A Conversation with Kelly DeWitt Norman

On regaining awareness & remembering choice in the capitalist context

Welcome to the second interview of CITTOC. We resume this conversation series with Kelly DeWitt Norman, the founding partner of KKDW Studios.

self portrait by Kelly DeWitt Norman

Kelly is a luminous creative whose capabilities constantly astound me. She is one of those people who regularly makes really hard things look incredibly easy—I am pretty sure she is operating with more hours in the day than the rest of us. Her brilliant blue eyes are framed by the perfect French girl fringe, and she is often accompanied by her curious, confident young daughter, June.

I must disclose, dear reader, that these first conversations I am sharing have taken place very close to home. I am journeying through this exploration of creativity within the context of capitalism in concentric circles. I have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to creative friends, and my next guest is certainly no exception. Kelly is one of the most multifaceted creatives that I know—she is a master of carpentry, welding, writing, photography, floral design, not to mention singing, piano, and the drums. 

For the past 13 years, Kelly has run the design + build firm KKDW alongside her husband Travis Norman. What began with furniture design ultimately became a full-service design + build studio, one that has created memorable spaces for some of Austin’s most exciting commercial and culinary projects, including Adriene Mishler’s Find What Feels Good HQ and the critically acclaimed East Austin eatery Birdie’s. When I began designing the brick & mortar for Miranda Bennett Studio many years ago, Kelly wasn’t just my first choice for creating all of the custom millwork that outfitted the shop, she was my only choice. Beyond that meaningful creative collaboration, Kelly officiated my wedding and is one of my closest confidants. She is also the generous and encouraging copy editor of this very substack.

I had the opportunity to catch up with her during an acutely liminal time, as she is mid-step in her transition away from designing and building spaces for hire. Kelly is now redirecting her energy towards a new chapter of her career, and while she is still crafting memorable spaces for people to gather, this time it is as a partner in several restaurant projects slated to open throughout Central Texas this year and next, including the recently opened cocktail and champagne bar Daydreamer and Austin’s already beloved Busty’s Bar & Jukebox, as well as the much anticipated brick & mortar of Bad Larry’s Burger Club. 

After my first conversation with Hallie Brewer last month, I realized that these discussions are less interviews and more opportunities to sketch a moment in time in the life of the creatives at their center. A chance to document transitions and revelations—temporal portraits of dynamic subjects who are allowed to change, be vulnerable, and evolve. This is not about declaratives being set in stone, it is about creating a safe space to commune and explore. With that in mind, I invite you to a very intimate conversation with a very, very dear friend.