Spotlight On: Morgan Bryan

Spotlight On is our tradition of highlighting team members and celebrating the people who help shape Liollio's culture and work. This edition features Morgan Bryan, an Architectural Designer who joined the team last year. Morgan earned a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from Auburn University, complemented by extensive studies in industrial design processes. Morgan explores the intersection of architecture, sociology, and material technology. Through collaborative dialogue, physical models, renderings, and animations, Morgan helps bring ideas to life while advancing thoughtful, sustainable, and human-centered design solutions. We sat down with Morgan to learn more about her background, design approach, and experience at Liollio.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a military family, so I moved around a lot. But Hendersonville, NC, has always felt most like home to me.

Are you married?
Nope!

Do you have children?
Double nope!

What do you like to do for fun?
I’m usually happiest when I’m creating or exploring. Shooting 35mm film, sketching, cycling, camping, traveling somewhere new, cooking for friends, getting outside, or playing a few rounds of pool. I like hobbies that keep me curious, creative, and a little bit spontaneous!

Do you have pets? If so, tell us a bit about them.
No, but I would love a golden retriever.

Favorite place(s) to go locally?
Sullivans, Babas, Ellis Creek, Art Galleries

Favorite restaurant?
The Obstinate Daughter

Favorite food?
Mexican, no contest. I’d like to be baptized in a vat of queso and I’m only half joking

Favorite book?
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Do you play any instruments?
Learning the guitar but would love to know how to play the piano.

What song is at the top of your most played list?
So Long Honey by Caamp

Favorite musical artist or genre?
I listen to a little bit of everything - folk, indie, Americana, soul, etc. Right now, I’m on a huge Creedence Clearwater Revival and Alabama Shakes kick.

Favorite visual artist?
Banksy – I love art that flips the script, makes you stop and think about our collective humanity, and the society we’ve built.

Favorite television show?
Psych and Gilmore Girls

Last book you read?
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Favorite podcast or blog?
On Purpose with Jay Shetty (I’m also always down for a podcast about conspiracy theories or ghosts, haha.)

Favorite movie or genre?
National Treasure…it’s a cinematic masterpiece and I’ll accept no critique.

Favorite place you have traveled to and why?
Ciudad Juárez, a place that completely changed my perspective on life.

Favorite style of architecture?
I’m really into Gothic Revival for all the character and historic details. But as a designer, I also love the simplicity, craftsmanship, and natural materials you see in modern vernacular architecture.

What building have you visited that most impressed or inspired you?
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice by MASS Design Group

What would the book or movie about your life be called?
The Mysterious Life of Morgan Bryan narrated by Morgan Freeman

Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Emily Bader - several friends have recently told me that her character in People We Meet on Vacation reminds them of me… not quite sure what that says about me as a person, haha!

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
A bird – They’re the freest animals on Earth, and they’re the closest living relatives to dinosaurs. So, really, I’m choosing between unlimited freedom and being a tiny dinosaur.

Are you messy or organized?
Depends on the day.

Guilty pleasure?
A CRISP Crab Rangoon

Tell us a random fact.
I’m a history nerd.

Favorite quote?
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena… who strives valiantly… who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.” — Theodore Roosevelt

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?
Humpty Dumpty – Did he really have a great fall?

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
The fall of the Roman Empire, I want to know what all the hype was about…was it really that hard to keep an empire together? They really fumbled that group project.

If your house was burning down, what is the one non-living thing you would save?
Film Camera/Photographs

What three traits characterize you?
Witty, Driven, Loyal

What’s your astrological sign?
Aquarius

What is your personal philosophy?
Be the problem you want to see in the world. Good problem or bad problem - that’s up to you!

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far?
This interview

What is your greatest fear?
Chick-fil-a being closed on Sundays

What is your superpower?
Patience

What inspires you most?
The people in my life set a high standard. They’re the type of people who are driven yet fun. Hungry yet humble. Focused yet still kind. They not only inspire me to be better, but they inherently make me better.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Putting myself through school is probably what I’m most proud of. I’m a first-generation everything, so graduating at the top of my class in both undergrad and grad school means a lot to me.

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
I love the culture at Liollio and how laid-back and welcoming it is. As a young designer, it’s a great place to learn and grow.

What does true leadership mean to you?
It means being human first and a leader second. I’ve had some incredible leaders in my life, and they all share that quality. They’re grounded, empathetic, and recognize that they are students just as much as they are teachers. They understand that leadership doesn’t have to be loud. It’s often found in the way you carry yourself, champion others, and create an environment where you inherently make the people around you better.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
I’d be either a photojournalist or a furniture designer.

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?
Buckle up.

How do you define success?
I think the definition of success is always changing. At the end of the day, we’re only in competition with ourselves. If we’re doing our best, continuing to grow, and becoming better along the way, that’s success to me.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I grew up fixing and riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles with my dad and even had a little leather Harley jacket as a toddler that I still have! We always dreamed of riding cross-country together, and I hope to make that trip someday. My dream bike is a vintage Honda CB125 Scrambler.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
I had a professor once say “Every line you draw in the computer makes an impact in the world.” It redefined how I think about our industry in the digital age.