He came to work for TSR in 1993 to produce artwork for the Dungeons & Dragons game, initially largely with the Planescape line.
[1] David "Zeb" Cook, designer of Planescape, explained Knutson's role in developing the setting: "It was at this early stage that I had my biggest idea - I needed an artist.
"[2] According to Shannon Appelcline, Planescape was "built around a strong artistic concept, thanks to Dana Knutson's conceptual art and Tony DiTerlizzi's final drawings".
In his 2023 book Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground, RPG historian Stu Horvath reviewed Planescape and noted that Knutson was responsible for much of over-arching look and feel of the campaign setting, noting, "The art picks up where the words leave off.
Dana Knutson developed all of the concept artwork for the setting, which Robh Ruppel turned into covers, and Tony DiTerlizzi used to fill out the interiors.