Navillus Woodworks is proud to announce that founder Dan Sullivan has been recognized in Newcity’s Design 50: Interiors Hall of Fame 2026, a prestigious honor celebrating the individuals who have made a lasting impact on Chicago’s design community.
For decades, Newcity has been one of Chicago’s leading voices covering architecture, design, art, and culture. Its annual Design 50 list highlights the people shaping the built environment throughout the city and beyond. Being inducted into the Design 50 Interiors Hall of Fame places Dan among a select group of designers, architects, makers, and creative leaders whose work has helped define contemporary design in Chicago.
A Career Built on Craft, Creativity, and Collaboration
Since founding Navillus Woodworks in 2005, Dan has built a career that exists at the intersection of craftsmanship, design, architecture, art, and fabrication. His work extends far beyond traditional woodworking, encompassing custom furniture, museum exhibitions, public art installations, hospitality environments, architectural millwork, and large-scale sculptural projects.
Under Dan’s leadership, Navillus has become known for taking on projects that challenge conventional boundaries. Whether collaborating with internationally recognized artists, designing furniture for acclaimed restaurants, or fabricating complex installations for museums and universities, the common thread has always been a commitment to thoughtful design and exceptional execution.
Shaping Chicago’s Creative Landscape
The Hall of Fame recognition acknowledges not only Dan’s body of work, but also his broader influence on Chicago’s creative ecosystem.
Over the years, projects led by Dan and the Navillus team have become part of some of the city’s most recognizable cultural destinations. From custom furniture featured on Hulu’s The Bear, to installations at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Salt Shed, the Chicago Architecture Center, UIC, Millennium Park, and countless other institutions, his work has quietly become woven into the fabric of the city.
At the same time, Dan has remained deeply committed to supporting other artists, designers, and makers through his involvement with the Dock 6 Collective, one of Chicago’s most respected creative communities. As a founding member, he has helped create opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and shared growth among some of the region’s most talented craftspeople.
Beyond Woodworking
What makes Dan’s career unique is his ability to move fluidly between disciplines. In addition to leading Navillus Woodworks, he is a musician, designer, fabricator, collaborator, and public artist. His projects often combine elements of architecture, sculpture, furniture design, engineering, and storytelling.
This multidisciplinary approach has allowed him to work alongside leading architects, institutions, artists, and designers while continuously expanding what custom fabrication can accomplish.
Recent projects such as Scala, the monumental sculpture created with artist Edra Soto for the University of Illinois Chicago, demonstrate the ambitious scale and creative vision that have become hallmarks of his work.
A Recognition Shared by Many
While this honor bears Dan’s name, it also reflects the incredible people who have contributed to the success of Navillus over the past two decades. Every project is the result of collaboration between designers, fabricators, engineers, artists, architects, installers, clients, and craftspeople who share a commitment to creating meaningful work.
The recognition also speaks to the strength of Chicago’s design community—a city where artists, makers, and builders continue to push boundaries and support one another in the pursuit of great ideas.
Looking Forward
Being named to the Newcity Design 50 Interiors Hall of Fame is both a celebration of past accomplishments and an exciting reminder of what lies ahead.
As Navillus continues to grow and take on new challenges, Dan remains focused on the same principles that have guided his career from the beginning: collaboration, curiosity, craftsmanship, and a belief that great design has the power to shape how people experience the world around them.
We are honored to see Dan recognized alongside some of Chicago’s most influential creative minds and look forward to continuing to contribute to the city’s rich legacy of design, architecture, art, and innovation.
