Kerri O’Connell

GoodWoodNYC was founded in 2007 by former Blades employee Kerri O’Connell. GoodWood merges the worlds of fashion and art with wood-working and etching to produce unique wooden accessories. Numerous celebrities and tastemakers wear GoodWood pieces, and like-minded brands regularly partner with GoodWood for exclusive collaborations. Five former Blades employees now work for Kerri’s company which prides itself on extreme attention to detail and quality, with all products hand sanded, painted and assembled in GoodWood’s Brooklyn workshop.

Q: As a former Blades employee, what did you like most about working at Blades?
Being involved in the skate/snow industry and getting to meet new people. I liked the atmosphere of the shop–it’s a big family.

Q: Who or what inspires you, and why?
Creativley I’m inspired by music, art and fashion of all kinds. I’m also greatly inspired by NYC and the cultures and subcultures I’ve experienced growing up here. There is so much going on around the whole city so I’m inspired to be a part of it and keep pushing.

Q: What professional accomplishments are you most proud of, and why?
I’m proud to have started a business that has become successful and to be able to create products for major companies and brands. I’m proud of how far GoodWood has come as a company in a relativley short period of time.

Q: Do you have a background in wood-working or accessories design?
I went to art school since I was 14, so I have a background in painting, graphic design and some sculpting. My first job out of college was as a graphic designer for an accessories company designing belts, jewelry and bags. My first experience using a Dremel (which is what I used to carve the first pieces) was at Blades, using it to cut off striped hardware.

Q: What are your hobbies outside of work?
I ride a bike and occasionally skateboard. I draw and paint and get caught up in Xbox in my spare time.

Q: What are your 3 favorite things about living/working in NYC?
Accessibility to everything, diversity and density.

Q: What does success mean to you?
Achieving the goals and accomplishments you set out for and being content with yourself.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Still working but having more time off to relax. I’ll probably start up another business on the side. It’s hard to think about 5 years from now.

Q: If you could have dinner with 3 famous people (living or dead), who would you choose to dine with and why?
Morrissey, Mark Zuckerberg and Louis CK. Just to pick their brains.

Q: If you could only be remembered for one thing, what would it be?
I would like to be remembered for being an artist and creating things. It’s what I have always loved to do, so why not be remembered for it?

To learn more, please visit GoodWoodNYC’s website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.