Continually making its presence felt on the architecture and design scene, DKO has seen a plethora of promotions across its studios in mid-year.
September 30th, 2025
As one of the fastest-growing practices in the Asia-Pacific region, DKO has announced a new cohort of senior team members in Australia. Reflecting DKO’s commitment to nurturing talent and fostering leadership from within, these promotions come at a pivotal time for the practice, which is expanding its footprint with major new projects across Australia, New Zealand and the Indonesian archipelagos.
“We firmly believe in growing our practice through nurturing and developing our people,” says DKO Founder and Principal, Koos de Keijzer. “One of the most rewarding aspects of our journey is witnessing the growth and advancement of our talented team members. Their achievements are a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the exceptional culture we have built at DKO.”
From urban design to interiors, placemaking and project delivery, these seven elevations reflect the diverse skills and innovation that define the DKO approach.
Meet the new Senior Associates:
Daisy Richmond-Smith – Victoria
With over 15-years of experience, Daisy is DKO’s go-to expert in wayfinding strategy and environmental psychology. Her ability to shape spaces that foster a sense of wellbeing and connection to nature has made a profound impact on the studio. Richmond-Smith’s promotion acknowledges her leadership in delivering thoughtful, human-centred environments.

Ivan Tan – Victoria
Celebrating a decade with DKO, Tan brings calm authority and trusted leadership to complex projects. Known for his accountability, strong client relationships and design excellence, Tan’s comprehensive involvement from concept through to delivery ensures consistently high-quality outcomes.

The new Associates:
Aly Dandin – New South Wales
Since joining DKO in 2018, Dandin has delivered thoughtful design outcomes with care and precision. Her attention to detail, calm leadership and mentorship continue to shape projects and studio culture alike.
Alex Richardson – New South Wales
Alex Richardson is a meticulous project leader who’s systematic and technically rigorous approach ensures design intent is upheld across all stages. His project management acumen has become indispensable to the successful delivery of complex architectural work.

Christine Eid – Victoria
A passionate advocate for sustainability and collaborative thinking, Eid has played a central role in shaping DKO’s internal Design Exchange. Her promotion celebrates her deep commitment to design excellence, ecological responsiveness, and studio culture.

Daniel Kim – New South Wales
With over a decade of experience in residential design, Kim brings a refined design sensibility, sharp technical focus, and an ability to unify big-picture vision with fine detail. His collaborative spirit ensures success across every phase of project delivery.

Frank Pan – Victoria
A quiet achiever with a sharp technical mind, Pan is a master of resolving complex systems across disciplines. From coordinating consultants to solving structural challenges, his pragmatic problem-solving and mentorship elevate every project he touches.

With these elevations, DKO celebrates its people and looks to the future where it will deliver even more outstanding projects that shape the architecture and design landscape of Australia, our region and beyond.
DKO
dko.com.au
Photography
Chris Manton, Louise Hawson
INDESIGN is on instagram
Follow @indesignlive
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
In an industry where design intent is often diluted by value management and procurement pressures, Klaro Industrial Design positions manufacturing as a creative ally – allowing commercial interior designers to deliver unique pieces aligned to the project’s original vision.
Merging two hotel identities in one landmark development, Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn Little Collins capture the spirit of Melbourne through Buchan’s narrative-driven design – elevated by GROHE’s signature craftsmanship.
At the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence on Yorta Yorta Country in Victoria, ARM Architecture and Milliken use PrintWorks™ technology to translate First Nations narratives into a layered, community-led floorscape.
Suupaa in Cremorne reimagines the Japanese konbini as a fast-casual café, blending retail, dining and precise design by IF Architecture.
At Dissh Armadale, Brahman Perera channels a retail renaissance, with a richly layered interior that balances feminine softness and urban edge.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
From radical material reuse to office-to-school transformations, these five projects show how circular thinking is reshaping architecture, interiors and community spaces.
From six-pack flats to design-led city living, Neometro’s four-decade trajectory offers a lens on how Melbourne learned to see apartment living as a cultural and architectural aspiration rather than a temporary compromise.