About JD Studio Designs

Daniel Tierney - Co-Founder, JD Studio Designs

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Daniel was essentially born with a trowel in his hand. He grew up remodeling homes and even helping his family build a log cabin, learning early that spaces could be shaped by hand and heart. As a young man in Chicago, he partnered with his aunt, Chef Suzy Crofton, to design and build Crofton on Wells, crafting custom pieces such as the host stand and the fresco dining patio that were featured in Chicago Magazine in 1998. ​

Daniel later moved to Washington, D.C., where he refined his skills in historical restoration while creating custom work throughout Georgetown and the historic Freedman neighborhood. One of his most meaningful projects was the full remodel of Epiphany Catholic Church, an early Black church. Daniel coordinated a team of artisans and personally handcrafted the pulpit, altar, and sacristy, restoring the church to its former dignity and beauty. He then returned to Chicago to give back to the community he came from, serving as a director-level maintenance supervisor for a nonprofit supporting Chicago public housing.

Pushing his craft further, Daniel moved to Los Angeles and began shaping spaces for creative industries. Partnering with producer and Sugar Studios CEO Jijo Reid, he helped build out the studio’s identity, starting on the ninth floor of the historic Wiltern Theatre and eventually transforming multiple floors. The work culminated in a penthouse suite converted into a 4K Dolby Atmos theater—one of the most advanced studios of its kind in Los Angeles—along with high-end feature walls and million-dollar builds in Brentwood and the Hollywood Hills.

Now based in Austin, Daniel continues to design and build large-scale, hand-crafted art for spaces that matter. Outside of the studio, he loves exploring Austin with his daughters and working to set a strong example: always pushing toward excellence, staying art-forward, and showing them how great design can inspire, calm, energize, and move people in ways that words alone cannot.

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Jack Barnett - Co-Founder, JD Studio Designs

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Jack Barnett was practically born on a worksite. He grew up surrounded by construction and design, thanks to his mother’s passion for renovating homes and her business crafting Louis XVI–inspired furniture. From a young age, Jack spent his time in her workshop, working alongside artisans and treating the space as a playground where he could learn, create, and imagine.

At sixteen, Jack chose a traditional craftsman’s path and enrolled at the historic Compagnons du Devoir, an organization of master craftsmen and artisans dating back to the Middle Ages. There, he trained in disciplines such as stone masonry, furniture making, and the preservation of historical monuments. After completing his education, he worked in historical restoration in the south of France, honing his skills in stone, brick, plaster, and woodworking on churches, estates, and other significant structures.

Drawn by family ties to the film industry, Jack moved to the United States at twenty-six and began a career in the movie business. The work allowed him to explore his artistic side, but his move to Austin, Texas in 2017 marked a turning point. After starting a family, he realized he wanted to stay close to his children and return to the hands-on craft he loved most. That decision led him back to construction and, ultimately, to co-founding JD Studio Designs.

Outside the studio, Jack loves spending time with his kids. Whether he’s building doll accessories from wood and felt or simply drawing and painting with them, he’s intentional about passing on the joy of making things by hand rather than simply buying them off the shelf.

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JD Studio Designs: Where Architecture Meets Art

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After relocating to Austin, Daniel was introduced to fellow designer and entrepreneur Jack Barnett through a mutual friend. They quickly discovered a shared obsession with exquisite finishes, high-plaster relief, and large-scale, site-specific art. What began as conversations about materials and form evolved into a clear vision: a studio dedicated to creating monumental pieces of art for commercial spaces. Together, they launched JD Studio Designs to offer businesses large-scale art, custom furniture, and architectural pieces that transform commercial spaces. Jack and Daniel are thrilled to create together and bring ambitious visions to life.

Since then, JD Studio Designs has become a trusted partner for brands that want their spaces to feel unforgettable.

The studio joined the design team for Viva Day Spa in Round Rock, helping refine and crystallize the brand through custom sculptural work. That collaboration expanded to Dallas, where JD Studio Designs created Viva’s flagship location, featuring their largest sculpted medallion feature wall to date, three custom organic slab sales desks, sweeping sculptural elements, and a full suite of custom architectural pieces that helped propel the brand into its next chapter. 

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JD studio Designs continues to raise the bar, designing and crafting large-scale plaster murals, carved wood entrances, and statement architectural art that elevates brands and transforms the experience of their spaces.