Meet The American Kinesiologist Who Now Animates Furniture In Manchester How Kent Wood Found Motion Designs Full Circle

Creative Boom: The kinesiologist who now animates furniture: how Kent Wood found motion design's full circle The founder of Kwoo Studio discusses how he's made a name for himself after a career pivot and a move across the Atlantic. Right now, many of us are contemplating either a career change or a geographical move (or both) as the twin engines of AI and economic contraction threaten the jobs we currently hold dear. And that's a scary prospect, but it's worth remembering that, actually, pivoting mid-career isn't itself a bad thing.

People have been doing this for generations, for all sorts of reasons, and sometimes it could be the best thing that ever happened to you. Kent Wood is currently going through that transition. "I used to think that by 30, you were supposed to have everything figured out in life," he says.

"Instead, I moved countries, changed careers, learned motion design and started building a studio." Having moved from America to England to support his partner, he's set up in business as Kwoo Studio, and he's already attracted attention on social media, where he's been writing about his experiences and sharing his work, such as his concept case study for a fictional furniture brand, Belo. And it turns out he's not alone. "Since sharing my story online, I've had a flood of comments, DMs, and emails from people telling me they've recently quit their jobs, moved countries, or changed careers," he tells us.

"We're in a time of rapid innovation, and that always brings big change. People of all ages are self-reflecting and rethinking what they truly want their lives to look like, particularly outside of work. My generation, Millennials and Gen Z, are on the front lines of it all, and a lot of us are taking huge risks as a result." A global odyssey That same thinking is what brought him to Manchester. "I'm here supporting my partner, who decided to return to academia after a brief stint in the corporate world and take up a new role at the university," he explains.

"We eloped to Ireland back in 2022 and had always been open to living in the EU or UK if the right opportunity ever came along." His path to design, meanwhile, has not been straightforward. Having grown up in the Caribbean, he moved to Florida for university, where he studied kinesiology, the study of human movement. He's since lived in Florida, Texas and back in the Caribbean, where he founded a company distributing wholesale goods to hotels and restaurants. "In many ways, the reason I eventually left feels familiar to what we're all experiencing in the design industry today," he says.

"That business model was constantly shifting, and keeping pace meant working unsustainable hours while navigating shrinking profit margins, rising operational costs, and major supply chain disruptions. As the ground kept moving underfoot, I found myself questioning if I had a future there. "The cumulative effect of constantly adapting to challenges and facing a model that no longer felt sustainable made me reconsider doing that work long term," he continues.

Article truncated for readability. Read the full piece →

Kent Wood's unique transition and innovative approach to brand design through motion offers valuable insights for brand strategy professionals looking to adapt to modern consumer expectations.