CIVILIAN

is a building and

interior design studio

CIVILIAN is an architecture and interior design studio founded by Nicko Elliott and Ksenia Kagner. We collaborate with mission-driven companies, cultural institutions, and innovators to create spaces that foster community, support identity, and enhance everyday experience. From cutting-edge tech incubators to private members’ clubs, our projects balance formal precision with immersive atmosphere, translating brand identity into spatial experience.
CIVILIAN is the studio for clients seeking architecturally integrated interiors—where spatial clarity meets rich materiality. Our work is deeply contextual, guided by hospitality principles, and designed to engage and inspire. We develop innovative strategies that refine complex programs into environments that resonate, connect, and empower. Reach out to explore how we can shape your next project.

Ksenia Kagner is the co-founder of CIVILIAN, where she leads creative workplace and complex mixed-use projects. Before founding CIVILIAN, she was a senior member of the design leadership team at WeWork, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies to successfully reimagine their workplace strategies and designs. Prior to that, Ksenia served as an Associate at James Corner Field Operations, overseeing the revitalization of Chicago's Navy Pier. She holds a Master of Architecture from McGill University and an undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of Waterloo.

Nicko Elliott is the principal and co-founder of CIVILIAN. Previously, he served as Creative Partner at Macro Sea, a real estate development firm, where he led the design of innovative living and working projects, including Newlab in Brooklyn and CIEE's Global Institute in Berlin. Earlier in his career, Nicko focused on high-end residential projects in Manhattan. He holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Toronto and an undergraduate degree in Musicology from Western University.

CIVILIAN

is a building and

interior design studio