Allison Bryan, Founding Principal of Open Studio Collective. Photo: Blair Speed.

In this episode of our Studio Snapshot series, Archinect connected with Allison Bryan, Founding Principal of multi-disciplinary design practice Open Studio Collective, based in Bozeman, Montana, and Ojai, California.

Trained in both graphic design and architecture, Bryan talks about the importance of establishing an open-minded approach to business, what it means to build success as a female business owner in a male-dominated field, and the qualities her studio looks for in new hires.

Can you tell us how Open Studio Collective was founded?

I founded OSC nearly ten years ago. I had recently left Nike after having my daughter, now 11, and I wanted a flexible schedule to spend more time with her. Nike stayed with me as one of my first clients, and the business grew organically. I chose to call it Open Studio Collective because of my multi-disciplinary approach. I studied graphic design prior to architecture. I think of myself and my team as being open-minded human beings and professionals who embody a growth mindset and can work within a range of design disciplines, techniques, and spatial relationships.

How many people are currently employed at the firm? How is your office structured?

We employ five people full-time in Bozeman, MT, and Ojai, CA, and we have several go-to team members in Jackson, WY, Pittsburgh, PA, and beyond to round out our all-star team, including architects and interior architects, as well as graphic designers. We try to keep people in their “zones of genius” and work similarly to a studio in architecture school. Everyone is very independent and passionate about their work.

We try to keep people in their “zones of genius” and work similarly to a studio in architecture school.

We come together on Zoom or in the office in Bozeman for team meetings, client meetings, site visits, etc., but we do not require traditional 9–5 office time. Our team is independent and motivated to get things done and meet deadlines because we don’t micromanage.

Open Studio Collective is based in Montana and California. Can you talk about the benefits and challenges of maintaining operations in two states and operating nationally with a remote team?

We maintain a team in multiple states and projects all over the country, and it’s actually not too difficult. I get on a plane when I need to and enjoy travel, and our associate principal in Ojai, California, also racks up the miles. We have a vast network of partners in most markets, and Bozeman draws an international clientele because of the many vacation homes in the community. Post-COVID, we’ve found clients are less concerned about where you live and really just want to see the receipts around your ability to think outside the box and create excellent projects. As for our team, I think we attract a higher caliber of designers because most roles can be based anywhere with a major airport. It allows us to hire based on character and skill set instead of location.

We attract a higher caliber of designers because most roles can be based anywhere with a major airport. It allows us to hire based on character and skill set instead of location.

When I started working with Nike in 2009, we managed teams all over the globe, so it is pretty much second nature to work remotely. We use Slack, PM software, Revit, and everyone has excellent communication skills in order to bring our projects to life for our clients.

Would you like to scale up and grow your team? What do you consider the ideal size for your practice?

We are currently in the process of scaling up. My dream is to be able to transform spaces on a larger scale, including doing more community mixed-use buildings and large-scale wellness projects while still doing the occasional single-family home or residential renovations, which we love.

Starting a successful woman-owned business in a heavily male-dominated industry is no joke.

What have been the biggest challenges of starting and running your own practice?

Starting a successful woman-owned business in a heavily male-dominated industry is no joke. In fact, I even took a pause and took a job after the first five years of running OSC because I was so burnt out. We came back strong in 2021 with so many learnings under our belt and confidence in our client relationships, business execution, and, most importantly, our design approach. Design really is the easiest part of my job — the harder part has been building the right team, learning when to say no to projects, and managing client relationships. Most of my time now is focused on business development and working on my own leadership development so I can be a strong visionary leader for my team, and ensure that each individual can fulfill their passions and be recognized for their contributions at OSC.

What qualities do you look for in new hires?

I heard a quote recently about resiliency that I love: Resilience is the ability to hold the hard and the beautiful without collapse. I consider myself to be resilient, and it’s a quality I seek in team members as well. We are trying to do beautiful, precedent-setting work in a design studio setting, which is different from the standard autocratic leadership approach we have seen in this industry forever. I think to gel on this team, flexibility, passion, a sense of humor, strong communication, and, of course, resilience are must-haves.

Describe your work. How do you define your own unique style and approach?

Simple, graphic, feminine, and innovative. We try to find one simple move or diagram that tells the story of the client and place in which the site lives — this becomes the story that breathes in the background throughout the space. We love using color, shapes, and interesting materiality to describe the narration, whether it be in a simple detail like a rail or the broad stroke in plan or massing.

Do you have a favorite or especially memorable project? Completed or in progress.

Every project has an impact on us. We typically build strong relationships with our clients as well, which makes each project even more meaningful. Collaborating on the Knot Springs wellness space in Portland with Skylab will always be a fond memory because it was a very unique project; it allowed us to get our wheels, and we met some amazing people. I also loved working on Freeland Spirits, a woman-owned tasting room in Portland, as well as a redevelopment project in Bozeman in an old firehouse downtown that we are transforming into affordable housing. In that project, I am also acting as a developer.

What are some exciting projects currently on the boards?

As mentioned above, Firehouse Affordable Housing, we have several impressive ground-up residences (multiple in Bozeman and one in Door County, Wisconsin) that are happening right now, as well as wrapping a great mid-century home interior renovation in Bozeman. In that project, we served as the General Contractor and Architect.

If you could describe your work/practice in three words, what would they be?

Open, optimistic, and resilient.