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Okano Picard Studio is an architectural design studio based in Seattle. Founded in 2016 and led by partners Yousman Okano and Michael Picard after years of collaborating and working together. Their work consists of residential, commercial, and institutional projects that seek to enhance the built environment with creativity and inspiration. They believe in a strong connection to nature and seek opportunities in their projects to blur the line between the built and natural world.

Okano Picard Studio’s innate curiosity allows them to look for innovative solutions in all kinds of project types, scales, and styles. Their trust in their process allows them to bring a holistic response to their projects. Their collaborative spirit with artists, fabricators, and clients allow every project to synthesize the teams’ strengths, goals, and unique expression to deliver a rich experience.

Okano Picard Studio seeks out clients and projects that challenge the status quo, their own beliefs, and the nature of what architecture "is" by the thoughtful exploration of its fundamental qualities: form, space, proportion, materiality, craft, detail, and most importantly the interaction and human connection with the spaces we inhabit.

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yousMan okano aia, ncarb, leed ap

Principal / Owner

Yousman co-founded Okano Picard Studio in 2016. He is a registered architect in the state of Washington and has been living and working in Seattle since 2004 after receiving his Bachelor of Architecture from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Yousman grew up in the San Francisco bay area where he first developed his interest in the built environment and the art of craft. Before his formal design education, he worked as a machinist at NASA/Ames research center. That experience was foundational in fostering his strong interest in fabrication and technology and how they can play a role in the practice of architecture. 

Yousman has had the opportunity to work on a range of projects from high-end to more restrained budgets. While big budget projects have a certain inherent freedom he has always appreciated the challenges of constraint and the creativity smaller budgets necessitate. No matter the scale, he enjoys bringing all the ideas to the table to find solutions that suit the context yet make a statement.

michael picard aia, NCARB, LEED AP

Principal / Owner

Michael co-founded Okano Picard Studio in 2016, he is a registered architect in the State of Washington and has been living and practicing architecture in Seattle since 1998 after receiving his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona.

Michael completed his formal training in Tucson however continues his personal growth to this day. Having worked with a number of award-winning and internationally recognized practices, Michael honed his skills on many distinguished projects at every scale. He is excited that in this profession learning is never-ending.

While Michael's work is varied his approach is well refined. He believes in a thoughtful process blending client, context, and experience. The project is realized with his finely honed technical ability and appreciation for craft into a unique expression of the pragmatic functions that is both highly approachable and rich in experience.

TEAM 2016 - CURRENT

  • MEGAN SUN (2023 - CURRENT)

  • LUCAS JOHNSTON (2021 - CURRENT)

  • SABA ZAHEDI (2020 - CURRENT)

  • MEO ZHANG (2019 - 2020)

  • JEFF SANDLER (2017 - 2019)