AI is changing everything — but it isn't replacing what matters most. Discover how the future of hospitality design belongs to professionals who combine technology with human insight, creativity, and authentic connection. The greatest competitive advantage may be the one machines can't replicate

Ryan Mikita, Principal, Ricca Design Studios

Ryan Mikita is a Pittsburgh-based partner at Ricca Design Studios, where he leads a design studio focused on commercial kitchen and restaurant design across a wide range of project types. While based in Pittsburgh, his portfolio spans the globe, encompassing diverse and emerging markets, operational models, and project archetypes. His experience includes hospitality, healthcare, higher education, stadiums and arenas, government facilities, and corporate headquarters. Although each project presents its own unique challenges—often large-scale and highly complex—Ryan’s approach remains consistent: designing foodservice environments that are efficient, reliable, and aligned with the broader goals of the project. Ryan works closely with ownership teams, architects, developers, and operators to bring concepts to life in ways that are both practical and well-executed. His perspective is firmly grounded in operations, with a strong emphasis on workflow, staffing, and day-to-day functionality, supported by extensive technical experience in the field. Much of his work involves complex projects requiring coordination across multiple disciplines. From feasibility studies and conceptual design through construction, Ryan helps teams align with financial constraints, navigate challenging existing conditions, and develop clear, realistic paths to execution. He focuses on delivering solutions that are buildable, thoughtful, and positioned for long-term success. At the core of Ryan’s work is a passion for translating ambitious ideas into spaces that perform—balancing form and function in ways that hold up both on paper and in practice.