Team

The founder of Brown Design Group, Ryan has a lifetime of experience in construction, design, furniture, real estate and development. Ryan´s commitment to the authenticity of an environment and its architecture leaves a lasting mark, while his daring eclecticism always creates warm and approachable spaces.

Living and traveling abroad influence his design decisions, and inform the sources and inspirations from which he draws. As a well-known real estate developer, Ryan also starred on Bravo’s Flipping Out series, demonstrating his great capacity to manage even the most challenging of design situations. Helping people understand the role and importance of design has become a passion of Ryan’s.

With over 20 years in the design field, Diego brings a stylized sensibility to projects of all shapes and sizes. With experience in imports, custom furniture and progressive design, Diego strives to create cohesive rooms that look effortless and timeless, combining the best of the project´s architecture with the needs and desires of his clients in seamless harmony.

His time spent in Europe and South America has provided an endless supply of creative ideas and inspirations. Before joining Brown Design Group, Diego was a principal at Idea Space Design in Beverly Hills for nine years, working with high-end clientele and managing multiple commercial and residential projects.

Susie brings to BDG years of diverse experience in Hospitality, Residential and Custom Furniture Design. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Susie’s approach to design is as layered and multi-faceted as the city she grew up in. She holds to the belief that design is more than just building a space; it’s about creating an atmosphere. She does this by seeking to find balance between aesthetics and function, combining the luxuries of a resort with the warmth and comfort of a private residence, and creatively collaborating on branding.

Her portfolio of work includes residences throughout the US and award-winning projects including the Red-O restaurant and Q-Sushi in Los Angeles and the internationally acclaimed Cabo Azul Resort; Spa in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Working and living abroad has inspired Susie to continuously design outside of the box. The most rewarding part of the journey for her is watching the design unfold and come to fruition.

Sharyea Obayuwana has over fifteen years in both commercial and residential design. A native of Southern California, Sharyea has always been drawn to the beauty of nature and spaces. Her interest in design began as a child, when she became aware and sensitive to the spaces in which she found herself. She remembers begging her mother for a subscription to Architectural Digest magazine at only nine years old. She has traveled and lived abroad gaining inspiration and influence from many cultures around the world. She graduated with honors from Howard University with a B.B.A. in International Business/Marketing and Spanish minor. She ventured into a more creative field when she obtained a Master of Arts degree from the Corcoran College of Art + Design in Washington, DC.

Sharyea’s portfolio of work includes private homes and estates, commercial spaces, and a palace in Saudi Arabia. She worked for Gensler for several years, as well as at a number of residential firms including Brown Design Group before taking a short break to spend time at home with her husband and two young boys. She is thrilled to be back with Brown Design Group, and approaches design projects with the belief that we should all live in spaces that nourish us and celebrate all of our senses.

A native of northern California, Jessica graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Interior Design. Her education and work experience is a blend of photography, art history, residential and commercial interiors. Early in her career, Jessica relocated to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, focusing on kitchen & bath design that developed her passion for custom cabinetry. Some of her prior projects encompass high-end residential interiors within historic communities, as well as custom furniture for the commercial and hospitality environments.

At BDG, Jessica has immersed herself in the details – where she builds inspiration from the diversity of experience, perspective, and creativity of her peers. She brings a free spirit, always learning, always growing, as she works across all areas of the design process – from developing construction documents, to selecting finishes, textiles, furniture, and fixtures.

As a Santa Barbara native, Allisen thrives in collaborative environments and finds great joy in contributing to the beauty of her local community through design. She graduated from UCSB with a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology.  After working in the food and wine industries following college, she yearned for a more creative career. While pursuing her degree in Interior Design at SBCC, she was hired as second to the principal at a local design firm, diving headfirst into the world of construction. Born into a family with a “fix-it-yourself” mentality, she has always been naturally curious and driven to learn. Her hands-on approach to design allows her to approach projects with enthusiasm and attention to detail.

Allisen has had the opportunity to work on a diverse array of projects ranging from high-end residential to commercial boutiques– and even compact spaces like Airstream trailers. Balancing her passion for design, you will find her out gardening, practicing yoga, working on her mixed media art, or discovering great new food.

Being born and raised in Sweden, Maria has a deep appreciation for historical architecture, nature and “fika” (Swedish for socializing with friends over coffee and pastry.) With an eye for style, she brings years of experience from the global fashion industry. After leading a fast-paced life in Los Angeles, she relocated to the casual beach town of Ventura.

Maria has years of experience working on high-end residential homes throughout California. Her designs are a thoughtful balance between colors, textures and shapes– invariably warm with modern elements and a unique twist. When not entrenched in a design project, you will find her on the beach, at the pottery wheel, or dreaming of the next trip to Europe.