Hidden Gems: Meet Sattom Alasad of Studio Sattom // Tréa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sattom Alasad.

Hi Sattom, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia before moving to the U.S. for architecture school, eventually settling in Los Angeles nearly 10 years ago. I began my career in traditional architecture, working on large-scale institutional projects at a global firm. While I learned an incredible amount designing complex projects, I gradually realized that what excited me most wasn’t simply designing buildings, it was designing how people experience space at different scales.
That realization led me to start taking on independent projects outside of work, and over time my practice naturally expanded beyond architecture into interiors, experiential design, and creative direction. I found myself increasingly drawn to projects at a more intimate human scale, where the relationship between people and space felt more immediate and personal. Whether it was designing a vinyl listening bar, creative directing a cultural festival, or developing a ground-up private residence, I realized I was less interested in a particular medium and more interested in spatial storytelling.
After eight years in corporate architecture, I made the decision to leave and build my own multidisciplinary design practice, Studio Sattom. Today my work spans architecture, interiors, and experiential design, but the common thread has remained the same: I’m interested in creating environments that shape how people feel.
Los Angeles has played a huge role in shaping both my work and my perspective. One of my favorite things about living here is being surrounded by such a diverse creative community and having endless opportunities to discover inspiring places. In my free time, you’ll usually find me visiting architecturally significant homes, exploring galleries and museums, or wandering through furniture and design showrooms. Somewhere along the way, I somehow became the person my friends come to whenever they’re looking for an exhibition, a hidden architectural gem, or anything design-related. That naturally evolved into creating design guides and sharing recommendations on social media, both in LA and while traveling. I think curiosity is one of the most important qualities a designer can have, and I’m grateful to live in a city that continually fuels it.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I definitely wouldn’t say it’s been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was navigating the uncertainty of being on a work visa for many years. It meant that every career decision carried an extra layer of complexity, and pursuing something independently wasn’t really an option. Receiving my permanent residency last year was a big milestone, not just personally, but creatively as well. It finally gave me the freedom to take the leap, leave my corporate job, and build the kind of multidisciplinary practice I’d been dreaming about for a long time.
Another challenge has simply been being far from my family. They’re all (mostly) still in Saudi, and although I’ve built an incredible community in LA, there’s nothing quite like having your family nearby. I’m very close with them, so there are definitely moments where I wish we lived in the same place.
At the same time, I feel incredibly grateful. I’ve been fortunate to have unwavering support from my family, even from thousands of miles away, and I’ve been lucky to build a community here that constantly inspires and encourages me. Looking back, every unexpected turn has led me somewhere I never could have planned, and that’s become something I really embrace. Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my career have come from simply following my curiosity, even when the path wasn’t obvious.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Right now, my time is split between design consulting through Studio Sattom and building a CPG brand. I love collaborating across architecture, interiors, branding, and experiential design, so every project tends to look a little different. That’s one of the things I enjoy most about having my own practice; I get to follow ideas wherever they lead.
One project I’m especially excited about is TRÉA, a tea brand I’m co-founding that’s launching later this year. It’s definitely not something I imagined myself doing a few years ago, but it’s become one of the most creatively fulfilling projects I’ve worked on. We’re approaching it through a design-first lens, thinking about everything from the packaging and product design to the brand world, storytelling, and content. Rather than simply selling tea, we’re interested in creating something that sparks curiosity and encourages people to look twice.
I think what’s exciting to me is that, while the medium has changed, the goal hasn’t. Whether I’m designing a home, a cultural event, or a consumer product, I’m always asking the same question: How can design shape the way people feel? That’s the thread connecting everything I do, and it’s what I hope continues to guide my work in the years ahead.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I do think luck plays a role, but I also think we have more influence over it than we sometimes realize. I’ve always tried to follow my curiosity, share my work consistently, and say yes to opportunities that excite me, even if they don’t fit neatly into a career plan. Looking back, many of the opportunities I could describe as “lucky” came from simply putting my work out into the world and letting it lead to conversations I never expected.
For example, I started sharing some of my experimental digital and spatial design work online, without any real expectation of where it would lead. That eventually opened the door to leading spatial reality initiatives at a well-funded startup, something I never would have predicted as an architect. It wasn’t part of some grand strategy; it was simply the result of following my interests and making my work visible.
So yes, I feel fortunate, but I also believe luck tends to find people who stay curious, keep creating, and put themselves out there. Some of the best opportunities in my career have come from interests I pursued simply because they fascinated me, not because I knew they would lead somewhere.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://canva.link/num1a2qz72hzd4r
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sattom/