Jörg Kühnelt – The Man Who Built the Digital Backbone of Independent Eyewear (and Beyond)
Impact comes in many shapes. Some push design forward, others master production, and then there are the ones who quietly build the systems that make actual growth possible.
That’s where Jörg Kühnelt comes in.
Jörg is the only person I know who has pulled off a Hattrick in Berlin’s sheet metal eyewear scene: having worked at MYKITA, Haffmans & Neumeister, and ic! berlin.
Not as a designer, not in production, but in IT: the invisible engine that keeps brands running.
At heart, though, Jörg is an artist. A musician, DJ, and passionate photographer (with way too much gear to fit into one stereotype or suitcase). So, Jörg, I hope you’ll forgive me for posting a random photo I found of you today, just going ahead without your usual arsenal of equipment.
During our time as colleagues, I always called him “the only IT guy who actually speaks human” because, let’s be real: IT teams often operate in their own universe. But Jörg? He has this rare talent for bridging the gap between tech, processes and people, translating complex systems into something the rest of us could actually understand.
But here’s something many might not know: Jörg’s background isn’t really IT, it’s finance. And that makes all the difference. He brings a deep knowledge of processes, operations, and numbers, which makes him a rare kind of problem solver. The combination of tech, business acumen, and real-world experience is what makes him so valuable.
And yet, what I admire most about him? His unwavering support for aesthetics, passion, and the ALFZ (the secret to that is to be disclosed only in personal deep talk).
Turning Ideas into Reality – One System at a Time
Eyewear brands thrive on creativity, but without a solid system, things fall apart. As a company scales, logistics, ERP systems, production tracking, and e-commerce become the inevitable backbone of success, and this is where Jörg and his teams always made the difference.
These days, he’s taken that expertise beyond eyewear. He’s now part of KDML Consulting GmbH, led by Lars Dankworth who, long before SAP came into play, shaped the business architecture of Berlin’s eyewear scene.
Together, Jörg, Lars, and their team now help brands structure their growth, while their vision reaches far beyond eyewear these days.
If anyone in my network is looking for smart IT solutions from a team that actually understands business, finance, and real operational needs, I’d be happy to connect you.
So here’s to the behind-the-scenes architects of independent eyewear. The ones who don’t design the frames, but make sure everything around them works seamlessly, efficiently, and with a touch of genius.