Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Artell.
Hi Ryan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to a creative life. I acquired an early version of Photoshop when I was young, and it completely changed my world. It fused my love of art with my curiosity for technology, and from that point on design felt less like a career choice and more like something I was meant to do. That passion led me to study at the Maryland Institute College of Art, where my dedication to design really solidified.
Right out of school, I interviewed for what I thought was my dream job at SRAM. I didn’t get it, and that setback left me feeling pretty lost. I moved back home to New Jersey, took on odd design jobs, and tried to figure out my next step. Eventually I decided to take a chance on myself and moved to Brooklyn to find more opportunity. Through a friend’s recommendation, I landed my first real design role at Tremor Video. That job opened the door to the advertising world, and I was lucky to work with major entertainment brands like Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros., and Nickelodeon.
After a few years, I felt ready for a change. When Tremor opened a creative team in Santa Monica, I volunteered to relocate, and that is how I ended up in Los Angeles almost 14 years ago. Not long after, I joined 160over90, which became a huge chapter of my career. I grew a lot there, collaborated with incredibly talented people, and worked on major campaigns for brands like Netflix, T-Mobile, MSNBC, ABC, Apple, and Bud Light. I stayed nearly nine years before my role was eliminated during restructuring. It was a tough moment, and I wasn’t sure what came next.
With support from my partner, friends, family, and former colleagues, I decided to take the leap into freelancing. I was burned out from the agency grind, and even though freelancing felt intimidating, I knew I needed something different. Thanks to the relationships I had built over the years, work started coming in. Freelancing hasn’t always been easy. There are moments of doubt and the responsibility sits squarely on my shoulders, but the freedom and creative ownership have been incredibly rewarding.
I’m excited for what is ahead and committed to continuing this design life, because at this point, it is simply who I am.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I think the inherent nature of a creative career is chaos. The industry moves fast, and a lot of what I learned early on is obsolete today. Design is always shifting, from aesthetics to the tools we use to make the work. That constant change can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. I have had to continually adapt to new ways of thinking, new workflows, and ever-evolving software.
There have been plenty of moments where I felt unsure or behind, especially as technology accelerates. And now with the rise of AI, the future of the industry feels even more uncertain. It is hard to say exactly where things are headed. But that uncertainty has also taught me resilience. It has pushed me to stay curious, stay flexible, and keep learning.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My background is in advertising and print design, and I have been working in the advertising industry for more than sixteen years. Over that time I have taken on the roles of designer, developer, and art director. I have always seen myself as a true all-rounder. I enjoy having a vast array of skills that I can apply to all kinds of creative projects, whether that is motion, print, or digital. One day I might be designing a movie poster, and the next I might be editing a video for a fitness brand. The variety keeps the work interesting. Lately I have been focusing more on motion design, video editing, and art direction. At my core, I am a dedicated designer who loves making things. I may not be a master of one, but I am okay with that.
If I had to choose one area to focus on, it would be print design. I love creating posters. To me, posters are one of the purest forms of design. They can be clean and informative or more artful and strange depending on their context. I have been lucky to find some success in this space. In 2019 I won Outframe’s inaugural design competition for a poster I created. I have also designed several indie record albums and had the opportunity to create posters for a number of horror films. Posters are where I feel most connected to design. They allow me to blend art and design in a way that feels freeing, with no client to tell me no. Posters are where I get to experiment, and it does not matter if I do not like what I make. My work is heavily influenced by horror movies, technology, metal and punk music, and vivid colors. I often combine haunting imagery with intense, bold colors in an attempt to make scary things beautiful.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
When you are just starting out, it is easy to want everything to happen immediately. But anything meaningful in this field takes time, dedication, and collaboration. One of the most important things you can do as an artist or designer is simply to make work consistently, whether that is every day or every month. Create a body of work and give yourself the patience to grow. For some people things click quickly, and for others it takes years to fully realize their potential. The key is not to get discouraged. Keep pushing, keep experimenting, and do not give up. Good things take time. There are days when I hate what I’ve made, but I still would not want to do anything else. That is just part of being creative. At the end of the day, it’s just shapes, so don’t be too hard on yourself.
I also wish I had understood the importance of boundaries earlier. There will always be deadlines and moments when you have to push, but it is completely fine to say no. Creative burnout is real, and you need to protect yourself. Work hard, but know your limits. Be dedicated, but do not let yourself be taken advantage of. And try not to get caught up in what everyone else is doing. Focus on your craft, follow your curiosity, and make the work you want to make.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RyanArtell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uprisinglifestyle
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ryan-artell-aa03581b
