We recently connected with Koko & Sass Design Co and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Koko & Sass Design Co, thanks for joining us today. Any thoughts around creating more inclusive workplaces?

Inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do in our workplace. Erick’s journey with Rheumatoid Arthritis has profoundly shaped our understanding of inclusivity and the importance of creating environments where everyone feels supported. His invisible illness often means he has to navigate significant physical challenges, especially during busy staging or on-site days. Whether it’s using a rolling stool to get through demanding tasks or waking up with intense pain, we’ve had to create systems and conversations that acknowledge his limitations without diminishing his contributions. It’s taught us that true inclusivity begins with empathy and open dialogue—making space for people to show up as they are, without fear of judgment or reduced opportunities.

These experiences have shaped how we approach inclusivity across the board. For instance, we’ve worked with black, trans, and neurodivergent team members, and we’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to thrive. Inclusivity in our business means more than just hiring diverse teams—it’s about actively fostering respect and understanding. When we’ve had moments where education was needed, such as when Erick had to speak with builders about respecting our trans assistant, he addressed it with clarity and care, setting the tone for the entire team. It’s important to us that our workplace reflects a culture of mutual respect, where people feel safe, valued, and seen.

Our commitment to inclusivity also shapes how we build out team. We make it a priority to have a diverse team and emphasize that in our hiring process.

We believe inclusivity isn’t just about making accommodations—it’s about celebrating differences and ensuring everyone has the tools and support they need to succeed.

For us, it’s about recognizing that every individual brings something unique and valuable to the table, and by creating a culture of openness and respect, we can all thrive together.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We are Koko & Sass Design Co, also known as Erick Pabellon and Leenie Mayfield—an interior design duo based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Our story is as unique as the spaces we create. I, Leenie, am Australian with a background in the music, film, hospitality and theatre industry, while Erick is an incredible all-round artist who has done everything from painting murals to styling fashion, to designing homes, to exhibiting his paintings in galleries around the world, including Paris. We met 11 years ago in Barcelona and spent the early days of our relationship gallivanting across six countries. Eventually, we settled in Australia, where we lived for four years. During that time, we took on some short term accommodation spaces in Sydney to recover our travel funds, and that’s when I realized just how incredible Erick is at transforming these apartments using what we had. What started as a simple project organically evolved into our business today. I think our different ’zones of genius’ complemented one another perfectly too, which is why, when we came together in business, it really worked!

In our partnership, Erick is the creative visionary—an artist with an impeccable eye for details, color, and beautiful, fun design. I’m the wheels, the one who lines up opportunities, and runs the projects. Having worked behind the scenes in almost every creative industry, I’ve honed the ability to manifest big ideas and bring them to life. Together, we’re a powerful team that thrives on collaboration and creativity.

What sets Koko & Sass Design Co apart? We bring the tropical! (Koko), the fun! (Sass), and bold and unique flavors of the caribe and sprinkle them with unexpected SHAPOW elements, in beautifully harmonized color palettes. Whether it’s a mural behind a painting, oversized pendant lights, or furniture with interesting shapes, we always like to add unique elements. This makes spaces feel fun, comfortable, and helps create a relaxing environment when they feel close to nature.

We also are very dedicated to making sure our clients are thrilled with the finished product. We strive to exceed their expectations by truly listening to their needs, understanding their vision, and ensuring we have their favorite aesthetic down during the design process. For us, it’s not just about creating a beautiful space – it’s about creating an elevated reflection of their personality, style and dreams. So far we’ve brought every client we’ve had to happy tears in the final reveal ! Knowing we’ve had a part in upgrading their spaces it feels very fulfilling, because we elevate their lives in turn.

Since moving to Puerto Rico, we’ve been fortunate to take on some extraordinary projects—each one bigger and more challenging than the last. One of our proudest achievements is a 13,000 square foot home in Humacao, where we designed and styled 37 unique spaces for a family with three kids. Their vision was for a home that was stylish, fun, and next-level beautiful, complete with features like a hidden cinema and pantry, and a beautiful old-esque Italian wine cellar. At first, it felt overwhelming to wrap our heads around the scale of the project, but we smashed it! Seeing the final result and knowing we exceeded their expectations was incredibly rewarding.

Of course, working in Puerto Rico comes with its own set of challenges when finding skilled and reliable contractors. Often labor and costs inflate based on location. We have current shipping delays, and environmental factors like hurricanes – all of which require us to get creative and resourceful. Despite these hurdles, we’ve learned to adapt and thrive, and each project pushes us to grow even more.

So far, we’ve focused primarily on residential design, but now we are expanding into commercial and hospitality projects. At the end of the day, we love what we do, and we’re so grateful we’ve been able to build what we have today.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think non-creatives often struggle to understand just how sensitive artists and creatives are—and how much this sensitivity shapes our work and our experience of the world. This sensitivity is a gift; it allows us to see beauty, possibility, and meaning where others might not. It fuels our imagination and enables us to create things that resonate on an emotional level. But that sensitivity also comes with its challenges.

For example, how feedback is delivered is important. For creatives, our work is often an extension of ourselves—it’s personal, even when it’s professional. So when someone critiques it, especially in an abrupt or overly harsh way, it can feel more like a judgment on us than on the work itself. For example, one of our clients can be very hot and cold with feedback. Sometimes she says she “hates” something, and while it’s just her way of expressing preferences, it can hit differently when those choices reflect your creative vision.

That’s why constructive feedback is so important when working with creatives. It’s not about tiptoeing around feelings—it’s about framing things in a way that opens the door to collaboration and improvement rather than shutting it down. When clients or collaborators express their thoughts thoughtfully, it creates a dialogue that inspires better work rather than deflating the creative spirit.

Ultimately, being a creative is about balancing that sensitivity with resilience. We learn to take feedback, refine our vision, and grow, but it’s always easier when others approach us with understanding and respect for how deeply we’re connected to the work we do.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Honestly, story aside, running a full service Interior Design Company on an island shows resilience in itself! We have to deal with more challenges than most in Puerto Rico. It’s a little bit like the Wild Wild West here sometimes. But whatever gets thrown at us, we just keep on pushing forward, because at the end of the day, the love of our work keeps us going!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.kokoandsass.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kokoandsass

Image Credits

Averie Cole