As a designer…

Hi, I’m Ryan (he/him/his) and I am a photographer turned UX/UI designer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I completed my user experience and user interface training at the University of California, Berkeley, through a six-month boot camp.

As a designer, I believe in empathizing with users and simplifying the tasks they're trying to complete by creating intuitive interactions and experiences. I like solving problems and believe that even the simplest of tasks require thought and testing.

I am passionate about creating aesthetically pleasing visual designs. However, I also know how important it is to invest time and effort into user testing, research and quantitative data analysis to really understanding the user's needs. My background in journalism compels me to ask questions that others may take for granted.

In my personal life…

I earned a degree in visual communications from Kent State University and spent a decade as a professional news photographer for Gannett and News Media Group publications. After meeting my wife, Sami, we moved to Los Angeles, where I worked at OUE Skyspace LA. My job there involved photography, troubleshooting camera equipment and training staff to photograph guests 1,000 feet off the ground. Later we moved to Charlotte, NC, where I worked for Lifetouch, a Shutterfly-company, as a photo sales specialist. After a few years, our jobs brought us to the Bay Area. Outside of work, I enjoy collecting anime figures, exploring new places and trying new foods from around the world.