Creative for Hire

Hello, I'm Ryan Smythe

A multidisciplinary designer with over 20 years of experience. I've worked for agencies, start-ups, and nonprofits across various industries. My passion for graphic design lies in crafting meaningful and memorable experiences. I accomplish this by distilling complex concepts into clear, impactful branding and visual storytelling.

Please explore my design "workbench" below to learn more.

Tell me about your upcoming project.

Together, we can create something meaningful.
Let's Talk
The Workbench

Interactive: Product Design

I collaborated with both engineering and software teams to create a more efficient, dual-themed, and ADA-compliant touch-screen UI for our automated gelatin shot machine. I also built a stand to house a working demo for presentation and testing purposes.

Client
Food + Beverage Innovations
Project
Product UI
Industry
Food & Beverage
Skills
concepting, art direction, visual & interactive design

Interactive: Preference Center

This preference center was designed with one goal in mind; improve and retain customer email communications. To this end, the UX was refined to reduce opt-outs while gathering feedback on their current email program.

Client
Firestone
Project
Website
Industry
Automotive
Skills
concepting, art direction, visual & interactive design

Interactive: Email Marketing

StubHub's email program was one of the more complex and dynamic I've encountered. Working within established brand guidelines, my design solutions included layout and animation promoting ticket purchase for various types of events.

Client
StubHub
Project
Email Campaigns
Industry
Ticket
Skills
concepting, wireframing, visual design

Print: Promotional

As part of a company rebranding, we needed new tradeshow collateral. I took a modular approach in redesigning their 14-page recipe book. This ring-bound format allowed for periodic updates as new flavors were introduced and others discontinued. For a 32-page trade show handout, we partnered with sustainable printer Scout Books.

Client
Food + Beverage Innovations
Project
Print Collateral
Industry
Food & Beverage
Skills
concepting, art direction, visual design, photography, print production

Print: Direct Mail

This three-month direct mail campaign showcased Oracle's breadth of solutions for water utility companies with a focus on reducing non-revenue water. Consisting of two tri-fold brochures and a 3rd die cut dimensional mailer the series included customer testimonials, select success metrics, and a cycle of water infographic. Each mailer directed potential customers to book a demo.

Client
Oracle
Project
Direct Mail Campaign
Industry
Technology
Skills
concepting, visual design, print production

Print: Annual Reports

In support of our mission, I had the honor of helping to produce a few annual reports. More than just financials, we shared the organization's accomplishments by highlighting success stories, key milestones, and impactful programs. Our end goal was to inspire confidence in current and potential donors. The overall audience included a wide range of stakeholders, like board members, employees, volunteers, and community partners.

Client
Lifeworks NW
Project
Annual Reports
Industry
Mental Health
Skills
visual design, photography, print production

Logotypes: Newsletter

This internal email newsletter was published weekly to help hundreds of employees stay informed and feel better connected to the organization. The overlapping fluid forms represent one's journey through life (i.e. our lifespans) and how we're all interconnected. I also designed an email template to help streamline distribution.

Client
LifeWorks NW
Project
Internal Newsletter
Industry
Medical Non-profit
Skills
concepting, art direction, visual design, illustration

Logotypes: Event

Iron Chef was a long running fundraiser for LifeWorks NW children's relief nurseries. In promotional of the event, a brand refresh extended to both print collateral and digital media. The event theme varied from year to year, but the new logo mark and signature colors remained the same.

Client
LifeWorks NW
Project
Event Branding
Industry
Medical Non-profit
Skills
concepting, art direction, visual design, illustration

Logotypes: Pro Bono

Design of these three logos was undertaken as either a volunteer or passion project.
The Beach Ball was a school fundraiser (live and silent auctions) set to a Miami Vice theme.
VR (Vintage Robots) is my Tumblr blog dedicated to that very topic.
dMob is a networking event I established for local creatives through AIGA Portland.

Client
Varied
Project
Logos
Industry
Varied
Skills
concepting, art direction, visual design, illustration

Infographics: Internal Training

This post-pandemic visualization was created as an internal teaching tool to help all staff prepare to return to work onsite. Our goal was to empower employees with information by focusing on the how, when and why we were moving back to in-person care.

Client
LifeWorks NW
Project
Internal Training
Industry
Medical Non-profit
Skills
concepting, art direction, visual design, illustration

Infographics: Internal Training

Visualizing old, current, and desired future states this metaphorical map was intended to be high-level and inspirational for leadership in recommitting themselves to each other and our work. By creating a better workflow with direct access to supervisors and opportunities for advancement, employees would feel less silo'd and more supported.

Client
LifeWorks NW
Project
Internal Training
Industry
Medical Non-profit
Skills
concepting, art direction, visual design, illustration

Infographics: Internal Training

The final visualization in this series focused on how our clinicians could hit a target level of productivity while maintaining the best level of care possible. By showing who support staff were, tools available, and team roles and responsibilities, we hoped to shift clinician thinking away from feeling isolated and overwhelmed, to better leveraging their staff in support of their case loads.

Client
LifeWorks NW
Project
Internal Training
Industry
Medical Non-profit
Skills
concepting, art direction, visual design, illustration
About Me
Mugshot
Do you need a...

My work spans branding, print, digital, and other marketing communications. I'm passionate about helping organizations communicate with clarity to create meaningful experiences.

I have been fascinated by the fields robotics and AI since grade school. In my spare time I collect, repair, build, and blog about vintage robots.

Please reach out to learn more.


Proud to Collaborate With

  • Visa
  • Logitech
  • Intel
  • OHSU
  • Community Coffee
  • Firestone
  • Nuance
  • Hewlett Packard
  • Hershey's
  • Live Nation
  • Southwest Airlines
  • See's
  • Oracle
  • PayPal
  • StubHub
  • US Bank
  • Tillamook Creamery
  • Providence Health
  • Microsoft
  • Lifeworks NW
  • AT and T

I always welcome a design challenge.

For more of my qualifications, please read on.
View My Resume
Design Solutions
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Digital Experiences
From websites to email campaigns, I create digital experiences that help users find what they need and take action with confidence.
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Motion & Animation
Storyboarding, web animation, video production and editing, I excel at these media rich ways to share your story.
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Analog Experiences
With years of experience designing print collateral, posters, and signage, I create materials that are both functional and compelling.
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Branding
Logotypes, identity systems, icons, and style guides are my expertise. Customizing these elements uniquely communicates your message.
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Visual Storytelling
Showing versus telling your audience; infographics are the most effective means for clear and rapid communication.
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Design Thinking
Through research, feedback, and iteration, teams develop a shared understanding that leads to stronger outcomes.

Every project deserves a thoughtful, strategic approach.

Working together, I can tailor graphic solutions specific to your needs.
Share Your Vision
Design Process
1

Discovery

A problem well stated is a problem half solved. We can develop a strategy by answering: Who? What? Where? When? Why?

2

Documentation

Creativity craves structure. Defining project goals and deliverables ensures effective collaboration and realistic outcomes.

3

Design

Sourcing inspiration from both expected and unexpected places, solutions should be user-centered, memorable and measurable.

4

Revisions

Inherent in any iterative process, review and testing of solutions is essential to project success.

5

Approval

Having revealed any flaws, the best design solutions rise to the top and the time to commit has arrived.

6

Delivery

With all assets QA'd, a gradual transition of ownership begins, but support can carry on.

Process is a commitment to excellence.

How we work together is just as important as the work we produce.
Let's Get Started