French multidisciplinarian Jean-Marie Massaud was born near Toulouse, France, in 1966. His visionary work spans architecture and the full spectrum of object design—from bespoke furniture and industrial products, to, more recently, futuristic installations like a helium-filled airship hotel. 

Educated at the renowned Les Ateliers École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle in Paris (along with fellow alums Cédric Ragot, Philippe Malouin, Nina Tolstrup, , among others), Massaud moved to Asia after his 1990 graduation to collaborate with Yamaha Offshore on a submarine design. Upon his return to Paris, he enjoyed a four-year intensive partnership with his former Les Ateliers professor Marc Berthier, an industrial products maestro. In 1996, he laid the foundation for his own studio, which officially launched in partnership with architect-turned-product-designer Daniel Pouhezet in 2000 as Studio Massaud. 

Studio Massaud’s macro-architectural projects include the Tanabé House in Fukuoka (2000) and the volcano-shaped Estadio Akron for the Chivas football club in Guadlajara. Massaud has created interiors for Sephora, Poltrona Frau, and B&B Italia / C&B Italia; his product design clients include Paloma Picasso, Cacherel, Air France, Kartell, Axor, and Daum, among others. He’s also worked on branding for Lancôme; B&B Italia, Wastberg, and Foscarini.