Our story

studio koko was born from a simple truth: joy lives in life's smallest moments.

This lesson came from an unexpected teacher – a rescue dog named Kobe, with one charmingly floppy "party ear" that never failed to make passersby smile. Kobe found delight in everything: the perfect stick, afternoon sunbeams, toes in fresh grass. When we lost him unexpectedly, his perspective became our guiding light.

After spending over a decade in the corporate world at Amazon, founder Caitlin felt the weight of burnout during the global pandemic. A spontaneous two-hour pottery class offered an unexpected path forward – a chance to create objects that bring the same kind of simple joy Kobe found in his everyday treasures.

Today, studio koko crafts small-batch ceramics that celebrate playfulness and unexpected beauty. Each piece – from footed bowls to hand-linked clay chains – carries subtle elements of whimsy, much like Kobe's signature party ear. Every detail rewards closer looks, turning everyday objects into sources of delight.

In the studio, time moves differently. Each piece begins with a mindful practice that stands in stark contrast to the frenetic pace of tech industry deadlines. Clay is hand-colored and carefully layered to create organic nerikomi patterns – a process that embraces happy accidents and unexpected beauty, much like a dog's perfectly imperfect floppy ear. Unlike traditional nerikomi's precise repetition, these designs celebrate the surprising patterns that emerge when we let go of rigid control.

This philosophy of finding beauty in life's natural flow extends to every aspect of the studio. Water is reclaimed, unused clay finds new purpose, and even broken pieces are reborn as grog or transformed into mosaics.

More than just a pottery studio, studio koko is a testament to choosing joy. Every handcrafted piece is designed to make your home a place you want to be, created with sustainable materials and practices as part of our 1% for the Earth commitment. And because every dog deserves a chance at finding joy, a portion of proceeds goes to support Seattle Humane Society.

studio koko isn't just named after a beloved companion – it's a philosophy. In a world of mass production, we choose to create objects with soul, crafted by hand and filled with love. Each piece is an invitation to pause, smile, and find beauty in life's little moments.