About Ryan.
Hey.
The internet is a crazy place, and sometimes it's hard to know what to do with it. But, I like to make things and tell stories. It helps me make sense of the chaotic online world.
You've got a story to tell and I've got the creative skills & tools to bring your vision to life. Let's work together :)
My Deets:
Sun/Moon/Rising: Aries/Scorpio/Virgo
Enneagram: 4w3
MBTI: ENFP
Personal Interests: Communication and technology, Design, Poetry, Classic Literature, Rock and Funk Music, Writing, 90s Computer Games
Hometown: Pullman, WA
Where it all started
When I was in 5th grade, I was introduced to Microsoft PowerPoint by our librarian. It changed my life.
Suddenly, I could use text, images, sounds, and video clips to create cinematic experiences for every class project. My decks were often 60 slides long, complete with timed animations, sound effects, and and music. It was then I discovered my passion for telling stories in the most creative way possible.
Years later, I finally got my hands on the Adobe Creative Suite. Over the course of high school, I learned everything from photoshop to studio production to live event broadcasting. I vowed to forever live behind the camera.
Education
Degree: B.S. in Digital Media & Computer Graphics
School: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (2019)
Description: Project-based program that blended computer graphics programming and communications studies. Emphasized design thinking, cross-functional teamwork, and product ownership.
This program was 75% engineering, and 25% communications. It allowed me approach creative problem solving with structure and technical knowledge.
On the Shelf in 2024
Books:
- Why Religion?, Elaine Pagels
- Direct: The Rise of the Middleman Economy and the Power of Going to the Source, Kathryn Judge
- Hey Whipple, Squeeze This, Luke Sullivan & Edward Boches
- Story or Die, Lisa Cron
- The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman
- The Modem World, Kevin Driscoll
- Cognitive Surplus, Clay Shirky
- The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron
- Custodians of the Internet, Tarleton Gillespie
- The Empathy Diaries, Sherry Turkle
- What We Talk About When We Talk About Love Raymond Carver
Podcasts & YouTube:
- Technically Human Podcast, Deb Donig
- How to Save the World Podcast, Katie Patrick
- Search Engine, PJ Vogt
- The Marrow Podcast, Josh Riebock
- Hard Fork, New York Times
- Reimagining the Internet, Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure
On how to create good digital ads
On how to tell a good story, no matter the context
On how to design products that make it easy for humans to safely reach their goals
On how to recover as a blocked artist and discover your true creative voice
