The Collected Works on generative design and bi-coastal living ahead of The Design Conference 2025

For over a decade, The Collected Works has been quietly revolutionising how design studios operate, proving that you don’t need to choose between creative ambition and business pragmatism. Co-founded by Justin Colt and Jose Fresneda after meeting in graduate school at SVA, the studio has evolved from a scrappy post-graduation experiment into a hybrid powerhouse spanning New York City and New Orleans. With clients including Nike, The National and The New York Times, their approach embraces an ethos they call ‘Rad Work for Rad People™ – a philosophy that’s equal parts creative manifesto and operational blueprint. As they prepare to share their insights on their works, processes and backgrounds at The Design Conference, Colt and Fresneda joined us to reflect on 12 years of constant evolution, the dynamics that make their partnership work, and why they’ve never stopped pushing themselves beyond their comfort zone. EM: Hey Justin, Jose, how’s things? JF: Hey Eliott, things are going well over here. Summer is in full swing, and we’re pretty excited to venture out to the Australian winter. It’s actually the first time both of us have travelled this far, so we’re in a state of anxiousness and excitement. We can’t wait to meet the incredible creative community that TDC has fostered, and to introduce the work of our studio to anyone who might not be familiar. We’re also very excited to try out some Vegemite as intended.