattressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided innovative foam material carved into geometric landscape for Nap Lab installation at Collective Design.
• SonosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated The Cloud Lounge at the Sonos NYC Flagship featuring printed furniture forms with weather pattern imagery.
• SnarkitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on PAOM Kids children's apparel line.
• Darcel DisappointsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated Alpaca Darcel doll as ultimate NY souvenir and postcard series for Travel/Hotel store. Redman is the designer who invented the fictional cultural critic.
• Realities UnitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin-based studio designed motion-activated animation system for fluorescent lights at Project No. 8 Division St store - first time this technology was done in the US.
• L.G.RminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEyewear brand collaboration.
• Grey AreaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProject No. 8 East Hampton Pop-up collaboration.
• Wallpaper ProjectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Block Party weather booth at Collective Design 2016 featuring foam sectional furniture.
• Patrick Parrish GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious Projects created installation with RO/LU for Design Miami/ Curio booth featuring custom carpet and wallpaper designs.
• Cooper HewittminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as collaborator/client.
• GoogleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as collaborator/client.
• MadewellminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as collaborator/client.
• Urban OutfittersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as collaborator/client.
• StarbucksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as collaborator/client.
• PowerHouse BooksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as collaborator/client.
• Serving LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Serving Library Book Jacket project.
• Arratia Beer GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurators of 'As Long As It Lasts...' tattoo parlor project.
• A WindowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presented Various Products Group Show at 38 Orchard Street location.
• Day for NightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated Reflect Lounge installation combining immersive art installations with festival landscape design.
• Josee Lepage & Tobias WongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMementos collaboration project. Wong and Lepage were original organizers of 'As Long As It Lasts...' tattoo project.
• Seth KinmontminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Ideas City on Project No. 8 retail projects.
• Frederick McSwainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAngora Fronzoni collaboration.
• Jason PolanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as collaborator.
• Garden 26minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as collaborator.
• School Of LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as collaborator.
• White Zinfandel MagazineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhite Zinfandel collaboration on fashion/art projects.
• Base DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as collaborator.
• Lightening BoltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as collaborator.
• MacIntoshminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as collaborator.
• Dome CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMotion and interactive design collaboration for Nap Lab installation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Roman and Williams: NYC multidisciplinary design studio offering interiors, furniture, and objects for hospitality, retail, and cultural clients (including Ace Hotel). Highly comparable in client base, creative discipline range, and project typology.
• R & Company: NYC design gallery and producer representing and collaborating with established and emerging designers on collectible furniture and objects. Operates in the same art-design-commerce intersection with parallel retail and collaboration models.
• Snarkitecture: Brooklyn-based experiential design studio working at the intersection of art and architecture. Direct peer in scale and category — both firms collaborate with cultural institutions and consumer brands on installations, retail environments, and product collaborations.
• LOT-EK: NYC-based architecture and design studio working across furniture, installations, and adaptive reuse projects. Comparable in the multidisciplinary, project-based studio model serving cultural and commercial clients.
• Aranda\Lasch: NYC design studio working at the intersection of architecture, art, and installation. Comparable scale, design-led approach, and engagement with cultural institutions and design fairs.
• Patrick Parrish Gallery: NYC gallery representing contemporary designers and artists with a focus on collectible furniture and installations. Various Projects has collaborated with Parrish (Design Miami/Curio booth), and the gallery operates in the same curated design market.
• Moss Bureau: Design retailer and consultancy founded by Murray Moss, known for pioneering the curated design retail concept in NYC. Highly comparable to the now-closed Project No. 8 in concept and customer base.

Regional players

• WantedDesign: NYC-based design platform producing exhibitions, talks, and programming that connects designers with manufacturers and brands. Comparable ecosystem role and overlaps in the design fair circuit where Various Projects exhibits.

Broad incumbents

• Maison & Objet: Paris-based international design trade fair and ecosystem. Comparable market positioning in the global design community where Various Projects exhibits and sources collaborations.
• 2x4: NYC-based design consultancy specializing in brand strategy, exhibition design, and spatial experiences. Larger and more commercially focused, but operates in overlapping design disciplines for cultural and retail clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/various-projects-by

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Various Projects