Zack Worrell
Founder, Creative Director, Knife Maker
Zack grew up in Virginia, surrounded by a family of creative entrepreneurs and artists. That environment sparked an early love of art, design, music, and making—a foundation that led him to explore everything from ceramics and woodworking to photography and film. After earning a degree in history with a minor in art, he began his career in graphic design and desktop publishing, drawing from his family’s long legacy in as one of the countries premier private newspaper companies.
In the late ’90s, Zack and his wife founded a print and web design studio at the dawn of the digital era. But over time, his focus shifted from pixels to materials. Through years of work in architectural restoration, woodworking, and hands-on building, he developed a deep respect for traditional methods, sustainable design, and the power of objects that are both useful and beautiful.
In 2013, Zack founded Monolith—born from a love of industrial design, woodworking, and metal crafting. Influenced by the philosophies of George Nakashima and Frank Lloyd Wright, and grounded in the cultural traditions of the Blue Ridge, Zack’s work is driven by a simple goal: to make tools with soul, purpose, performance and durability.
"I have been making stuff with my hands since as early as I can remember. I make stuff, I just what I do."
Through Monolith, Zack crafts tools and objects that are meant to be used and kept—pieces that carry the quiet confidence of something made with care, and made to last.
Nick Watson
Design & Production Manager, Lead Knife Maker
Nick first joined Monolith in 2016 after graduating from the studio art program at the University of Virginia. He spent the next four years helping develop the company’s products and craft, laying the foundation for the next evolution of the brand. In 2020, he returned to UVA to earn a master’s degree in architecture—deepening his understanding of design, collaboration, and execution. After time working in architecture, he returned to Monolith in 2025 to continue the work he started, now with sharper tools and broader perspective.
Nick’s connection to knives runs deep. As a kid, his mother gave him a Swiss Army Knife—something he could carry and rely on. That everyday utility stuck with him. So did the love of cooking he developed while making meals with his family. His passion for the culinary world and the tools that support it has shaped his design philosophy ever since.
At Monolith, Nick brings a blend of intuitive craftsmanship and architectural thinking to every knife—bridging old-world form and modern function with an eye for clarity, proportion, and detail.
“Design should be rooted in use and informed by history. A good knife holds those things without trying too hard.”
Outside the shop, Nick is a father to two daughters and a lifelong student—curious about furniture, fashion, architecture, and the way great design takes shape through craft, place, and use.