[15][16][17] He began his professional practice in 2011, initially by upcycling second-hand furniture, and taking inspiration from the colour and design aesthetic of West African textiles.

[2][13] In 2013, one such parable, "No matter how long the neck of a giraffe is, it still cannot see the future", led to a five-piece collection of chairs which Ilori transformed from broken and cast-off furniture into abstract, brightly coloured new works of art "to share a lesson from this childhood story — that we should not be judgemental".

[32] In 2022 Ilori designed a playground named The Flamboyance of Flamingos in Parsloes Park, East London.

[33][30] In the same year, the Design Museum in London staged an exhibition of his work featuring 100 of his projects as well as "Canary Wharf's first ever basketball court.

It's quite a nice way of opening up a topic and softening what could be a harsh reality",[42] and is quoted in The Guardian as saying, "My work is very much about inclusivity and how people enjoy design.

[43][44][45][3] According to the architect David Adjaye, Ilori's work "transcends just function and product and acts as a device for cultural memory".

"[46] In September 2024, Ilori has introduced a new clothing collection in collaboration with The North Face, featuring his trademark vibrant patterns.