Kyle O'Konis
Designer

Growing up in the cookie-cutter suburbs of Chicago, Kyle was torn between the cultural vibrancy of the city and the natural vibrancy of the Midwest forests. That duality shaped his perspective and sparked an interest in the intersection of natural and built environments. It ultimately led him to study environmental science as an undergraduate and later pursue a master’s in landscape architecture from UC Berkeley. Since graduating in 2015, Kyle has worked across a wide spectrum of project types: corporate campuses, institutional spaces, small backyards, and large-scale public projects.

An extrovert at heart, he thrives on connection—both with clients and with the project teams he collaborates with. He’s discovered that working closely with clients, understanding their stories, and creating spaces that feel personal and meaningful is the most rewarding part of the design process. It’s this close, collaborative client–designer relationship that especially draws him to residential work.

Outside of work, Kyle channels his extra creativity into writing and performing folk-electronic music. He’s also an avid hiker and backpacker who’s happiest exploring new corners of the natural world. When he’s not deep in a music project or catching a new favorite band in concert, he’s often traveling—always on the lookout for a new beach, city, or mountain to explore.